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

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
--
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"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.

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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

"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...iams/index.jsp
http://www.williams-int.com/high/product/fj44-3.htm

"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