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

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

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

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.

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

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

"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

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...

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.

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.

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