Solo Record Plane Set For Launch

[zavvy]

<b>Solo Record Plane Set For Launch </b><br /><br />LINK<br /><br />The jet plane in which US adventurer Steve Fossett plans to make the first non-stop flight around the world without refuelling is set for lift-off. <br /><br />Virgin GlobalFlyer is expected to lift off from Salina in Kansas, US, between 2100 GMT and 0000 GMT on Monday. <br /><br />The single jet engine aircraft is loaded with more than four times its own weight in fuel for the challenge, which is expected to last 80 hours. <br /><br />Monday's scheduled flight follows weeks of delays due to bad weather. <br /><br />The route for the circumnavigation bid was changed at the last minute. The jet will now fly over North Africa instead of Europe because winds have shifted south. <br /><br />Millionaire Mr Fossett, 60, admits he has little margin for error, with the most dangerous part of the attempt being take-off. <br /><br />GlobalFlyer has never been tested with a full load of fuel and any unexpected turbulence or technical glitches could potentially be disastrous. <br /><br />"Turbulence is worse at the lower altitudes, so I've got to make my climb to the cruising altitude without encountering any significant turbulence," Mr Fossett told the BBC News website. <br /><br />GlobalFlyer will take about two hours to get to an initial altitude of 11.8km (39,000ft). It will then climb at just 2.4m (eight feet) per minute until it reaches its cruising altitude of 15km (49,000ft). <br /><br />Issue of trust <br /><br />Mr Fossett said he had to place his complete trust in the makers of GlobalFlyer, the Californian company Scaled Composites run by aviation legend Burt Rutan, which was also behind Ansari-X-prize winner SpaceShipOne. <br /><br />"I suppose I am a little bit of a nervous person - perhaps it is justified in this case," Mr Fossett told a news conference in Salina. <br /><br />"It is a major endeavour and I am willing to take that risk," Mr Foss

 

[redgryphon]

According to the ticker updates on the Virgin Globalflyer website, takeoff now scheduled for 23:45 UTC, (18:45 EST) while they wait for crosswinds to abate.

 

[redgryphon]

Takeoff time now 00:15 UTC (19:15 EST, 18:15 CST). Still waiting on crosswinds.

 

[redgryphon]

Airspace around Salina airfield now closed.

 

[redgryphon]

Takeoff was at 00:47 UTC. The takeoff roll took a loooong time. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />GPS transponder has been turned on. Hopefully we'll be getting the minute by minute updates of position soon.<br /><br />Globalflyer now on course for Chicago.

 

[redgryphon]

The website reports that the GPS transponder is not being picked up. <br /><br />Not sure if that's a showstopper if they can't fix it.

 

[redgryphon]

You can track the flight on various online tracking websites. The flight is Virgin Atlantic Flight 101, departing Salina (SLN) for Salina (SLN) <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <br /><br />He's still climbing. Now over 20,000 ft. Speed 200 kts <br /><br />Airspace around Salina re-opened, so I guess things are going OK

 

[redgryphon]

I'm seeing 35,611 ft on the mission tracking page. I'm having to refresh the page (slow) to get updated numbers, but they are there.

 

[davf]

Looking up his position on a WAC chart, I see he is just a few miles south of Grand Rapids as I type this... WAY cool!<br /><br />They had an interview with Sir Richard in front of the Global Flyer on the Canadian Discovery channel science news show at 7pm. Very cool indeed!

 

[spacester]

This is great. Another feather in Rutan's cap. Man, does that guy have credibility or what?<br /><br />Fosset will be hard pressed to top this if he suceeds. Higher? Faster? He's got cajones, that's for sure.<br /><br />The hard part's over right? Just stay out of trouble and set yet another record.<br /><br />OT: Does anyone remember when the Balloonist Bertrand Piccard posted here? I think it was 2002 during a Fosset attempt at an around the world ballon flight. One of the high points at sdc for me. I think it was Bertrand, doesn't sound quite right, isn't there another current generation Piccard balloonist around?<br /><br />So I saw that the cabin is big enough to lie down in. Will he sleep? Can he see the instruments when reclined, or does he just count on alarm systems to stay out of trouble?<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

I had to be at work for the takeoff but reading this thread was just like being there. Thanks, all.<br /><br />The website at http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/MissionControl/Tracking/ has a textbox at the top that says "NASA images being received." Has anybody seen them yet?<br /> <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[redgryphon]

Here's what the website says about the takeoff:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">Leaving at 18:47 CST, it was a smooth take-off except for a moment when the aircraft dipped dramatically towards the runway. "When it dipped we were a little bit nervous," Sir Richard Branson said afterwards, although Jon Karkow [project engineer, chief test pilot] said it was not an unusual procedure during a climb. </font><br /><br />

 

[Leovinus]

I didn't know he was flying out of Kansas. Maybe I'll make a roadie and watch him land. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[flynn]

Whats mainstream news coverage like there? Not heard a peep here, might be because I've been asleep through, would of expected someting because of te Virgin thing, will check out the radio on the way to work.<br /><br />Nothing on BBC News front page. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[zavvy]

I haven't seen much mainstream coverage either.. <br /><br />Maybe when he lands safely?

 

[claywoman]

The only thing here is that he launched....that's all....

 

[davf]

This is pretty well front page news with Discovery Channel Canada. They have a daily science news show, 'Daily Planet' that has covered the preparations and the launch last night. They will be tracking and updating Fossett's progress throughout. If you live in Canada or get the feed somehow, try that.

 

[redgryphon]

Now over Egypt after a trouble-free crossing of Libya (in contrast to last time). According to reports on the site, the early GPS problems were a real concern, since the plane is highly dependent on it. (What happened to using a compass and map? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />) Apparently the intermittent drop outs have stopped, although the cause is unknown.<br /><br />The ticker is saying Fosset is at 49,600 ft but the GPS data is showing 47,466 ft (as it has for a while). Either way, it must be quite a view!

 

[nacnud]

16.5 km! That sounds a lot higher to me.

 

[redgryphon]

The website is now updating the GPS data again. Fosset is now flying at 50,203 ft! He's crossing the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia and its around 2:18 am local time.

 

[rubicondsrv]

global flyer has made it to saudi arabia <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[davf]

That could be a pressure altitude vs. absolute altitude issue. Above FL180, all altimeters are set to 29.92 inHg (1013 mb) regardless of the atmospheric pressure in their area. If the altitude being reported on the ticker is coming from the sender used for the transponder, that could account for the difference between the two if he's flying through a low pressure region (albeit that's a large difference). <br /><br />OR it could just be lag.... <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[redgryphon]

Just a hiccup on posting data I think. It's updating fine now.<br /><br />Globalflyer just passing through its second dawn now as it heads towards India.

 

[scottb50]

The only ones up there should easily be avoided. Not much trafific above 45,000, feet or so, except business jets and military anyway. Nothing commercial gets much above 41,000. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[sloracer]

Zav--and anyone else who's interested--there seems to be an attitude problem with the media over this flight. When I called a couple of the TV stations locally, they were pretty blah about the flight, apparently not even aware that it was within an hour of happening. The attitude was that if it didn't start from here, it didn't warrant coverage. <br /><br />It probably wouldn't hurt to give your local stations a call and let them know that 3 million people were connecting on their website during takeoff! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />