8 January 2005
Steve Fossett has completed GlobalFlyer’s first major test, flying from Mojave, California to Salina in central Kansas in about six hours.
Fossett plans to start his attempt, at the first solo nonstop flight around the world without refueling, in early February.
The 23,000nm journey is expected to take around 80 hours and will begin and end at Salina.
Fossett said the test flight was important because it was the first extended trip of the radically designed airframe. There are three or four more test flights planned before the big adventure.
82 percent of the aircraft weight at takeoff will be fuel. And Fossett will have to cope with staying awake for the marathon voyage.
Virgin Atlantic Airways is providing financial backing for the attempt and Richard Branson plans to follow the epic flight in a chase aircraft.
