All Systems 'Go' For GlobalFlyer Flight To Florida

 

January 12, 2006 — The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer repositioning flight to the Kennedy Space Center is all systems go for today, January 12, as Steve Fossett plans a 10 a.m. local takeoff from Salina, Kansas, and a 4 p.m. arrival at Cape Canaveral. Fossett successfully test-flew the aircraft Wednesday at Salina Municipal Airport, and said that planned tests of the flight equipment and the recent wing repair performed exactly as expected. Fossett will attempt to set a new absolute distance record between mid-January and late February, dependent on weather and jet stream conditions.

"When we designed this plane, we knew it would be able to do great things, which we did in setting the record last year," he said "But after learning of the loss of fuel, and landing with even further excess fuel, it became clear that the plane was capable of even more than we originally thought. I'm looking forward to taking this plane to its, and my, ultimate capability for this Ultimate Flight."