Weather Blamed For Delay Until At Least Feb. 12th

The date for Steve Fossett's solo 'round-the-world record attempt continues to slip. Now, the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer team says the weather just won't be right before next Saturday, according to the Salina Journal.

"A period of time when we’re not going is through the 12th. That’s as far as we could forecast the weather," Fossett (above) said in an interview from his office in Chicago. "It’s mainly a waiting game for the weather. I’m quite relaxed with it now."

For Fossett, an old pro at setting records, waiting for the weather has become something of a way of life. The Journal reports Fossett has set 102 world records in a dozen years -- most of them in balloons and sailboats.

As with the balloons and the sailboats, Fossett will need favorable winds for this attempt to fly 23,000 miles or so without landing and without refueling.

Specifically, Fossett needs a good tailwind from the jet stream, which is reportedly curving up the East Coast, moving too far north to make the record attempt a valid one. Although the winds in the jet stream seem to have enough speed to give Fossett the tailwind he needs, forecasters call for "light" turbulence at 38,000 feet. Together with the location of the stream, that's enough to put the project on hold right now.

Stay tuned...

FMI: www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com