Fossett flies to non-stop record
12.02.06
Adventurer Steve Fossett has broken the record for the longest non-stop flight in aviation history, landing in dramatic fashion after power failure. The 61 year old was forced into making an emergency landing yesterday about two hours after he had passed the record-breaking distance.
Fossett flew 26,389.3 miles during a journey that lasted 76 hours and 45 minutes, beating the former record of 25,361 miles set by the Breitling Orbiter balloon in 1999.
A generator failure as he descended to Kent prompted him to make a mayday call and divert to another airport. The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer landed at Bournemouth Airport just after 17:30 yesterday evening, half an hour later.
On landing with limited visibility, two tyres burst, but Fossett was unhurt. Fossett said: 'It was too exciting a finish.'
Crowds and the media had been expecting Fossett to land at Kent Airport, but the mission's chase plane quickly transported him there - to the awaiting champagne reception.
After being greeted by his wife Peggy, Fossett said: 'This is really a big success and I am a very happy guy. I was really lucky to make it here. There was a lot going on. The tension of the final part really took it out of me.'
Friend and sponsor Sir Richard Branson said: 'Generally a record like that has a team of 10 people in place. Steve has gone and done it solo. He's had pretty well no sleep ... he has been through an incredible amount. He's only half human, that's all I can say!'
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