Steve Fossett
Steve Fossett
James Stephen "Steve" Fossettwas an American businessman and a record-setting aviator, sailor, and adventurer. He was the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon. He made his fortune in the financial services industry and was best known for many world records, including five nonstop circumnavigations of the Earth: as a long-distance solo balloonist, as a sailor, and as a solo flight fixed-wing aircraft pilot...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAviator
Date of Birth22 April 1944
CountryUnited States of America
I'm feeling good, healthy, but with the usual concern,
Currently, I would say the chances are no more than 50-50. It would be devastating to have to ditch the ultimate distance record when I am in the home straight.
This is the oldest form of aviation in the world -- ballooning -- and yet it hasn't been done yet.
So far there have been few problems. A broken winch was readily repaired by the crew, as was a batten problem in the mainsail. Sailing winds have been excellent and at one point we were flying a hull,
There's no turning back. It was halfway around the world when I found the fuel problem, ... Not only might the flight not have finished, but I might have gotten the plane stuck somewhere.
I started mountain climbing with the troop in Southern California when I was 12. I thought I'd do it indefinitely, but then I found other challenges.
As a Scout, I learned how to set goals and achieve them. Being a Scout also taught me leadership at a young age when there are few opportunities to be a leader. Scouting values have remained with me throughout my life, in my business career and now as I take on new challenges.
As of May when we broke the Marseilles-Carthage record, we held the six fastest outright passage records. And now Maiden has encroached on that.
This is not just another round-the-world attempt; we mean to succeed this time. That's a tall order.
If he won, it would have been a $3 million prize, which he was going to contribute to his charities.
In the middle of the night we decided it was a hopeless situation, ... We decided to fly as close as we could to Hawaii to make it an easy rescue.
Frankly, I do them for the satisfaction of those achievements. I have a feeling of contentment and a satisfaction that I've done something faster or farther than anyone before.
I would think in Kevin's case that he has to be very pleased, ... He's making one of the finest balloon flights ever, and he had not previously made a long balloon flight. It's outstanding so far.
If I have engine trouble, there will be no trouble with gliding,