If you like the Gossamer Albatross, check out this site I recently found with links to all sorts of human powered vehicles (“HPVs”), including planes, boats, subs, weird bikes of all types, blimps, snowmobiles and these amazingly cool super spring shoes (check out the PowerSkip videos). http://webpages.charter.net/rcgilmore/Illustrations.htm
Slap me in the face…but I have to say I agree with you. I am perplexed why some people see this as an amazing feat of human endurance. If anything, isn’t it more of a feat of modern mechanics? However, with my limited knowledge of aeronautics (I only managed to get one of my rockets into geostationary orbit), this seems behind the times. I would have thought this plane could have been built decades ago. I guess not.
As far being seen as one of the greatest feats of human endurance - what a pile of bullshit (sorry, don’t mean to offend anyone). It pales in comparison to the Sherpa’s carrying a hundred+ pounds of gear on their back up Everest just so some rich f$%k can say he climbed the tallest mountain. Or, how about prisoners of war that have endured weeks of sleep deprivation while withstanding a steady unpredictable stream of torture. So Fossett stayed up for 60 odd hours. Big deal. I have had to do that while cramming for exams - I’d much rather stay awake that long sitting in some cushy chair watching the world underneath me pass by.
So Fossett stayed up for 60 odd hours.
Actually, he got to sleep, cuz he had autopilot. Although, if you couldn’t stand up for that long, I’m sure it would be a bummer.
So Fossett stayed up for 60 odd hours.
Actually, he got to sleep, cuz he had autopilot. Although, if you couldn’t stand up for that long, I’m sure it would be a bummer.
Autopilot?!?! WTF!? Hey, there must be some other “feat of endurance” that I could do to get myself in the record books.
I had a headache
I didn’t realize this. A headache can be a pretty terrible thing for a human to endure! Maybe I was too harsh in my criticism. I feel kind of bad now. 
Agreed. This is a big yawner in my book.
In terms of aeroplane feats, the real stud is Lindbergh. He barely got any sleep before the flight, and flew pretty much in the dark, largely without contact, staying awake by opening the cockpit and flying low so the seaspray would keep him awake. Moreover, it was unclear whether his plane could really make it, had no place to land if not, and no one hovering over him to come to his rescue. Fossett was in the cushy seat by comparison.
ZZZZzzzzz . . . … .
And…he’s down. Safe and sound. Sounding like that lost 2400 lbs of fuel didn’t ever bother him. Ahh, the luxuries of success.
Toto…I think we’re in Kansas. Oh $&#%!
Have to say I agree with you… Fossett has been a passenger on most of his ‘world record’ attempts, with all the interesting difficult work done by the crew/technicians. I can’t say I can muster any interest in his rich man’s games, certainly can’t find anything to admire or respect…