Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, who flew solo around the world without refueling in March, is planning the longest non-stop flight ever attempted.
The former Chicago commodities trader is no stranger to aviation history. In addition to flying the experimental Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer nearly 23,000-miles around the world last year, he made the first non-stop solo balloon flight around the world in 2002 and set the world's fastest around-the-world sailing record in a catamaran in 2004.
This week, Fossett, 61, plans to takeoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in a bid to set a 26,160-mile distance endurance record. The ultralight GlobalFlyer will carry 18,000 pounds of fuel for the 80-hour flight, which is to end near London.
"There are catastrophic things that could happen during takeoff of this aircraft," he told USA Today.
If he makes it, his ship, the GlobalFlyer, likely will go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington.
© Copyright 2006 by United Press International
