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.
Fuel OK, oxygen OK, got four hours of sleep last night and physical condition is very good,
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,
It was a scary time, and I had my parachute on and I was prepared to bail out in case a wing broke.
I'm not confident of success because of what I'm trying to do ... We calculate that I will be able to complete the flight and have a success, but it will be very close.
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.
You have to believe that you are going to succeed with this flight because a water landing would be very dangerous, ... I'm using the same capsule I've used for seven balloon flights, and it's seaworthy.