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Fuel Loss May Cut Short GlobalFlyer's Journey

Posted by timothy on from the knock-on-wood dept.

chris mazuc writes "Apparently the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer has lost 2,600 lbs of fuel and might be forced to abort the attempt." According to the article, "Jon Karkow from Scaled Composites was unable to say whether it was due to leakage or evaporation. "We really don't know what it is... It's more than likely a system issue, such as a fuel venting line. It's been very puzzling for us, and we saw it quite early on.".

6 of 317 comments (clear)

  1. counting on fingers by tedtimmons · · Score: 5, Informative

    That is about 380 gallons of gas, if you calculate avgas at 6.84 lbs/gallon.

    -ted

  2. I already saw it on CNN by NeuroManson · · Score: 5, Informative

    It was due to a defective fuel guage showing a full tankload, despite it being 2600 lbs short.

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  3. I think they are pushing it... by brienc · · Score: 5, Informative

    The article mentioned they will have to decide before departing Japaneese airspace, but you can see from the current posit, they are several uhnder miles off the coast.

  4. Re:Bit of a difference... by sacherjj · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually they are testing it at full capacity. Right now. If it works, they finish the flight. If it doesn't, they modify the system. If you remember, the voyager only loaded full fuel on it attempt flight. And they pretty much ground off both winglets. Yet, the craft was still ok to fly around the world and set the record. Sometimes you have to take some exucated risks to set records.

  5. they should have used the low tech fuel gage by PW2 · · Score: 5, Informative

    When learning to fly a Cessna 150, my instructor always made me not trust the fuel gage since what it reports can safely be confirmed another way -- I'd have to look in the tanks and dip a stick in the fuel to be sure there was enough. When flying, it's a different story as you must trust your instruments.

  6. you are right by willCode4Beer.com · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, due to a design to keep the structural mass low and due to the mass of the fuel, it can't land safely with a full (or even half) load of fuel.
    The plane just isn't strong enough. Making the plane stronger would make it heavier, and a heavier plane would require more fuel. Its a compromise that had to be made.
    On a side note, they actually wanted to use a different turbine that was more fuel efficient but, were unable to locate one. So since the turbine they are using consumes more fuel, more compromises had to be made in the design.

    With a flight like this, you have to get rid of every last once of weight possible.

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