January 10, 2005. Copyright 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved

High hopes for around-the-world solo flight record
by Mark Rutter

LONDON, January 10, Graphic News:  Another chapter in the 101-year history of powered flight and aircraft technology is about to be written. Steve Fossett, famed for his hot air balloon exploits, will attempt to be the first person to fly solo and non-stop around the world without refuelling.

His aircraft, GlobalFlyer, was developed and built by Burt Rutan, who hit the headlines last year as the builder of the worldÕs first private spacecraft, but who also built Voyager, which was co-piloted to the first around-the-world non refuelled flight in 1986. Whereas Voyager took nine days to achieve this feat, it is hoped that GlobalFlyer will complete its journey in less than three days. This is possible because GlobalFlyer is jet-propelled and has been designed to be highly aerodynamic and to glide easily. And, made from graphite arranged in a honeycomb formation to increase strength, it is also extremely light.

So far, GlobalFlyer, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic, has made around 23 test flights during which a number of technical problems arose. The single ÒturbofanÓ jet engine caused excessive noise in the cockpit, while its high efficiency meant that it produced too little heat to keep the test pilot warm enough. These difficulties were eventually overcome by installing insulation, although it did add a little more weight to the plane. The design engineers also had to find and rectify a mystifying leaky fuel tank.

Now all that remains is for Fossett to carry out his own test flights. If the weather is favourable, GlobalFlyer could take off on its record flight at the beginning of February. It will fly from Salina Airport in the U.S. state of Kansas, chosen for its new runway, one of the longest in North America. Its central position is also favourable. As the plane will be flying eastwards around the world, it will be able to land at one of the large west coast airports should it run out of fuel before reaching Salinas.

Fuel is likely to be the key to a successful mission. GlobalFlyer will require significantly more fuel than Voyager. When it attempts the record, the fuel supply will make up most of its weight, with the plane itself responsible for under a fifth of the total weight. Estimating the amount of fuel required is fraught with difficulty. The glider-like design of the plane tends to make it easy for wind to divert it from its most efficient altitude and speed, resulting in higher fuel use.

The plane will not be tested at its final take-off weight, when extra fuel is expected to make it 15 percent heavier than any previous flight. There is a possibility that this extra weight might lead to a potentially dangerous situation where stability is affected, causing a loss of handling control during take-off. As with previous developments in the field of aviation then, from the earliest pioneer days to the jet age, the success of this mission is far from assured.
/ENDS