Round-the-World Flights

First Solo Non-Stop Round-the-World Plane Flight (#2)

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Steve Fossett	Fossett's Autograph	On Landing	Global Flyer	Salina KS Cover

	In 2002 Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo round-the-world, nonstop
in a balloon.  Steve is a millionaire businessman-turned-adventurer who is known for his 
record-breaking balloon flights.  In 1995 he made the first solo crossing of the Pacific 
Ocean.  He then tried and failed to become the first to circle the globe nonstop in a 
multi-person balloon.  His attempts included a 1998 flight with British businessman, 
Richard Branson that ended with the balloon ditching in the Pacific near Hawaii.  The 
first round-the-world circumnavigation was accomplished in March 1999 by Swiss pilot, 
Bertrand Piccard and Englishman, Brian Jones.
	Steve also failed in five solo circumnavigation attempts, including one in August, 
2001 which began in Australia and ended when bad weather forced him to land in Brazil.  
The next year he triumphed, launching his balloon from Northam Western Australia on 
June 19, 2002 and returning to Australia on July 4, 2002. 
	On February 28, 2005 Steve departed the Municipal Airport in Salina KS in the Virgin 
Atlantic Global Flyer (manufactured by Scaled Composites for Virgin Atlantic) in an attempt 
to fly a jet powered aircraft around the world non-stop without refueling.  67H 1M 46S and 
22,877 miles later on March 3, 2005 Steve landed the Global Flyer back at the Salina Municipal 
Airport after completing his circumnavigation round-the-world and carving his name once again 
in history. 

One Man, One Plane, One World!  Steve Fossett, Global Flyer, Round-the-World!	

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