GlobalFlyer record attempt suffers bird strike after successful launch

[Paul]

The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer has successfully started its endurance flight record attempt despite suffering a bird strike on take-off.

The long distance experimental aircraft took off from the 4,550m-long (15,000ft) Space Shuttle runway at John F Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, Florida at 07:22 today at the beginning of its 80h, 41,800km (22,600nm) record attempt. Virgin says two pigeon-sized birds hit the GlobalFlyer on take off, but there was no engine ingestion and no apparent damage.

For the GlobalFlyer to set a world record to travel further, non-stop and non-refuelled, than any other aircraft, its pilot Steve Fosset will have to travel further than the current record of 33,520km set by Scaled Composites’ Voyager 1986.

The 34.5m (114ft) wingspan Scaled Composites Model 311 GlobalFlyer had a gross take off weight of 10,000kg (22,100lb) as it rotated at around the runway's 3,940m marker in temperatures of 8°C (47°F). If the temperature had been above 12°C, the flight would have been abandoned due to low engine thrust efficiencies in the higher temperatures.

The flight had been delayed from yesterday due to a fuel leak and marginal weather conditions. Initially today had been ruled out but a successful fix to the fuel system and rerouting to enable GlobalFlyer to follow the jetstreams needed to achieve the record led to the sudden decision to go.

Flight International

 

[Paul]

Update:

Steve Fossett piloted his Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft over Saudi Arabia on Thursday, after a "bit scary" takeoff on his solo bid to set a world record for the longest flight.

The 61-year-old United States aviator continued steadily eastward across northern Africa on his estimated 80-hour flight after hitting two birds during takeoff on Wednesday from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

He plans to fly around the world once and then make a second Atlantic crossing to finish at Kent, southeast England, covering a record 41 ,978km.

Overnight, the GlobalFlyer flew over North Africa at 340 knots (630kph) over Algeria, before crossing Saudi Arabia where at 8.30am GMT it was doing 326 knots at 14 102m.

Mail&Guardian

Global Flyer Mission Tracking

 

[Paul]

Update:

A fuel leak, soaring heat in the cockpit and weak winds jeopardized adventurer Steve Fossett's quest to break aviation's distance record Thursday as he flew over Asia in his lightweight experimental plane.

Mr. Fossett's team had calculated that he would have 500 pounds to 1,000 pounds of fuel left at the end of the 3 ½-day trip, but the loss of 750 pounds of fuel to a leak during takeoff at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday left no margin for error, the team said on Day 2 of the voyage.

"The fuel loss will diminish the total number of miles it is able to travel," mission control director Kevin Stass said in a prepared statement.

Before takeoff, the spindly plane had more than 18,000 pounds of fuel.

Mr. Fossett's team could not immediately pinpoint the cause of the leak.

His team also was seeking clearance for a different route because of soaring temperatures in the cockpit and concerns about weak winds over the Atlantic during the last leg of the trip.

The plane's ventilation system was malfunctioning, causing the temperatures to rise to as much as 130 degrees.

Mr. Fossett was forced to drink a large part of his water supply earlier than planned because of the heat, the team said.

Dallas Morning News

GlobalFlyer Tracking

 

[Paul]

Update:

Fossett passes halfway mark in quest to break aviation record

Adventurer Steve Fossett flew past the halfway point in his effort to break aviation's distance record, even as a fuel leak, soaring heat in the cockpit and weak winds jeopardized his quest.

Fossett reached Japan - the midway mark of his expected 3 1/2-day trip - late Thursday and was flying in the Western Pacific jet streams early Friday. He faced severe turbulence over India in his lightweight experimental plane and other problems.

Fossett's team had calculated that he would have 500 pounds to 1,000 pounds of fuel left at the end of the 80-hour trip, but the loss of 750 pounds of fuel to a leak during takeoff at Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday left no margin for error, the team said on Day 2 of the voyage. Mission managers also worried about weak winds over the Atlantic during the last leg of the trip.

"The fuel loss will diminish the total number of miles it is able to travel," mission control director Kevin Stass said in a statement.

Before takeoff, the spindly plane had more than 18,000 pounds of fuel.

Fossett's team could not pinpoint the cause of the leak. Fuel leaks had delayed his takeoff and plagued Fossett's successful flight last year when he became the first person to fly solo, nonstop around the world without refueling.

The Ledger

GlobalFlyer Tracker

 

[Paul]

Update:

Adventurer Steve Fossett on Friday altered his route over the Atlantic Ocean to make up for lost fuel and weak winds in his quest to break aviation's distance record.

Fossett originally planned to fly his lightweight experimental plane on a northeasterly path across the Atlantic that would allow Newfoundland to serve as an emergency landing site.

But the adjusted path has Fossett crossing Florida, where he began his nonstop trip early Wednesday, and taking a more southerly path on the flight's last leg to take advantage of better winds. He planned to land Saturday in Kent, England.

"The guys at mission control are looking at every available jet stream to pick the best speed across the Atlantic possible," Fossett, 61, said in a statement released by his flight team.

Fossett was expected to make a crucial decision Friday night as he flew over Florida about whether to continue with his nearly 27,000-mile trip or abort. Once over the ocean, there will be little opportunity to land the plane if he runs out of fuel.

Winds were expected to be weak across the Atlantic, and Fossett lost about 750 pounds of fuel because of a leak during takeoff from the Kennedy Space Center, leaving no margin for error.

"Fuel, winds, weather ... maybe his physical state, how he's feeling. There are a lot of things to consider," said Brooke Lawer, a spokeswoman for his flight team in England. "There's a lot to consider that probably are intangibles we wouldn't understand unless we were in the plane."

chron.com

GlobalFlyer Tracker

 

[Paul]

Update:

Adventurer Steve Fossett decided Saturday to try to complete his nearly 27,000-mile journey to break aviation's distance record, despite having lost 750 pounds of fuel.

Mission control director Kevin Stass said he's "cautiously optimistic" and says Fossett himself is in good shape despite the marathon flight. Fossett lost fuel during takeoff from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday because of a leak. (Interactive graphic: Around the world, and then some)

Fossett had to make a decision to either try to finish the trip or abort after reaching a certain point over the Atlantic. He now has little opportunity to land the plane if he runs out of fuel.

Fossett is scheduled to land in England between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET.

Fossett originally planned to fly his lightweight experimental plane on a northeasterly path across the Atlantic that would allow Newfoundland to serve as an emergency landing site.

But the adjusted path called for Fossett to cross Florida, where he began his non-stop trip early Wednesday, and take a more southerly path on the flight's last leg to take advantage of better winds. He planned to land Saturday in Kent, England.

USA Today

GlobalFlyer Tracker

 

[Paul]

Finish:

Adventurer Steve Fossett completed the longest nonstop flight in aviation history Saturday, flying 26,389 miles in about 76 hours, but he had to land early because of mechanical problems.

Ground control said Fossett, 61, broke the airplane distance record of 24,987 miles while his lightweight experimental plane was flying over Shannon, Ireland.

He then was forced to land the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer at Bournemouth International Airport, in southern England, instead of at a military air strip in nearby Kent because of generator problems.

The millionaire adventurer completed his journey around the globe -- and then some -- over 3½ days despite losing about 750 pounds of fuel during his takeoff Tuesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida because of a leak.
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The plane's ventilation system also malfunctioned midway through the trip, causing temperatures in the 7-foot cockpit to rise to as much as 130 degrees. Fossett was forced to drink a large part of his water supply earlier than planned because of the heat, his flight team said.

Weak winds over the Atlantic and severe turbulence over India - which, at one point, forced Fossett to strap on a parachute - prompted fears Fossett would have to ditch his record-breaking attempt in Newfoundland.

Instead, his flight team altered his projected route, having Fossett cross Florida, where he had begun his nonstop journey Wednesday, and take a southerly path on the flight's last leg to take advantage of better winds.

Early Saturday, Fossett decided to try to finish the trip after reaching the middle of the Atlantic.

His voyage broke the airplane distance record of 24,987 miles set in 1986 by the lightweight Voyager aircraft piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, as well as the balloon record of 25,361 miles set by Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard in 1999.

NBC5