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Fuel Loss May Cut Short GlobalFlyer's Journey
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.".
They saw this early on. This indicates a problem that could have been found with a couple short test flights. Surely they had test flights, I mean, I wouldn't climb aboard a flying gas tank unless the thing had undergone some degree of flight testing prior to being loaded down for the long haul.
...there's a difference between the Global Flyer and the Galactic, in that the Global Flyer is a non commercial interest. The galactic carries paying passengers - I doubt the Global Flyer will ever do such a thing, given its capacity.
Further more, the global flyer has been designed for a speed record attempt, and so must be at the bleeding edge to beat what's gone before. Sure, the Galactic would also be a record breaking craft, but it isn't going to be chasing speed records. The Global Flyer has to be the fastest machine, and therefore utilise more unproven technology than, say, the Galactic.
Has he left Japan yet?
I was pleased to read that Williams International (who made the engine) is right here in Michigan, not too far for me to work - unfortunately they had no postings for software people :-(
Why? It wasn't tax payer money. If some rich guy wants to blow his wad on something stupid like this, don't kick his ass, laugh when it fails.
Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
Defective fuel gauges are a problem in flying. Why didn't he look at his receipt from the gas company after he filled up?
everyone is missing the point.. its not about some millionaire breaking a record...well maybe for the millionaire it is... but doing things like this opens the doors for innovation in the feild. if this works, this will give a massive ammount of data to the aviation industry to help with fuel economy on its jets. ( and lets face it, the aviation needs all the help it can get nowadays)
Good Karma, Bad Karma, doesnt matter to me... I'm still going to say whats on my mind!
What's wrong with dumping the excess fuel before landing? I dunno.
Looked at jet fuel prices lately? I wouldn't want to dump a gallon of the stuff, much less a full load.
- AMW
well.. scaled composites does sometimes two safe landings per one takeoff ;)
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Detachable fuel tanks detach...while they're still full, and you need the fuel.
Adding complex subsystems to an already complex system increases complexity and potential failure points.
A better answer is to ground test fuel systems at all limits, and then accept the risks once airborne.
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
It's not as if burning it is any cheaper!
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Actually, planes are pretty well protected from most lighting as you can see here: http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae568 .cfm.
It's actually reverse lightning that causes problems, though I can't find a link talking about that right now. Basically, the reverse, or positive, lightning is much more powerful (it feeds sprites and jets in the upper atmosphere) and thus can overcome conventional protection of planes.
My dog visits this website (looks over my shoulder in me home office) and I do not wish he be exposed to such profanity. In the future please rememember this is a family oriented website (some stories have been posted about Disney).
You're concerned about profanity affecting a creature that can lick its own testicles for pleasure in company?
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.