Fri, Jan 28, 2005
Now Scheduled To Depart On February 6th
Steve Fossett's 'round-the-world record attempt aboard the
Global Flyer won't get off the ground as soon as he'd hoped.
Instead, Fossett, with backing from aviation entrepreneur and
adventurer Richard Branson, will begin his 70+ hour attempt on
February 6th.
Blame a change in the jetstream, according to the organization's
web site. It's just the kind of delay that Branson's airline,
Virgin Atlantic, warned about more than a month ago, according to
the Salina Journal. The Global Flyer, built by Burt Rutan's Scaled
Composites, needs a tailwind -- a kick in the butt from the
jetstream. It generally blows from west to east up to 15 miles
above the Earth.
The Global Flyer web site said the jetstream had shifted too far
north. Flying in a jetstream that far north, according to the web
site, wouldn't give Fossett the distance he needs to set a new
'round-the-world record.
"As anticipated, the correct weather conditions have to be in
place for a successful world-record attempt," Tim Rogers, executive
director of the Salina Airport Authority, said Wednesday afternoon,
quoted in the Journal.
Global Flyer workers are making good use of the extra time,
dialing in components at Mission Control, which is located at
nearby Kansas State University. Things there, according to the
university's PR coordinator, Kristin Magette, are just about
ready.
"They’re doing the testing and making sure everything
works the way that it’s supposed to," she told the
Journal.
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]