Fossett and media

At the end of the balloon flight, Peter Jennings (ABC News in USA), said that Steve Fossett would be attempting a world record glider flight. As this was being told, they showed footage of a vintage Fauvel wing doing wing-overs.

Jennings (ABC News in USA), said that

There is already a homepage about this new project:

Somebody ought to tell the media (ABC et al.) this then - they probably don't have the intelligence to do it themselves, as one of the lower life forms on this planet.

SSA Marketing Manager. He's on the case.

And so what are we to assume of the reporting accuracy of Fossett's so-called balloon flight? Maybe it was actually in a 747? And is anyone else wondering how close to the poles one can make an east or west trip and still claim to have circumnavigated the world? Skeptical, enquiring 'minds' want to know... Jack Wyman

want to know...

The FAI has rules for what constitutes a 'Round the World' balloon flight, just as it has rules for glider speed triangles, etc. The rules are explained at http://www.fai.org/ballooning/rtw-exp.asp, if you want to know the details.

An official observer (I'm not sure, but it may have been Stan Nelson, who is also a glider pilot) from the (US) National Aeronautic Association validates the flight. Flight documentation was provided by two recently calibrated Volksloggers, recording at a fairly slow rate.

Any other questions?

Let's have less sour grapes - Steve Fossett may have lots of money but he also has the balls to take on many a challenge that requires courage as well - let the critics try swimming the English Channel or completing the Alaska sled race as Steve has done. If he can bring some focus on our sport - good for him! Lou Frank

From a N.Y. Times article, '...to meet the FAI definition Fossett had to fly at least 12,400 miles and to remain outside an imaginary circle 4,143 miles in diameter drawn around the South Pole. Circling the earth at the equator is a distance of 24,900 miles.' Fossett flew 19,428 miles in 13.5 days.

From www.newsmax.com, 'Fossett is the first person to fly around the world alone in a balloon. Swiss balloonist Bertrand Piccard and English co-pilot Brian Jones hold the record for the first successful (balloon) circumnavigation of Earth. They covered 25,361 miles in 15 days over the Northern Hemisphere in March 1999.'

Note that although the FAI has not approved his record, Guiness has, even though he was drinking Bud Light (yech!).

I caught the success story on 2 of the 3 Denver local channels. At both stations, the anchor concluded with '... and his next feat will be to fly a glider into the stratosphere', followed by rolling of eyes and chuckles from the sports guy and weather gal. In one case, the anchor claimed 'Fossett's flight crew captain said that was news to him' (!?). Thud.