Some Background Data On The Virgin Atlantic Globalflyer
Interesting Stats...
The record attempt is the first solo non-stop circumnavigation
of the world in an aircraft, meeting the criteria of the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).
Steve Fossett is the pilot, with Richard Branson reserve
pilot.
The attempt will take place in 2004, either around April or
from October onwards depending on the favourability of the jet
streams and the flight-testing of the aircraft from January to
March 2004.
The route will be planned around a take off from a central
United States location. The aircraft will follow the jet stream
across the Atlantic to the UK. From there the aircraft will route
south to the Mediterranean and then route through the Gulf to
Pakistan, India, China and Japan. It will then cross the Pacific
and head back to the launch destination. It is likely to fly over
or near the following destinations: Montreal, Gander, London,
Paris, Rome, Cairo, Bahrain, Karachi, Calcutta, Shanghai, Tokyo,
Honolulu, Los Angeles.
A number of Virgin Atlantic staff will be playing key roles in
the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer project. Kevin Stass, Virgin
Atlantic's Route Planning Manager, will be the Mission Control
Director for the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. He will be supported
by Ian Craft, from our US office in mission control and Alex Tai,
one of Virgin Atlantic's Captains, will pilot the chase plane and
will also support the project on a number of issues.
The aircraft will fly up to 52,000ft.
Globalflyer Information
Length
38.7ft
Height
11.8ft
Gross Weight
22,066 lb
Empty Weight
3,577 lb
Wingspan
114 ft
Wing Area
400 sq ft
Range
global circumnavigation range using available winds
Speed
in excess of 250 knots (285 mph, 440 kph)
Engine
Williams FJ44-3 ATW, 2300 lbs rated thrust - located above the
aft fuselage on the top of the wing
Fuel tanks
there are seventeen fuel tanks
Cockpit
7.7 feet long pressurised and large enough for pilot to lie
down plus food, water and personal equipment.
Landing gear
retractable tricycle landing gear
Flight controls
all flight controls are mechanically actuated using cables,
push pull tubes and bellcranks and are fully reversible
The aircraft
designed by Burt Rutan and built by Scaled Composites at their
headquarters in the Mojave Desert
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