sjd
Mar 2, 05 7:14
Post #1 of 2
(101 views)
|
|
Global Flyer in trouble
|
Can't Post
|
|
damn shame fingers crossed for him
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...sci/tech/4312059.stm
Steve Fossett's attempt to fly solo, non-stop around the globe without re-fuelling is in trouble.
His GlobalFlyer plane has reached China - half way around the world - but he has insufficient fuel to get him home to Kansas without favourable winds.
Mission controllers will have to decide whether to call off the attempt before Fossett heads out over the Pacific.
The adventurer left the US on Tuesday at 0500 GMT and was expected to return to the Salina airport on Thursday.
"I don't have a high level of confidence at the moment," Steve Fossett said from GlobalFlyer.
"This is a huge setback. Immediately I started thinking about what the alternatives were - whether a route could be taken through Mexico, and I began to think how far I could fly with the engine out [just gliding] just to make the landing."
There are two ways of measuring the fuel load on GlobalFlyer and these show a discrepancy of 1,200kg (2,600lbs).
Mission controllers are at a loss to explain why this difference exists - but it means Fossett has 15% less fuel than he should have, and he will now struggle to complete the mission, based on the winds that have been forecast for his route over the next day.
Fossett reached the half-way point in his flight at 0705 GMT on Wednesday.
As of 1440 GMT, just after briefing the media on his fuel worries, he was moving out over the East China Sea, just east of Shanghai, travelling at an altitude 13.7km (45,100ft) and a speed of 618km/h (384mph).
Mission controllers may decide to bring Fossett down in Japan rather than risk sending him across the Pacific
|
MAIN
RULES &
LOG
