Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Global Flyer Part 2

Posted by samzenpus on from the never-coming-down dept.

nsasch writes "The Global Flyer just wasn't enough for Steve Fossett. He's going again, this time to make the world's longest (in length) flight, ever. He is currently over the Atlantic ocean and can be tracked online. He will be flying for 3 days with 18000 pounds of fuel (~8164 kilograms). More information, tracking, Microsoft Flight Simulator models, and background images are available from Virgin Atlantic."

6 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Him again? by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What is so fascinating about Fossett? If he designed his own glider, I'd really be impressed. To me, he just seems like a rich guy who is doing what he wants to do in life... which I have no problem with. But, it seems like he has a PR staff who is constantly trumpeting: "Look at this guy! He is sooooo great" To me, that is a turn off.

    If you are breaking records to prove it to yourself... that is one thing. When you are buying media time to brag... then you are a loser in my book. A dam rich loser, but a loser nonetheless.

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
    1. Re:Him again? by aliscool · · Score: 5, Funny

      He's going to be a Billionaire that smears himself cross a half acre of land somewhere if he keeps this stuff up.

  2. At least someone . . by Leroy_Brown242 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    . . . is pushing the flight envelope these days.

    It really puts a smile on my face to hear about this sort of thing. The sooner we make ultra distance flights old hat, the sooner our solar system won't seem so big.

    --
    Pretty Pictures!
    1. Re:At least someone . . by mnemonic_ · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yep, just wait, with longer wings we could build an aircraft that can fly to Mars. That's all it takes.

  3. Re:How do they define "longest flight"? by jcr · · Score: 4, Informative

    How do they differentiate between "flight", and "orbit"?

    "Flight" is when you travel through the atmosphere, relying on aerodynamic lift or bouyancy to keep you off the ground. "orbit" is when you're on a ballistic trajectory that doesn't intersect the earth.

    HTH,

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  4. Re:How do they define "longest flight"? by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

    "orbit" is when you're on a ballistic trajectory that doesn't intersect the earth.

    Or, to rephrase slightly, orbit is when you throw yourself at the ground and miss.

    KFG