N1MLF
03-03-2005, 11:54 AM
He'll be back over US soil in the next couple hours and planing a Salina landing around lunchtime.
Mission Tracking Page (http://www.globalflier.com/MissionControl/Tracking/index.jsp)
..JW..
WA5KRP
03-03-2005, 04:13 PM
YEAH!!!!!! It took a lot of guts to cross the Pacific while being uncertain about 2600 pounds of missing (?) fuel. Right now he's over northern Arizona.
Anybody know the glide ratio of the GlobalFlyer? From their website:
Quote[/b] ]Aerodynamics are key to this aircraft, and its configuration is optimised for range and fuel efficiency. The aircraft's aerodynamics have been designed using extremely sophisticated computing technology that uses computational fluid dynamics to predict how the aircraft's surfaces will behave in flight. The aircraft is so aerodynamically perfect, that the only practical way to descend is using drag parachutes, like the ones in the picture above. As the aircraft is only required to land once, these won't be detachable and will take time to reset.
http://www.globalflier.com/images/006_Main_tcm206-3716.jpg
Amazing. Rutan is a FREAK SHOW. When he dies they'll probably mount his brain at the Smithsonian. Fossett will probably attempt another first and return from the dead. Gotta love these guys. Oh, almost forgot to mention - Virgin Atlantic sure got their money's worth out of this deal. When the plane goes to the Smithsonian it will have their name on it in perpetuity.
WA5KRP
Texas