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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."

3 of 496 comments (clear)

  1. That's Awesome...but... by gimpynerd · · Score: 0, Troll

    That's really great but I think the world needs to concentrate more on our space programs. We went to the moon in the sixties. We should have moon bases and be exploring Mars by now. Not circling our tiny globe.

  2. Re:Congrats by GoodbyeBlueSky1 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Pssh. Such a meaningless record. Congratulations on being filthy rich, having nothing else to do, and sitting in a plane for a while!

    Come on, now. I won't say this doesn't take skill, determination, etc. but Fossett shouldn't be treated like he's a magical person just because he can circle the globe in a hot air balloon or a plane. Just a rich guy with a lot of spare time. /jealous rant

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    why? forty-two.
  3. Re:Sad, isn't it? by ddeboer · · Score: 0, Troll

    Well, you have to realize that most people in Kansas are at work at 1:48 in the afternoon - not like the millionaires who have nothing else to do, and lazy reporters who get paid to go see things like this. On the other hand, I think a large proportion of KSU Salina was probably out on the field to see history being made on their campus - as well as a lot of folks from other parts of Kansas. I suspect reporters from Canada just don't know how to count...