posted 02-04-2006 08:08 AM               

This morning I received the following email from Virgin's PR manager:

"Steve Fossett has called a Code Green for Tuesday 7 February:
We plan to attempt a launch on February 7 at first light at 6:42 AM. It is a tough decision because there is the risk of a small weather front reaching Kennedy Space Center. If I do not launch before the front arrives, the rain and warm temperatures would result in a cancellation for that date.

We are proceeding to Kennedy Space Center for final preparations.
Steve Fossett"

I'll post further details as they arise, or you can check out:
http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com

Paul Bramley

posted 02-06-2006 02:16 PM               

The record which Steve is aiming for is the longest flight ever – one of aviation’s “Absolute” records. There are 15 “Absolute” records in aviation certified by the governing body of aviation record attempts, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) which cover aircraft, balloons and airships. Steve Fossett currently holds three of these records.

Steve’s route will take him from Kennedy Space Center in Florida across the North Atlantic. He will then fly over North Africa and on to the Middle East to then cross over India, China, Japan and the Pacific. He will then fly over Mexico and back across the US for his final leg, which will require him to cross the Atlantic for a second time. In order to secure the record he must then fly over Shannon in Ireland and onto his final destination, Kent International Airport.

Steve Fossett, pilot of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, commented:

“As many of you know I've attempted (and been lucky enough to succeed) in a few World Record attempts in my time but to achieve the Ultimate Distance Ever Flown would be a dream come true. Last March the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer lost quite a bit of fuel during the round the world attempt but still performed magnificently. I believe that these problems have been rectified, which is why I am determined to test this theory by attempting the longest flight ever flown by a balloon, airship or airplane. This might seem a bit crazy but I've been called crazy before! Everyone who has attempted to set or break World Records will know that if it isn't a true test and challenge there's no point in taking it on.

posted 02-06-2006 04:05 PM               

Will be interested in updates - a rare event for aerospace records to be set in our country.

Thanks,

posted 02-07-2006 10:56 AM               

At around 06:50 local Florida time, Steve and the team discovered a mechanical fault on the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer which meant it would be unsafe to take off and attempt the record.

Jon Karkow of Scaled Composites explained the problem:

"Unfortunately for today a small mechanical issue called a halt to the flight. We have discoverd a small fuel leak which happens to be an element of the fuel system which we changed last flight. This new element has never been tested with a full fuel load before... We learned once it was fully fuelled that we had a small leak in that system. The leak is a fairly simple thing to fix but it will take around 24 hours because it requires fuel sealant material.

"One of the new vent systems that has been added in the boom tank is where the problem occured and one of the vent lines that penetrate the tank has a leak and this was discovered when fuel started leaking out of the wheel well."

Steve, disappointed not to be setting off on his latest record attempt, said: "We discovered the fuel leak about 25 minutes ago just as we were putting my equipment in the airplane and we were ready to take off on time as planned."

Of the attempt rescheduling, Richard Branson said: "Both of us are balloonists and we have had one occasion where I had to wait three months, but don't worry, it won't be such a long wait this time."

Although good weather conditions are expected for the rest of the week, Steve said he does not expect to launch tomorrow. Further analysis of jet streams and weather conditions will be carried out during the next few hours to assess whether the flight is possible this week.

posted 02-09-2006 02:58 PM               

SUMMARY OF FLIGHT
Searing temperatures in the cockpit and slow winds have severely tested Steve in the first 24 hours. The ventilation cooling system appears to have malfunctioned causing temperatures to rise up to more than 54 degrees Celsius in the cockpit. As a result, Steve was forced to drink a significant amount of the 10 litres of water on board which is all he has for the whole trip. The problem will improve when the aircraft gets lighter and the engine does not have to work so hard.
Steve is currently experiencing severe turbulence over India.

Jon Karkow, Chief Engineer and Launch Director, expanded:

“We are very concerned about the winds in the final push of the flight, the Pacific is looking strong but the winds over the Atlantic are looking very weak. We calculated before launch that VAGF would reach its final destination at Kent International with between 500 and 1,000lbs of fuel left, due to the 750lb of fuel the Virgin Atlantic Globalflyer lost during ascent from Kennedy Space Center, we have been left with no margin at all to play with. The winds over the Atlantic will be crucial and the team at Mission Control are working round the clock analysing the movements of the jet streams. Steve will continue to search out the best winds; even the smallest increase in speed will bring the Record closer. We have to pass five major way points at 5,000km distance to make the record official but the officiating body doesn’t care what we do between them. We are trying to straighten out the route and get permission to fly a slightly different route, maximizing the wind speeds - it is a lot of work.

It could go either way at this point - there is some pessimism and some optimism, it is going to be interesting the whole way round. I do not think we will really know until he touches down in Kent.''

posted 02-10-2006 05:07 PM               

SPEED: 299 knots
344 mph (ground speed)

FUEL REMAINING: 3200 lbs

VAGF POSITION: 32N 101W (COORDINATES)

Flying over Big Spring in Texas (GEOGRAPHICAL)

SUMMARY OF FLIGHT
The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer is currently in US airspace flying over Big Spring, Texas. Steve Fossett is 1416 miles from circumnavigating the earth when he will have flown 22,383 miles.

Steve Fossett, pilot of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, said:

“The final 24 hours will be no walk in the park. I am seriously worried about the amount of fuel remaining, given the weakness of the jet streams across America and the Atlantic.

“The decision of whether to go for it or turn back is looming, currently I would say the chances are no more than 50/50. I will have until around 11:30UTC, a couple of hours into the final leg across the Atlantic, when I reach the point of no return and will be forced to make this crucial decision. It would be devastating to have to ditch the Ultimate Distance Record when I am on the home straight.

“At launch we were aware that the jet streams on this final leg were far from ideal but from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida long range weather forecasts were not showing any vast improvement on a combined ground and round the world flight conditions for the coming days. It is a result of this that we took the decision to launch this record attempt in conditions that were less favourable than I would have hoped. That being said I have a fantastic team at Mission Control who are continuing to work on both wind speeds and fuel efficiency over the coming hours to give me the best chance of succeeding.”

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

posted 02-11-2006 02:55 AM               

ELASPSED JOURNEY TIME: 67hrs 35mins
DISTANCE COVERED: 21131nm 24317miles
SPEED: 250 knots

FUEL REMAINING: 1800lbs

SUMMARY OF FLIGHT
Since the last update Steve has been travelling in a north-easterly direction up the coast of the US and Canada at 48,000ft. The next two hours of calculations by the team at Mission Control are critical as when Steve has passed Newfoundland he will no longer have airports to hand on the coast and will be flying over open water for a long stretch while he attempts to cross the Atlantic. Therefore the decision has to be made as to whether it is safe for Steve to continue across the Atlantic towards England.

In aviation terms this point is known as the ‘point of no return’ – Steve Fossett and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer will reach this critical point at approximately 10.30 UTC.

Steve Fossett, pilot of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, said:

posted 02-11-2006 03:07 AM               

As I write, Fossett has just passed Newfoundland and has about 1.5 hrs to go before they make the go/no-go decision, ie the point at which he either has enough fuel to reach landfall in Ireland, or only enough to turn him around back to Canada.
You are right that he considered bailing out over India as he was afraid the turbulence was going to snap a wing. With a 114ft wingspan, turbulence is felt at about 4 times the strength an aircraft feels. I've flown gliders with 75ft wingspan and I can tell you: those wings bend!

Worst case scenario for me would be that he lands in Ireland! I live about 100 miles from Manston where he is due to land this evening, so I'll be tracking the go/no-go decision and leaving here mid afternoon. Pity it will be dark but I will see what I can report.

He has already exceeded the distance of the previous RTW flight which is an amazing achievement in itself.

Paul

posted 02-12-2006 04:33 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by lunarrv15:
CNN didn't mention of the emergency landing. They showed the plane landing and said he successfully made around the world and over teh Atlantic twice.

They added he didn't abort after some 7,500 pounds of fuel lost during takeoff?

---

posted 02-12-2006 04:36 AM               

Paul Bramley

posted 02-12-2006 05:14 AM               

Sat Feb 11th 2006.

Virgin press office emailed me at 11am to say that their landing was "on" and would I like to go in one of their press buses from Central London to Manston airport. On boarding the bus we were told that the landing had been brought forward and we had 2 hrs to travel the 80+ miles. Naturally we got stuck in the horrendous London traffic for over half an hour and arrived with 15 minutes to spare.
We were whisked through security and towards the open-top press bus that had been delayed for us. It was a perfect winter's evening - around 32F/0C and a glorious sunset from the direction Steve would be coming. Then it all went haywire...
Everyone was recalled from the bus and there was an air of concern. The full-wall monitoring screen showed Steve descending quite rapidly from 16,000ft over Bournemouth - around 120 miles away. The CEO of Virgin Atlantic told us that Steve had issued a Mayday and was landing at Bournemouth due to generator failure. Steve had to contend with conditions that resulted in him emergency landing the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer virtually blind, as the cockpit window bubble was completely covered in ice. The aircraft hit the tarmac hard and burst the two main tyres on landing, and had to be pushed off the runway.
Steve Fossett landed safely at 17:07 after having flown a distance of 26,389.3 miles (41,467.506 kms). The unverified time for the record is 76 hours and 45 minutes.

The champagne started flowing....

After a quick medical Steve jumped into his Citation which had been flying chase and flew to Manston. Steve bounced down the steps, greeted his wife and then walked along the press line. By now the temperature was sub-zero so this didn't last long. Inside he held a 20 minute press conference with Richard Branson and was presented with the Guinness world flight distance award and one from the Royal Aero Club. There could not have been a greater contrast between Sir Richard's effervesence and Steve's quiet modesty. He said he had managed around 2 hrs sleep in the 77hrs of flight but looked none the worse for it. Although shaken by the emergency landing he said that the scariest moments were the take-off, which required a very long run and incurred a bird strike, and the turbulence over Bhopal, India which threatened the integrity of the aircraft. The inevitable question "what next?" was met with "get some sleep". Both Branson and Fossett mingled freely with the press and VIPs and I managed to get a word and handshake with both of them. Sir Richard's parents were on the scene and I had a nice conversation with his charming mother about her wartime gliding experience.

Despite the lack of aircraft at Manston it was a remarkable day and I was pleased to be there. Virgin were the ultimate hosts and ran a very smooth, professional event.
Thanks to Kevin for sowing the seed of an idea and to Robert for allowing me to represent collectSpace.

Oh, and Congratulations to Steve Fossett and all involved with Virgin GlobalFlyer.

Paul Bramley