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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."
I'm wondering how much fuel was left when he landed, given that problem with the missing 2600 lb of fuel. The journey took about 68 hours by my calculations, which was considerably below the initial estimate of 80 hours.
nbc news had this story http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7075972/
Ya think he might want to take a ship back to the U.K.? He's probably not going to want a milkshake for a few days either.
I don't know, maybe I'm jaded, but these "record breaking" feats just don't seem to capture my attention or imagination. I have to think it would have been so exciting to have lived, say, a hundred years ago when these things were garnering world-wide attention and people like Lindberg became heroes. But nowadays, for whatever, reason... nothing. Nada. Zilch. Somewhat disappointed that I can't seem to get into this. Anyone else feel the same?
Wasn't Yuri Gagarin "the first person to successfully circle the earth in a nonstop solo flight" in Vostok 1, back in '61? Hyuk.
"Mother, should I run for President? Mother, should I trust the government?"
Dude.. We've been to the moon and have sent probes outside of our paltry little solar system. I'd say his reception was about right. The Frenchies only welcoemd Lindbergh as they did because he was the first to go solo across the Atlantic, a MAJOR feat at the time. Going around the world on one tank of gas isn't that incredible when compared to other recent achievements such as SpaceShip One and our Martian rovers.
What is your penile percentile?
I'd be one of the first to congratulate him for his flight, but how do you define "Around the earth"?? Especially when:
a) He was 3000 km shy of the circumference at the equator.
b) I don't belive he made it into the southern hemisphere.
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
-The whole "loss of fuel" thing was a huge publicity stunt that worked wonderfully. Oooh, the anxiety!
Article Link
"When asked if the Mission Control team had overplayed the seriousness of the fuel shortage, Branson replied: "Incredibly, the thing is, in life truth is often stranger than fiction."
Branson said he had expected the flight would either be disastrous or boring but "everything that could have happened seems to have happened. There has been a lot of drama.""
(That was before the landing.)
I wonder how big his piss can was?
IIRC, the USAF's U-2S high altitude reconnaissance aircraft piss can held about a quart.
Sometimes, if we were turning a jet for a second sortie the same day, the crew chief would forget to empty the can (thank God I was an avionics specialist!) after the first pilot had made his contribution. The second pilot would discover this oversight when his urine would fill the can and then back up the tube to overflow in his pressure suit, where it sloshed around for the remainder of the flight. . .
There is no facility for disposing of solid waste though. Every now and then a mission would abort because the pilot was suffering from "gastrointestinal distress." In the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron's (IYAABYAS!) ops shack, there is plaque high up on the wall, with a roll of toilet paper attached, commerating all those brave U-2 pilots who joined the exclusive "Stratoshitters Club." One guy's name was on there twice. . .
"I worked hard for it. I deserve it. And I have it," Campbell said. "It's all mine."