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
There is a risk in the takeoff. There is a risk during the flight of running out of fuel or other mechanical failure in an experimental aircraft.
This is the oldest form of aviation in the world -- ballooning -- and yet it hasn't been done yet.
They see that as part of their future. We're a discovery project for them, to discover new uses for the shuttle landing facility. As far as Kennedy is concerned, it's a great runway, a runway in perfect condition, equal to the longest available in the United States.
So this is turning into a real classic test for these boats, and we're motivated to get it back. It is a complex test, planning, meteorology and precise sailing all wrapped up together -- and we do expect to see some pretty big winds.
I'm hopeful that this is all going to work out,
The first solo nonstop is a grand endeavor,
It will be very close. I'm stretching the limits of the airplane.
I want to make this the longest flight by any type of aircraft.
I really like the association with NASA. This is where the great things in aerospace start from.
They didn't even offer me a beer or anything.
Fuel OK, oxygen OK, got four hours of sleep last night and physical condition is very good,
I was really lucky to make it here today, there was a lot going on. The tension of the final part really took it out of me, but I will be fine in the morning.
In the middle of the night we decided it was a hopeless situation,
So while I've been tied up with my balloons and my gliders, I've lost considerable ground in terms of maintaining longevity in sailing records,