Plane to fly non-stop around the world without re-fueling. *PIC*

[Analog]

Richard Branson and Steve Fossett have unveiled the plane which will attempt the first solo-piloted non-stop trip around the world without re-fuelling.
Virgin GlobalFlyer will be piloted by Fossett - Branson's partner in previous global balloon attempts, and will fly a total of 40,000 km (25,000 miles).

Text

 

[Miramonti]

Fossett is god's gift to wasting money.

 

[rudder]

Burt Rutan did this in 1986. Of course he had a copilot, but solo global navigation is not the awesome feat it once was as in the early days of aviation.

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: rudder
Burt Rutan did this in 1986. Of course he had a copilot, but solo global navigation is not the awesome feat it once was as in the early days of aviation.

Nope, it's not

Fires up GPS
*Location?*
"London, England"
*Taking you there*

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Richard Branson and Steve Fossett have unveiled the plane which will attempt the first solo-piloted non-stop trip around the world without re-fuelling.
Virgin GlobalFlyer will be piloted by Fossett - Branson's partner in previous global balloon attempts, and will fly a total of 40,000 km (25,000 miles).

Text

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic.

Good to see that heads of major airlines are still "into" flying.

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah, I thought we'd had this done long ago - or close to it.

 

[Ness]

Awesome. He'll get to fly around the world without stopping by himself. What an incredible WASTE.

 

[AMCRambler]

I still think it's pretty damn cool! He's gonna have to stay awake for like 3 days straight to do it. I'm also very impressed that they were able to build an aircraft that would carry enough fuel to do this. Very cool indeed. I hope he makes it!

 

[lancestorm]

...and if you ever got Popular Science you would have known this in December...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

How this whole thing got started:
"Around the World in 80 days? WTF? I can do it in 80 hours!"
"Prove it."
"Okay..."

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: rudder
Burt Rutan did this in 1986. Of course he had a copilot, but solo global navigation is not the awesome feat it once was as in the early days of aviation.

Dude, like WTF is up with this guy. The '86 flight was indeed an achievement, and this is juste an ego trip...

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
I still think it's pretty damn cool! He's gonna have to stay awake for like 3 days straight to do it. I'm also very impressed that they were able to build an aircraft that would carry enough fuel to do this. Very cool indeed. I hope he makes it!

yeah, that part may be impressive, but you have to ask what the HELL will this accomplish? I mean, christ, we are still furiously looking for the cures to AIDS and cancer, attempting to visit other planets, hell, we're still trying to stop world hunger... and this guy somehow thinks it's imperative to fly around the world by himself.

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: rudder
Burt Rutan did this in 1986. Of course he had a copilot, but solo global navigation is not the awesome feat it once was as in the early days of aviation.

Actually, it was 1987 and the copilot was a female... hehe, what a smart guy.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: cr4zymofo

Originally posted by: rudder
Burt Rutan did this in 1986. Of course he had a copilot, but solo global navigation is not the awesome feat it once was as in the early days of aviation.

Actually, it was 1987 and the copilot was a female... hehe, what a smart guy.

Mile High Clubmember #00045045

 

[crab]

The flight actually ruined their relationship, heh.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: crab
The flight actually ruined their relationship, heh.

I would have brought along Jenna instead of Jeanna.

 

[brunswickite]

Originally posted by: ness1469
Awesome. He'll get to fly around the world without stopping by himself. What an incredible WASTE.

i was thinking the exact same thing

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Fossett is god's gift to wasting money.

What? You mean to tell me that man is wasting money when people slave for YEARS to keep a single killer whale alive while we kill babies every day? Yeah.... this Fossett guy wastes a LOT of money! Bad man!

 

[sillymofo]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: crab The flight actually ruined their relationship, heh.

I would have brought along Jenna instead of Jeanna.

Actually, Jeanna wasn't bad looking, she's more of the goody two shoes type though.

 

[UNCjigga]

I'm assuming their plane will be out of reach from conventional shoulder-fired missiles?

Damn.

 

[crab]

Originally posted by: rudder
Burt Rutan did this in 1986. Of course he had a copilot, but solo global navigation is not the awesome feat it once was as in the early days of aviation.

Actually, Dick Rutan flew it...Burt designed and built it.

 

[Naythn]

Originally posted by: brunswickite

Originally posted by: ness1469
Awesome. He'll get to fly around the world without stopping by himself. What an incredible WASTE.

i was thinking the exact same thing

Well, it sure is good to see you two doing something useful.

 

[KarenMarie]

I couldn't imagine being on a plane that long without a ciagarette!

LOL

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
I couldn't imagine being on a plane that long without a ciagarette!

LOL

There aren't any flight attendants KarenMarie, smoke 'em if you got 'em!

 

[KarenMarie]

Then count me in.