GlobalFlyer just touched down a few minutes ago in Salina, Kansas thus completing the first solo, nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world. Elapsed time: 67 hours, 2 minutes and 38 seconds. [ Emphasis is on the word 'solo', as Voyager was the first to fly around the world without stopping or refueling, back in 1986, but that was a 2-person effort. ]
Congrats to Steve Fossett and the guys at Scaled Composites, and to Virgin CEO Richard Branson for backing winners.
Steve Fossett … the pilot
Scaled Composites … the builder for Voyager SpaceShipOne GlobalFlyer
Richard Branson … the sponsor
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Rest in peace, Steve Fossett, one of the great adventurers of our time.
I have a feeling one day Branson will attempt one of these records on his own. He doesn’t seem to be the type to be content with merely being a sponsor.