Annals of Aviation–Fossett Flies Far, Really Far: Thank God, we’re back to some real news. Steve Fossett, uber-adventurer and Wetass extraordinaire, just added to his hefty world record collection by nailing the glider distance record. Flying with co-pilot Terry Delore, Fossett set out from Esquel, Argentina over the weekend and flew out and back over a distance of 2002.44 kilometers. That broke the existing Out and Back record by almost 300 kilometers, and Fossett and Delore did it going head to head against the existing record holder, German pilot Klaus Ohlmann, who set out from Esquel the same day. The reason Fossett and Ohlmann were bumping wings in Esquel is that the Andes mountain range can create perfect gliding conditions–known as a “mountain wave”–as winds accelerate over the top of the peaks. Ohlmann flew south, and Fossett and Delore flew north. North paid, and Ohlmann was back first–in time to congratulate Fossett after he landed. Fossett also is targeting the glider height and speed records. And just to keep busy, he has yet another world record project cooking, for 2004. He wants to become the first solo pilot to fly around the globe non-stop (with no refueling), a project which is being backed by Virgin Atlantic and his buddy, adventurer-in-arms, Richard Branson. Fossett is hoping to get around in about 80 hours, and if he does he will have been the first to solo the globe non-stop in both a balloon and a plane. I told you he was a Wetass….



Fossett’s Global Flying Machine: But would it be powerful enough to get Kirk Jones across Niagara?

(Image: http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com)