GlobalFlyer Completes Record-Breaking Flight

ikewillis writes "Steve Fossett has successfully landed the GlobalFlyer in Kansas, completing the record-breaking flight and becoming the first person to successfully circle the earth in a nonstop solo flight. The journey of 37,000 kilometres has taken 67 hours, many of them fraught with anxiety over whether the custom-made GlobalFlyer aircraft had enough fuel for the trip. Fossett managed to touch down at 2:48 p.m. EST, to the delight of mission control staff, a small crowd and a marching band that had gathered at the airstrip to welcome him."

Comments

67 hours no?

[fembots]

The friendly article mentioned "The journey of 37,000 kilometres took 67 hours".

What is unknown is the amount of fuel left when the craft was landed, I'm sure I'm not the only one eager to find out.

Re:67 hours no?

[Nom du Keyboard]

Yeah, it'll be interesting to see if it was jsut an instrument error, evaporation, or whatever else.

Or if it was just hype to add some drama to the flight and keep it at the top of the headlines. Wouldn't be the first time for an artificial crisis.

Bigger deal for Burt Rutan

[ShamanDave]

We can debate whether Fosset deserves praise, but I think it's pretty clear that it's a huge accomplishment for Burt Rutan.

Re:Blah

[dwlovell]

Time is worth more than money. The fact that he spent his own personal time and money to make this happen is a testament to the courage and vision and talent.

When Universities spend government grant money to do stuff like this, people fall all over themselves to congratulate them. Some guy spends his own money and years of his life to do the same, and suddenly he is some "rich fuck" in your eyes.

It is obvious that your problem is that you are insecure about your own lack of funds and this is preventing you from congratulating someone who deserves accolades for their hard work. This wasn't some fly-by-night (no pun intended) attempt. This guy has been trying for many years with multiple prototypes and failed attempts. He didn't give up, regardless of how expensive it was.

Get over the fact that you are not rich and see the value that his research brings to the world. (the same value you would see if this was a government funded research project).

-David

Re:I feel...nothing

[Kalgash]

Nope. You're just dead inside. Like so many others you have been anihalated by the constant barage of daily 'life changing' events. You now find it almost impossible to get excited about something whose relative excitement level (by your standards) ranks up there with finding out the current terrorist threat level has been upped once again.

As a result (and to protect your mental faculties) your capacity for true joy has been severely curtailed. Don't worry. There are many like you out there. Jaded, bored and drowning in ennui. The rest of us allow ourselves the opportunatity to be hurt and perhaps even overloaded. As a result we feel real joy when others accomplish great things.

I don't really know if your type is more prevalant than my type and frankly I think the answer would probably depress the fuck out of me.

Try to find your wonderment. In your capacity for humanity. For our ability to push boundries and reach for the unknown. For the very real way that despite all of the dangers we pose to ourselves we have so far avoided utter distruction.

Unless you are willing to risk disappointment you will never know true joy.