Fossett, Fossett, Fossett, .... is he really that great?

[Bob Engelhardt]

I don't get it: Burt Rutan designed and built the GlobalFlyer and
Branson financed it - why is Fosset getting all the attention and why
was he the pilot? Is he really that great of a pilot? It seems that
his real fame is as "adventurer". Maybe what he brought to the project
was his name and fame.

Was the "job" really that hard? Other than sitting still for 67 hours,
what is Fossett's accomplishment? With the auto pilot and ground crew
it doesn't seem like it would have been that much of a challenge. That
the real challenge was the design. Let's hear it for Burt Rutan!!

Bob

[Chris W]

Bob Engelhardt wrote:

> I don't get it: Burt Rutan designed and built the GlobalFlyer and
> Branson financed it - why is Fosset getting all the attention and why
> was he the pilot? Is he really that great of a pilot? It seems that
> his real fame is as "adventurer". Maybe what he brought to the
> project was his name and fame.


I have been wondering what the big deal about this flight is from the
beginning. First flying around the world non stop doesn't sound like
much of an adventure to me, it sounds pretty boring. Second hasn't this
been done before and aren't there several planes in existence that, if
filled with fuel instead of people and or cargo, could fly non stop
around the world? Third, what's the point? If you can fly half way
around the world, you can get from anywhere to anywhere.

--
Chris W

Gift Giving Made Easy
Get the gifts you want &
give the gifts they want
http://thewishzone.com

[Casey Wilson]

>
> I have been wondering what the big deal about this flight is from the
> beginning. First flying around the world non stop doesn't sound like much
> of an adventure to me, it sounds pretty boring. Second hasn't this been
> done before and aren't there several planes in existence that, if filled
> with fuel instead of people and or cargo, could fly non stop around the
> world? Third, what's the point? If you can fly half way around the
> world, you can get from anywhere to anywhere.
>
> --
> Chris W

I had a chance to ask someone involved in this stuff. The guy's name
is Dick Rutan. Yep, one of the Voyager pilots and brother of Burt Rutan.
Rutan said, in effect, that he will leave it to the historians to determine
the significance of Fossett's oddesey.
He, Rutan, did however say that the trip is important for a number
of reasons. For one, advancement of technology. Materials, equipment, and
instruments have made significant improvements since he and Jeana Yeager did
their thing.
Then there is competition. Rutan pointed out the not-too-long-ago
solo trip around the world by a woman in a sailboat. Rutan thinks interest
could be generated in transglobal air racing. Heck, I can see where it might
lead to another Miss Budweiser.
Perhaps he has something there. After all, what's the point of going
roundy-roundy on an asphalt oval for 500 miles? Or thrashing about pylons
at Reno, for that matter? Or zipping across the water at 200 MPH?
It ain't all about logic.

[George Patterson]

Chris W wrote:
>
> Second hasn't this been done before ...

No. Fossett is the first to fly around the world solo without stopping.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[Robert M. Gary]

Actually, I thought I read that Branson financed it.

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, "Robert M. Gary" > said:
>Actually, I thought I read that Branson financed it.

Considering that the post you're following up to says exactly that, I'm
unsure what your point is.


--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"I don't care who your father is! Drop that cross one more time and you're out
of the parade!"

[kontiki]

Linberg didn't design his airplane but he got all the credit.

Same could be said for Howard Hughs's around the world flight
and he had the latest technological bells and whistles available
in his airplane.

I think its De-facto standard to give credit to the individual
at the controls for all the accolades. That notwithstanding, I
think that flying an airplane solo for 60-some hours is pretty
impressive.... it does take "the right stuff".

That being said, I'd pay money to have the chance to do it!

:o)

[Darrel Toepfer]

Robert M. Gary wrote:

> Actually, I thought I read that Branson financed it.

And was the backup pilot as I remember...

[Gene Seibel]

Steve couldn't have done it without Burt Rutan. However, Steve is a
very talented individual:

Steve Fossett is among the world's greatest adventurers - and holds
current official World Records in 5 sports.

His First Solo balloon flight Round The World is a milestone in
aviation history. During this extraordinary 2002 solo, non-stop Round
the World flight Steve also covered 3,186 miles in a single 24 hour
period - and hit a top speed of 200 miles per hour - flying faster than
anyone ever had by manned balloon. On previous global attempts he made
the first balloon crossing of the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe
and South America, and the first ocean crossings of the South Atlantic,
South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Steve Fossett is also the most successful Speed Sailor in the history
of Sailing. His Round The World Record of 58 days 9 hours in 2004 and
TransAtlantic Record of 4 days 17 hours in 2001 were dramatic
improvements over the previous records. Between 1993 and 2004 Fossett
set 23 official world records in sailing, including 13 which still
stand.

In gliders he has made the first 1500 Kilometer Triangle flight and the
first 2000 Kilometer Out-and-Return flight. In the last 2 years he has
set 10 of the 21 Glider Open World Records.

Steve also holds Round The World records for medium weight airplanes
(in both directions) as well as the U.S. transcontinental records for
non-supersonic airplanes and unlimited turboprops. And in October 2004
Steve set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships!

In addition, he has completed premier endurance sports events including
the Iditarod, Ironman Triathlon, and the English Channel swim.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

[Colin W Kingsbury]

"Gene Seibel" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Steve couldn't have done it without Burt Rutan. However, Steve is a
> very talented individual:
>
> Steve Fossett is among the world's greatest adventurers - and holds
> current official World Records in 5 sports.

There are adventures that change the way we look at the world-- Think
Columbus, Drake, Magellan, and Hudson. Lindbergh is in a similar class- his
flight catalyzed a general awareness that "flying machines" were ready to
become commercially-viable transportation and book-ended the era of
barnstorming.

Fossett's accomplishments are technically impressive, but to my mind they do
not advance the state of the art in all that profound a way. Yes, we are
learning the wring a few more percent of efficiency out of an airfoil and
that sort of thing, but that isn't going to fundamentally change the way
aviation works. By contrast, Space Ship One may (or may not) mark the
beginning of a decade or two that sees private manned spaceflight moving
forward the way aviation did in the 30s.

I'll give Fossett respect for the fact that unlike say a lot of those guys
who finance Americas' Cup boats that are sailed almost entirely by
professionals, he actually does the driving. Sure, the hard work was done by
Burt Rutan, but if they really did come up 2600# short of fuel, it wouldn't
have been Burt's butt bobbing in the Pacific.

-cwk.

[Blueskies]

"Bob Engelhardt" > wrote in message ...

> it doesn't seem like it would have been that much of a challenge. That the real challenge was the design. Let's hear
> it for Burt Rutan!!
>
> Bob

Actually, lets hear it for Rutan's design team!

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, Bob Engelhardt > said:
>I don't get it: Burt Rutan designed and built the GlobalFlyer and
>Branson financed it - why is Fosset getting all the attention and why
>was he the pilot? Is he really that great of a pilot? It seems that

If they'd miscalculated the fuel, who would have been sitting in the ocean
fighting off sharks until the rescue helicopter arrived, Fossett, Rutan or
Branson?

I'm not saying that this record is as important as Charles Lindberg's NYP
flight, but they used to dance the Lindie hop, not the Ryan hop.

--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the
instruments of tyranny at home." - James Madison

[Kev]

> I'm not saying that this record is as important as Charles
> Lindberg's NYP flight, but they used to dance the Lindie hop,
> not the Ryan hop.

Yep. And even stranger, Lindbergh was praised even though he was what,
about the 100th person to cross the Atlantic by plane? But he was the
first solo, just as Fossett was the first to solo round the world.

Some people must be getting jaded with technology, not to at least
celebrate his daring. Or perhaps some people will just never get the
concept of adventure. A few have even said, "Well, that's just like
climbing Everest, what's the point?" Heck, perhaps our genetic
ancestors should've never climbed out of the water and slime :-)

I say, thank goodness there are still adventures to be had, new places
to go, and a few willing to do it !

Cheers, Kev

[Cockpit Colin]

> Linberg didn't design his airplane but he got all the credit.

That guy Neil Armstrong seems to have got a bit of undeserved credit too, by
this line of thinking.

Come on guys - sure - many pilots could have done it - but he DID do it. I
take my "hat" off to him.

[Cub Driver]

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 11:18:16 -0500, Bob Engelhardt
> wrote:

>Let's hear it for Burt Rutan!!

Well, we have heard it for Rutan. At least people have heard it from
me!

And for Sir Richard Branson, who not only put up the money but turned
up at the celebration in bluejeans. You just can't help admiring a
knight who wears jeans.

But Fossett was the guy in the plane, and he was the guy who would
have had to swim if the plane ditched. No doubt he's a rich
thrill-seeker / publicity-seeker. Nevertheless he did it, so let's
hear it for him as well.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 11:41:01 -0600, Chris W > wrote:

>Second hasn't this
>been done before

No, not solo. The other plane to accomplish it was also designed and
built by Burt Rutan, and flown by his brother and the brother's
girlfriend, so the pilots could get some sleep. Also it had two recip
engines, a clever idea but not as impressive as building a jet that
could do the job. I want to know more about that jet!


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 18:05:57 GMT, "Casey Wilson" <N2310D @ gmail.com>
wrote:

>Rutan pointed out the not-too-long-ago
>solo trip around the world by a woman in a sailboat.

Ellen McArthur, if I spell it correctly.

She just did it again, breaking the round-the-world record for a
keelboat solo. Likely she will be on the New Year's Honours List: Dame
Ellen!

Not bad for a young woman who used to hang around the Southampton
docks, begging sailors to take her out on their boats so she could
learn how to sail.

When McArthur made her first solo around the world, my daughter and
her now-husband met her at Cape Horn to put supplies aboard her boat.
It was designed by Merfyn Owen, and I think the new one was at well.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 19:19:49 GMT, kontiki >
wrote:

>Same could be said for Howard Hughs's around the world flight

I thought Hughes's flight was called off on account of World War II? I
gave away my copy of George Marrett's book or I'd look it up.

Good yarn! www.warbirdforum.com/aviator.htm



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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the blog: www.danford.net

[Big John]

Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.

Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
no one remembers the names of prior fliers.

Will history be repeated?

Big John
```````````````````````````````````````````


On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 11:41:01 -0600, Chris W > wrote:

>Bob Engelhardt wrote:
>
>> I don't get it: Burt Rutan designed and built the GlobalFlyer and
>> Branson financed it - why is Fosset getting all the attention and why
>> was he the pilot? Is he really that great of a pilot? It seems that
>> his real fame is as "adventurer". Maybe what he brought to the
>> project was his name and fame.
>
>
>I have been wondering what the big deal about this flight is from the
>beginning. First flying around the world non stop doesn't sound like
>much of an adventure to me, it sounds pretty boring. Second hasn't this
>been done before and aren't there several planes in existence that, if
>filled with fuel instead of people and or cargo, could fly non stop
>around the world? Third, what's the point? If you can fly half way
>around the world, you can get from anywhere to anywhere.

[Blueskies]

"Kev" > wrote in message ups.com...
>> I'm not saying that this record is as important as Charles
>> Lindberg's NYP flight, but they used to dance the Lindie hop,
>> not the Ryan hop.
>
> Yep. And even stranger, Lindbergh was praised even though he was what,
> about the 100th person to cross the Atlantic by plane? But he was the
> first solo, just as Fossett was the first to solo round the world.
>
<snip>

> Cheers, Kev


Lindbergh was praised because he won the prize, he satisfied the parameters, he flew non-stop New York to Paris. None of
the other crossings could go that far. Just because he did it solo was icing on the cake, but it was not part of the
prize specification.

[Jose]

> Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.
>
> Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
> no one remembers the names of prior fliers.

I think the issue was that Lindberg flew it nonstop.

Jose
--
Math is a game. The object of the game is to figure out the rules.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Dave Stadt]

"Jose" > wrote in message
. ..
> > Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.
> >
> > Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
> > no one remembers the names of prior fliers.
>
> I think the issue was that Lindberg flew it nonstop.

Maybe for you but for most people it was the fact it was a solo flight.

>
> Jose
> --
> Math is a game. The object of the game is to figure out the rules.
> for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Paul Tomblin]

In a previous article, Jose > said:
>> Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.
>> Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
>> no one remembers the names of prior fliers.
>
>I think the issue was that Lindberg flew it nonstop.

No, because Alcott and Brown did it nonstop in 1919. The difference was
that
a) they weren't solo and
b) they went Gander Nfld to Ireland versus New York to Paris

Lindberg was significant in the grand scheme of things because he went
from one significant city to another, paving the way for commercial
flights.

--
Paul Tomblin > http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"He passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the
platform upon which he was standing collapsed." "I thought he was hanged?"
"That's what I said, isn't it?"

[Jose]

> Alcott and Brown did it nonstop in 1919. The difference was
> that
> a) they weren't solo and
> b) they went Gander Nfld to Ireland versus New York to Paris
>
> Lindberg was significant in the grand scheme of things because he went
> from one significant city to another, paving the way for commercial
> flights.

Well, Nfld to Ireland is hardly a trans-atlantic flight. Ok,
technically it is across the atlantic, and it would be just as
inconvenient for the pilot's cooling fan to stop working, but the issue
of "one significant city to another" is more a side effect of the fact
that these significant cities are further away than the narrowest part
of the atlantic.

Being solo is also just happenstance. Had Lindburg not done it, and had
the other flight in the tri-motor succeeded, it would have been a crew
of two or three (if I'm not mistaken; I don't have my copy of the book
handy) that crossed the atlantic (coming from Paris) that would have
gotten the credit and the prize.

You are correct that in going from one significant city to another, it
paved the way for commercial flights.

Jose
--
Math is a game. The object of the game is to figure out the rules.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[George Patterson]

Jose wrote:
>
> > Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.
> >
> > Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
> > no one remembers the names of prior fliers.
>
> I think the issue was that Lindberg flew it nonstop.

No, as far as the Atlantic is concerned, the issue is that Lindberg flew it
solo. He became famous (and took the prize) for making the first non-stop flight
between New York and Paris. The team of Alcock and Brown were the first to cross
the Atlantic. They did it ten years before Lindberg's flight.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[George Patterson]

Cub Driver wrote:
>
> I thought Hughes's flight was called off on account of World War II?

Nope. I've got a photo somewhere of LaGuardia greeting Hughes when he completed
the flight.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[mike regish]

Or refueling.

mike regish

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Chris W wrote:
>>
>> Second hasn't this been done before ...
>
> No. Fossett is the first to fly around the world solo without stopping.
>
> George Patterson
> I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[Kyle Boatright]

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Jose wrote:
>>
>> > Several flights were made across the Atlantic prior to Lindburg.
>> >
>> > Lucky Lindy was first to fly solo and everyone remembers his name but
>> > no one remembers the names of prior fliers.
>>
>> I think the issue was that Lindberg flew it nonstop.
>
> No, as far as the Atlantic is concerned, the issue is that Lindberg flew
> it
> solo. He became famous (and took the prize) for making the first non-stop
> flight
> between New York and Paris. The team of Alcock and Brown were the first to
> cross
> the Atlantic. They did it ten years before Lindberg's flight.
>
> George Patterson
> I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

I also tend to think that Lindberg's fame was due to his perception as the
ultimate underdog. The fact that an unknown ex-mail pilot from the Midwest
in a single engine airplane won the contest made it a much more interesting
story than if it was won by a well-funded team of aviation notables flying a
large, multi-engine aircraft.

America loves an underdog.

KB

[Icebound]

"Cub Driver" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 11:41:01 -0600, Chris W > wrote:
>
I want to know more about that jet!
>

This is supposedly a stock Williams FJ44-3. 2000 have been built. Nothing
special.

http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/Team/Williams/index.jsp
http://www.williams-int.com/high/product/fj44-3.htm

[Mike Rapoport]

"Kev" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>> I'm not saying that this record is as important as Charles
>> Lindberg's NYP flight, but they used to dance the Lindie hop,
>> not the Ryan hop.
>
> Yep. And even stranger, Lindbergh was praised even though he was what,
> about the 100th person to cross the Atlantic by plane? But he was the
> first solo, just as Fossett was the first to solo round the world.
>
> Some people must be getting jaded with technology, not to at least
> celebrate his daring. Or perhaps some people will just never get the
> concept of adventure. A few have even said, "Well, that's just like
> climbing Everest, what's the point?" Heck, perhaps our genetic
> ancestors should've never climbed out of the water and slime :-)
>
> I say, thank goodness there are still adventures to be had, new places
> to go, and a few willing to do it !
>
> Cheers, Kev
>

It is not even close to climbing Everest. Everest is something that YOU do.
You can't go get a pair of magic boots than will march up the peak. Flying
an airplane around the word that can fly nonstop around the world is
something that any one of a million pilots could do. Breaking sailing
records by hiring the best designers to design the boat and then hiring the
best crew (including captain) to sail it could also be done by anyone. Same
thing for ballooning. Breaking soaring records by flying the finest glider,
in the best conditions with a champion glider pilot in the back seat is also
something that could be done by anyone. The difference between Fossett and
everyone else is that he seems to be driven to break records.and has the
money to make it happen.

Mike
MU-2

[Cub Driver]

> I want to know more about that jet!
>>
>
>This is supposedly a stock Williams FJ44-3. 2000 have been built. Nothing
>special.
>
>http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/Team/Williams/index.jsp


Many thanks for the link. Just what I wanted to know!


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
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the blog: www.danford.net

[Cub Driver]

On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 16:05:04 GMT, Jose >
wrote:

>Being solo is also just happenstance. Had Lindburg not done it, and had
>the other flight in the tri-motor succeeded, it would have been a crew
>of two or three (if I'm not mistaken; I don't have my copy of the book
>handy) that crossed the atlantic (coming from Paris) that would have
>gotten the credit and the prize.

I don't think the excitement would have been there. People wnat one
hero, not a gang of them. And Lindbergh's persona was also tailor-made
for celebrity. He was tall, he was handsome, he was aw-shucks shy. The
perfect American hero, at least until John Wayne came along.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
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[Cub Driver]

On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 02:50:25 GMT, "Mike Rapoport"
> wrote:

>Flying
>an airplane around the word that can fly nonstop around the world is
>something that any one of a million pilots could do. Breaking sailing
>records by hiring the best designers to design the boat and then hiring the
>best crew (including captain) to sail it could also be done by anyone.

I'm not sure I agree with the first (millions? nah; hundreds, sure)
and I know I disagree with the second. For one thing, the sailor
mentioned in this thread didn't have a crew: she was solo.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
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[Mike Rapoport]

"Cub Driver" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 02:50:25 GMT, "Mike Rapoport"
> > wrote:
>
>>Flying
>>an airplane around the word that can fly nonstop around the world is
>>something that any one of a million pilots could do. Breaking sailing
>>records by hiring the best designers to design the boat and then hiring
>>the
>>best crew (including captain) to sail it could also be done by anyone.
>
> I'm not sure I agree with the first (millions? nah; hundreds, sure)

I said "million" singular.

> and I know I disagree with the second. For one thing, the sailor
> mentioned in this thread didn't have a crew: she was solo.
>

I should be pretty obvious that I wasn't talking about a solo sailor, I was
talking about Steve Fossett's sailing records which have also been mentioned
in this thread..

Mike
MU-2

[[email protected]]

....yes...

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Mike Rapoport" > wrote in message
nk.net...
>
> Flying an airplane around the word that can fly nonstop around the world
> is something that any one of a million pilots could do.

Hmmm, I wonder if there is a million pilots in the world.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"kontiki" > wrote in message
...
>
> Linberg didn't design his airplane but he got all the credit.
>

As I recall Lindbergh did have a pretty fair amount of input into the
configuration of the airplane.

[Mike Rapoport]

I admiit to using some windage and guestimation to arrive at that figure. I
started with the ~640,000 pilots in the USA and figured that there were
probably another 360,000 somewhere.

Mike
MU-2


"Steven P. McNicoll" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
> "Mike Rapoport" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
>>
>> Flying an airplane around the word that can fly nonstop around the world
>> is something that any one of a million pilots could do.
>
> Hmmm, I wonder if there is a million pilots in the world.
>

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"Kev" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Yep. And even stranger, Lindbergh was praised even though he was what,
> about the 100th person to cross the Atlantic by plane?
>

At least 84 men crossed the Atlantic by air before Lindbergh, but not all of
them did it by airplane. The crew of the British dirigible R.34 did it July
1919, a month after Alcock and Brown's first nonstop crossing. The
dirigible LZ-126/ZR-3 was flown nonstop from Germany to New Jersey in
October 1924 by Hugo Eckener and crew.


>
> But he was the first solo, just as Fossett was the first to solo round the
> world.
>


Yes, Lindbergh was the first solo across the Atlantic, but that was just
incidental to his flight. The goal was to be the first nonstop flight
between New York and Paris to win the Orteig prize. The prize did not
require a solo flight.

[Corky Scott]

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 14:19:04 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
> wrote:

>Yes, Lindbergh was the first solo across the Atlantic, but that was just
>incidental to his flight. The goal was to be the first nonstop flight
>between New York and Paris to win the Orteig prize. The prize did not
>require a solo flight.

But the press jumped all over this aspect of the flight, calling him
"the Lone Eagle". It's an aspect that made the flight seem more
adventuresome and dangerous.

Corky Scott

[David CL Francis]

On Sat, 5 Mar 2005 at 05:22:28 in message
>, Cub Driver
> wrote:
>Ellen McArthur, if I spell it correctly.
>
>She just did it again, breaking the round-the-world record for a
>keelboat solo. Likely she will be on the New Year's Honours List: Dame
>Ellen!

If I am not mistaken her boat was a trimaran - does that qualify as a
'keelboat'?
--
David CL Francis

[Kev]

I've been thinking about what made Lindbergh so famous, and so many
other aviation firsts are not. In no particular order, there are a
bunch of reasons that probably also influence other world "memories".

1) There was a competition involved.
2) There was national pride at stake.
3) Others had died attempting the same feat.
4) He was likeable and a newcomer.
5) He was alone.
6) There was no way to know if he was alive until near the end.
7) He had to navigate by dead reckoning
8) The technology was just barely there.

A lot of these also applied to the moon race.

Kev

[Montblack]

("Kev" wrote)
> 1) There was a competition involved.
> 2) There was national pride at stake.
> 3) Others had died attempting the same feat.
> 4) He was likeable and a newcomer.
> 5) He was alone.
> 6) There was no way to know if he was alive until near the end.
> 7) He had to navigate by dead reckoning
> 8) The technology was just barely there.


The post WWI population understood his craft: small plane + motor + fuel.
There was an accessibility, a connection, to this technology as in, maybe
"I" could have built that. Maybe "I" could have done that. Perhaps that
resonated in people's imagination back in 1927.


Montblack

[Dave Stadt]

"David CL Francis" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 5 Mar 2005 at 05:22:28 in message
> >, Cub Driver
> > wrote:
> >Ellen McArthur, if I spell it correctly.
> >
> >She just did it again, breaking the round-the-world record for a
> >keelboat solo. Likely she will be on the New Year's Honours List: Dame
> >Ellen!
>
> If I am not mistaken her boat was a trimaran - does that qualify as a
> 'keelboat'?

No.

> --
> David CL Francis

[Morgans]

> As I recall Lindbergh did have a pretty fair amount of input into the
> configuration of the airplane.

He helped with the extensive modifications, both conceptual and sweatwise.
--
Jim in NC

[Darrel Toepfer]

David CL Francis wrote:

> If I am not mistaken her boat was a trimaran - does that qualify as a
> 'keelboat'?

3 keels are better than 1...

[Dave Stadt]

"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote in message
.. .
> David CL Francis wrote:
>
> > If I am not mistaken her boat was a trimaran - does that qualify as a
> > 'keelboat'?
>
> 3 keels are better than 1...

Actually a boat with 3 keels would be horribly slow.

[Darrel Toepfer]

Dave Stadt wrote:

> Actually a boat with 3 keels would be horribly slow.

2 are faster than 1, I'd bet 3 shallow beats a single deep one,
especially when it just has 2 in the water in a strong wind...

[Dave Stadt]

"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote in message
.. .
> Dave Stadt wrote:
>
> > Actually a boat with 3 keels would be horribly slow.
>
> 2 are faster than 1, I'd bet 3 shallow beats a single deep one,
> especially when it just has 2 in the water in a strong wind...

Shallow keels in general aren't worth much. The stronger the wind the
deeper you want.

Many have tried two but have not been successful. Two are good for
grounding though as the boat sits upright nice waiting for the tide to come
in. Keels are wings remember.

[Morgans]

"Darrel Toepfer" > wrote in message
.. .
> Dave Stadt wrote:
>
> > Actually a boat with 3 keels would be horribly slow.
>
> 2 are faster than 1, I'd bet 3 shallow beats a single deep one,
> especially when it just has 2 in the water in a strong wind...

You are missing the technical definition of a keel boat. Tri hulls and
Catamarans are not keelboats. Deep displacement sailboats without moveable
centerboards are keel boats.
--
Jim in NC

[Darrel Toepfer]

Morgans wrote:

> You are missing the technical definition of a keel boat. Tri hulls and
> Catamarans are not keelboats. Deep displacement sailboats without moveable
> centerboards are keel boats.

I kneaux that, you and Dave are missing the irony of my point. I seem to
remember the Kiwi's bringing their supersized keel boat to a race here
in the US quite awhile back and losing to a 2 hulled blow boat that
allows one side to fly [somewhat back on topic] when the winds are
sufficient...

Hence more hulls in this race, wins by design...

Most every boat hull has a "keel", some just geaux deeper in the water
than others... A Louisiana Jon Boat [flatbottom] comes to mind... <g>