Scary Final Moments On "Ultimate Flight"

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 02.11.06 1220EST: After diverting from his intended landing spot at Kent International Airport, Steve Fossett landed moments ago at Bournemouth.

The GlobalFlyer website reports Fossett declared an emergency while on approach to Kent due to a generator failure on the aircraft. He was able to avoid ditching the aircraft, and is reportedly safe at the southern England airport.

Fossett officially surpassed the world record for the longest flight ever by an aircraft over Shannon, Ireland.

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 02.11.06 1000EST: He's going for it!

Steve Fossett has passed the 'point of no return' crossing the Atlantic, and is now heading towards Shannon in Ireland with the hope of continuing onto Manston.

After careful deliberation and analysis over available fuel and wind data, the team has concluded that there is a reasonable chance of success and agreed that Steve should take the risk.

"We've been looking at the jet streams and the amount of fuel Steve has left in the tanks, and agreed at around 10:30 UTC that Steve could definitely make Shannon, if not Manston," said Jon Karkow.

"It will be tense for us all here during the next few hours."

While landing in Shannon would net Fossett the record, it's clear the team is casting its eyes further east, to the original destination spot of Kent in the UK.

The GlobalFlyer is expected to reach Ireland at approximately 1020EST, at which time Fossett will begin his descent towards England -- with an expected touchdown time at 1200EST.

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 02.12.06 0000EST: He's either Ireland-bound.... Kent-bound... or Florida-bound. That's the word from mission control on possible landing sites for Steve Fossett and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. Fossett has once again passed over the eastern coast of the US, and now beginning his trek east... on what is being called the riskiest part of his entire flight.

Although Steve has had reasonable tailwinds -- which the team were hoping would continue -- it looks as though he will have almost no tailwinds to assist on the final leg of the trip. That'll be a problem, certainly, as the 750lbs of fuel he lost during take-off means he needs good jet streams to aid his flight.

That means it'll soon be decision time for Fossett... as about two-hours into his second Atlantic crossing, he will have to decide whether he has the fuel and good enough weather patterns to make a bid for Kent.

"The Scaled Composite engineers are currently looking at data to see if there are ways to minimize the fuel Steve’s burning so he has a better chance of landing at Kent International Airport," said mission controller Kevin Stass. "It’s going to be a bit of nail biter tomorrow, but we're cautiously optimistic."

Essentially, Fossett has three choices: continue on to Kent, England -- the original destination for the flight -- and hope for the best; turn around and head back to Florida; or, a compromise: divert to an alternate landing site in Ireland, which isn't as far as Fossett would have liked to have travelled, but should still earn him the longest-distance record.

Turning around is the least-palatable option.

"The decision of whether to turn back is looming," Fossett told a UK television station Friday. "Currently I would say the chances are no more than 50/50. I will have until 11:30 UTC when I reach the point of no return and will be forced to make this crucial decision.

"It would be devastating to have to ditch the Ultimate Distance Record when I am on the home straight," he added.

Stay tuned...

FMI: www.globalflyer.com