Admits He's Nervous About Attempting "Last Great Aviation Record"

REAL TIME UPDATE 1813 EST -- Steve Fossett's around-the-world record attempt is again delayed. This time, however, the hiatus is scheduled to last only 45 minutes.

The flight of the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer was supposed to have launched at 1800 EST, but was temporarily grounded because of concerns about turbulence. Fossett's team sent two aircraft -- a Beech Starship and a Beech Baron -- aloft to check winds as high as 30,000 feet.

"It's kicking up some light turbulence," Fossett said of the wind, which has gusted at 25 mph throughout the afternoon. "It's going to get better." He was quoted by the Salina Journal.

Calling his mission to circle the world solo, without landing or refueling, the "last great aviation record," pilot-adventurer Steve Fossett admits, he's a little nervous. Fossett is reportedly headed for the runway at Salina Airport, KS, ready to take off on a flight that, if successful, will last more than 70 hours and will again write his name in the history books.

ANN is following Fossett's Global Flyer mission and will bring you real time updates as Fossett prepares to launch.

The flight, much delayed because of concerns about the weather and the path of the jet stream, is scheduled to take off sometime Monday afternoon.

There's plenty to be nervous about. The aircraft, built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites, has never flown with a full load of fuel. Some of the delays over the past several weeks have been blamed on fear of turbulence. Fossett plans to ride the jet stream on his circumnavigational attempt and there have been concerns about the amount of turbulence some eight miles up.

"I suppose I am a little bit of a nervous person -- perhaps it is justified in this case," he said, quoted by CNN. "It will be very scary to take off in a plane this heavy and the consequences of something going wrong.... There is very little margin for things like turbulence and tail winds."

FMI: www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com