There now appears to be a problem.
The GlobalFlyer mission control team announced today that Steve Fossett’s attempt to set the world record to be the first person to fly around the world non-stop without refueling is in danger. Available fuel appears to be drastically lower than expected at this point in the flight.
The aircraft took off with 18,100 pounds of fuel, but it appears that a large quantity simply disappeared within the first 3.5 hours of flight. The current estimate is 5,500 pounds of fuel onboard just past the halfway point of Fossett’s journey.
One alternative is re-routing the plane further south. Another is to continue with the current route, relying on the jet streams across the Pacific. This option requires a minimum speed of 58 knots aloft to maximize fuel efficiency. The decision team must decide by approximately 12:20 p.m., when the plane reaches the coast of Japan.
“This is a huge setback,” Fossett said. “To think we might not have enough fuel for the remainder of the flight.
“I immediately started to think of alternatives, possibly a route over Mexico for example or how far I could glide. I have not that high a level of confidence at this point. There are still significant hurdles to overcome—not least being the fact that the success of this flight is now down to the calculation of the winds. Also the fear that unforeseen problems in the fuel redistribution from the tips of the wings, which we have yet to undertake, is a worry.”
(source http://www.themercury.com)
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