'Globalflyer' Completes Solo, Nonstop Global Jaunt

Filed in archive Aviation News on March 4, 2005

GlobalFlyer pilot Steve Fossett successfully landed at Salina Municipal Airport in Kansas at 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time Thursday, becoming the first pilot to fly solo, nonstop around the world without refueling. He flew more than 67 hours covering 23,000 miles.

The flight was non without incident however. Fossett and the GlobalFlyer team persevered through two obstacles that threatened the record-setting attempt: GPS problems, and a mysterious fuel leak that happened about 3.5 hours into the flight resulting in a discrepency of 2,600 pounds in readings between the fuel burn and probes in the aircraft. Globalflyer carried no less than 18,100 lbs of fuel in 13 tanks. Thanks to a glide ratio of 37:1, the plane could fly 200 miles without fuel.

Favorable tailwinds help make the flight a success, and Fossett landed in time for lunch. Talk about going a long way to get a $100 hamburger! The trip took over 65 hours to complete.

You can read all about the flight and Globalflyer by visiting the website.