You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
-Short Attention Span Theater-
Steve Fossett Presses Ahead in Flight
2005-03-02
Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett decided Wednesday to press ahead with his attempt to fly around the world solo without refueling, despite a serious problem with the plane's fuel system. Fossett and his flight crew agreed Wednesday afternoon to keep the GlobalFlyer in the air rather than abandoning the record-setting attempt and turning back for a landing in Japan. He is now heading east over the Pacific Ocean, and the team expects to decide Wednesday night after reaching Hawaii whether to press on to the U.S. mainland.

Fossett discovered the problem with the fuel system of the custom-built plane early Wednesday. Project manager Paul Moore said fuel sensors in the 13 tanks differ from readings of how quickly the plane's single jet engine was burning fuel. Moore said the crew had been forced to assume that 2,600 pounds of the original 18,100 pounds of fuel "disappeared" early in the flight.
Just how do you lose 2,600 pounds of fuel?
It was not clear whether the problem was with the instruments that track how much fuel remains or if some fuel had been lost because of a leak, Fossett's team said. "This is a huge setback," Fossett said from the plane, according to a statement issued by his staff. "I have not that high a level of confidence at this point."
Fossett, 60, still might be able to finish the flight on his original path, if a tail wind in the jet stream remains strong enough to push him across the Pacific. Before the fuel problem was discovered, Fossett had estimated he would complete the 23,000-mile journey at midday Thursday. He took off Monday from Salina (Kansas). Fossett already holds the record for flying solo around the globe in a balloon, as well as dozens of other aviation and sailing records.
The project is being financed by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, a longtime friend and fellow adventurer.
You can follow the flight at the Global Flyer website, the plane is beautiful. . The 13:49 update follows:
After 42 hours of flight, following the loss of 2,600 lbs of fuel in the early stages of the flight, Steve Fossett has decided to cross the Pacific Ocean at least as far as Hawaii. Despite the earlier loss of fuel that means Steve may possibly not make it back to Salina, he will aim to get as far a Hawaii where he will re-assess the situation. Steve and Mission Control are taking one step at a time.
Steve is nearly in daylight and will to continue have 100 knot tailwinds assisting his flight until Hawaii. After this point, however, the winds are expected to be only around 40 knots, which could cause problems as Steve needs at least 58 knots to make his fuel last all the way in. Mission Control have also advised Steve to slow his flight speed down to increase overall efficiency, and to conserve fuel.
Steve's view was that he was still "very hopeful" of making it back to Salina.
The pumping of fuel between tanks will continue. The wing tip tanks have been drained and the pumping of fuel from the mid-wing tanks is nearly complete.
Sir Richard Branson said of the situation: "I think it's too soon to be confident that he'll make it all the way around the world... I think by the time he reaches Hawaii we'll have a pretty good idea of whether he'll make it."
Posted by:Steve

#2  Just how do you lose 2,600 pounds of fuel?

next time, get a real gas cap, not just a rag stuffed in the pipe
Posted by: Frank G   2005-03-02 7:43:25 PM  

#1  ...My guess would be bad sensors in the first place told them they had more fuel than they did. He's not out of the game yet, though, and I wish him success.
Slightly OT, SpaceShipOne is headed for the Smithsonian. Understand it will be on the main display floor with the Mercury, Apollo, X1, and others.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2005-03-02 7:41:38 PM  

00:00