Branson plans new aviation record attempt

Serial record breakers Steve Fossett and Sir Richard Branson have unveiled plans today to attempt one of the remaining great challenges of aviation - a solo, non-stop flight around the world without refuelling.

For the record attempt, which is scheduled to take place next year, the pair plan to complete the 23,000 mile-record round trip in around 80 hours

The super fuel efficient jet, which has been designed to burn less fuel per mile than a Mini Cooper, will be piloted by Steve Fossett, Richard Branson’s partner in his last global ballooning record attempt. The Virgin Atlantic chief will ride shotgun as reserve pilot.

Sir Richard said: "Flying an aircraft solo around the world without stopping or refuelling in mid-flight is the last great aviation record left inside the Earth's atmosphere."

Their aircraft, GlobalFlyer, is a single pilot, single engine turbofan aircraft designed for non-stop global circumnavigation. The aircraft will fly up to 52,000ft and travel between 19,000 and 25,000 miles at speeds in excess of 250 knots (285mph, 440kph).

The pair will have to follow a strict set of rules laid down by the governing body of aviation record attempts, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).

The FAI's rules state that the record attempt must start and finish at the same airfield and cross all meridians of the globe – and the course must not be less than the very precise figure of 36,787.559 kilometres (around 23,000 miles), which is equal in length to the Tropic of Cancer.

The route will begin from an airfield in mid-Western US and will then follow the jet stream winds across the Atlantic to the UK. From there the GlobalFlyer will head south-east across the Mediterranean and the Gulf before turning east towards Pakistan, India, China and Japan. The final leg of the journey will take the plane out over the Pacific towards Hawaii before crossing the west coast of the US and returning to its launch site. The flight should be completed inside 80 hours.

In July 1933, America's Wiley Post was the first to circumnavigate the globe by air, making it in just under eight days.

(gmcg)