Slashdot Mirror
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."
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.
Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
Also FYI (37,000 km) / (67 hours) = 343.145285 mph ... pretty darn fast considering they were expecting an average of 285mph.
Who gives a flying F***!!!? ;-)
A guy flies all around the world, non-stop, solo in a jet aircraft and that's his reception. He should have landed in France, they knew how to welcome Lindy.
The first person to fly, solo, nonstop around the moon and back will probably be greeted by a kid with a kazoo.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Why didn't he just took off and re-landed right away, it would've been much faster than going around the world just to land at the same spot... DUH !!! Scientists, always missing the obvious... RedVortex
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?"
"The 60-year-old millionaire adventurer stayed awake for almost all of the trip, taking only brief catnaps in the jet"
A 60 year old staying awake for nearly three days straight is as impressive to me as fuel economy. I couldn't make two full days straight, even when I was 19...
Tweet, tweet.
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?
We can debate whether Fosset deserves praise, but I think it's pretty clear that it's a huge accomplishment for Burt Rutan.
Mr. Fossett has just set another record for the longest time spent standing in front of a urinal.
How informative. It's unfortunate the war ended 9 years before a B52 ever flew, or that training would have been a lot more valuable.
Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
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
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.
I am pro-lifechoice.
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."