Fossett makes history: Pilot is first person to fly solo nonstop round-the-world

CNN ^

[Next_Time_NJ]

(CNN) -- Pilot Steve Fossett has become the first person to fly solo nonstop round-the-world. His plane, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, touched down Thursday afternoon in Salina, Kansas, more than 66 hours after he lifted off from the same spot.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Congrats to him.

[NCC-1701]

Dittos to that. Looks like the Smithsonian will be getting a new exhibit in the near future.

[Peach]

Very cool. Don't know how he does it solo, at his age.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Looks like a Bert Rutan plane, all right.

[Pyro7480]

Thanks. I wonder how much fuel was left?

[Fierce Allegiance]

Rutan rocks. It's been a good year for him.

[3dognight]

Wow 66 hours.

[Centurion2000]

Hope he had a good autopilot; either that or I hope the DEA isn't checking him for meth ... how a man can stay up 66 hours .. no idea for a man his age.

[Huck]

Doesn't seem like a big deal in this day and age.

[Revelation 911]

Very cool. Don't know how he does it solo, at his age.

coffee, viagra, depends undergarments

[Sleeping Freeper]

Great news! It'll be interesting to see how much fuel he has left - and whether he had a fuel leak or the gages were bad. I'd like to see a movie of this guys life.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I would bet the only thing left in the tank is memories. But, being as it's a Rutan design, he may have enough to fly on to the east coast.

[Pyro7480]

He took cat naps, and he had autopilot.

[Oberon]

...how a man can stay up 66 hours...

Insert Viagra joke here...

[Jack Wilson]

While he was at it, he should have wrapped a yellow ribbon around the planet - liberals would have been impressed.

[N. Theknow]

how a man can stay up 66 hours .. no idea for a man his age.

Cialis?

[Peach]

Not sure about the viagra :-)

[traumer]

"Don't know how he does it solo, at his age... "

[kidd]

Technically, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first to fly solo non-stop around the earth.

But I understand that the achievement here is in an airplane.

[Sleeping Freeper]

"While he was at it, he should have wrapped a yellow ribbon around the planet - liberals would have been impressed."

...as long as it was biodegradable and didn't contribute to global warming.

[escapefromboston]

Finally someone proved the world was round!! great news!!

[Snakeyes2]

Why is this headline news? I mean really..

[Textide]

Live (while it was going on) thread is here.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1355045/posts?

[Mount Athos]

This was a fun story. I also am curious how much fuel was left!
I heard there was some question if the gauges were reading accurately.

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

Very cool. Don't know how he does it solo, at his age.

Good grief, he's only 60.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

That's one hell of a trip around the pattern!

[sharktrager]

With Cialis any erections over 4 hours require immediate medical attention.

I saw it on the commercial...







...right before I went out and bought some Cialis.

[OldFriend]

Watched it all and found it overwhelmingly awesome.

Some of the commentary.......aaaaarrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh

[NCC-1701]

"...Why is this headline news? I mean really..."

This is a success story. With all the depressing news out there, I, for one, applaud this flight. It's about time we had something, anything, to be proud of. And BTW, it's an American record.

[Peach]

Good grief. Do you know many 60 year olds who can stay awake for over 70 hours. And not just awake but hyper alert as they navigate around the world. Alone?

I don't know about you, but I don't know many people who can do that at 30.

[Niteranger68]

I wonder how long it will take before some environmental wus demands to know if the plane spilled the missing 2600 pounds of fuel. And if so, report them to the WHO, WTO, UN, WCC, Green"piece", and whoever else might be worthless enough to care.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Kudos to him. That guy has guts. The plane was probably a tad more comfy than that hot air balloon, Eh?

What's next? To the Moon and back in a lawn chair covered in kiddie balloons? LOL!

[kingsurfer]

the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer

........................................................

It was sponsored by Virgin Atlantic owner Richard Branson.
There transatlnatic flight form London to San Francisco was and still is the best airline to take. Beautiful air hostesses and plenty of food and booze for free.

[Beelzebubba]

I would assume the plane had an autopilot that allowed him a few naps, or is that against the rules?

[Drango]

Yawnnnnn.... Oh look, I've got lint in my navel.

[MeekOneGOP]

Way to go!! Congratulations.

[Glenn]

it's an American record.

Financed by one hell of a Brit -- not to take away from the record. You'd think American corps would get on board with this sort of thing is all I'm saying. We'd have more records still.

[Peach]

I don't know.

Auto pilot is okay to use when you have someone else watching the skies. Not sure I'd use it if alone.

[Asfarastheeastisfromthewest...]

Well, my Mom is 93 and may not be in the best of shape anymore but I swear she needs far less sleep than I do. It all depends on what can of shape one is in and what his/her body typically requires - I know lots of 60 year old folks in great shape that can easily outlast the young pups. Then there is my daughter who has no problem sleeping 12 hours on occasion. Geez, I haven't done that since, well.... since I was a teenager.lol

[Peach]

LOL.

[Wneighbor]

Thrilling! Outstanding! Listening to radio reports of it now. What a fine accomplishement. :-)

[Rebelbase]

Do you think we'll ever hear what kind of prescription he was taking to stay awake and functional sitting down that long?

[SandfleaCSC]

Technically, in order to be elibgible for the record, you have to land in the same vehicle you went up in. At least as far as the FAA and NASA is concerned. Yuri only landed his capsule.

[calex59]

With Cialis any erections over 4 hours require immediate medical attention. I saw it on the commercial...

Yeah, like that's going to bother most guys! The wife or girlfriend might call for medical attention though!

[SF Republican]

how a man can stay up 66 hours according to the viagra commercial he should seek medical attention

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Lindbergh's transatlantic flight took 33 hours 30 minutes.

[hattend]

He said he got no sleep the first two nights, but he took 6 or 7 naps of 1 or 2 minutes on the second 2 nights. (after flight interview)

[6SJ7]

I wonder what in flight movie was shown?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Yuri Gagarin was the first to fly solo

Technically, he fell. Also, technically, I don't think it counts as a circumnavigation unless you circle a pair of antipodes, else what's to stop someone from flying around the North Pole and then claiming to have "flown around the World"?