Fossett enters Algerian airspace
by Derek Yeo


AT 02:18.32Z, Fossett piloting Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer flew over Algeria. His position: longitude E1.93813, latitude N27.39119; heading: 83.0 degrees; speed: 352.00 knots and altitude: 44,797 feet.

Heading into the night off the African coast just three hours after take-off from Kennedy Space Center, Fossett phoned Sir Richard Branson.

"Take-off was a bit scary to say the least. I had to use most of the runway to get off the ground. This was particularly hairy as I couldn't have aborted even if I had wanted to. To make matters worse, two birds hit the aircraft on take-off. Luckily there doesn't seem to be any sign of damage," Fossett reported.