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Round the World Flight Set for Monday

Posted by Zonk on from the where-he-stops-nobody-knows dept.

An anonymous reader writes "LiveScience is now reporting that Burt Rutan's GlobalFlyer is set for Monday takeoff. The plane, piloted by Steve Fossett, has been grounded since January by weather. The mission: the first solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe via jet powered craft without refueling." Commentary also available from the BBC.

8 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. stupid question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    The mission: the first solo, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe without refueling.

    This is a really stupid question. Would that be a "low-altitude" circumnavigation of the globe? I mean, we've had manned orbits, right?

  2. For my next trick by lcnxw · · Score: 3, Insightful

    a nonstop solo flight around the world twice blindfolded without a parachute with my eyes closed.

    why do we need to keep proving that yes, we _can_ fly planes and do amazing feats.

  3. 'Round the World in 80 Hours by Bitwaba · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "The around-the-world flight should be completed inside 80 hours" Jules Verne thought 80 days was hard to pull off. Imagine what he would think of this.

  4. Re:Blue skies by cmd · · Score: 2, Insightful

    During launch the plane is so loaded with fuel that it can barely liftoff. Yes, they do need good weather for this. Once airborne they//// he can fly over most weather and (hopefully) avoid the rest.

  5. around the north part you mean... by Duncan3 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yet another "around the world" trip that's not around the equator, and just follows the jet stream.

    I can grab the north pole and run "around" the world in 2 seconds, and it would be just as valid as their definition - i.e. lame.

    But still, cool toys :)

    --
    - Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
  6. Does the pilot sleep? by Rauchbier · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It is an 80 hour trip - when does the pilot sleep? Does he use an auto pilot?

  7. Re:Good Luck! by khrtt · · Score: 1, Insightful

    This would've made great news around 1930, I suppose, but why is it a big deal in the 21st century? Just because noone has done it before doesn't make it difficult. There are many things that noone has done before because they weren't interesting enough for te trouble. These things usually make it into the Guinnes book once someone does them. They don't have to make big news, really.

  8. Re:Good Luck! by chimpo13 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's always easy to bitch about someone doing something. There's plenty of stuff in the Guinness book that's not difficult. This one is more difficult then you realize.

    --
    riding round the world on an old motorcycle