>>> Fossett lands safely in Bournemouth
by Derek Yeo

AFTER his dramatic round-the-world flight, Steve Fossett’s Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer crossed the finishing line in no less dramatic fashion.

Minutes after VAGF began its descent at FL400 into Kent International Airport, a major electrical failure – stemming from a defective generator – occurred. Quick consultations with mission controller Kevin Stass and pilot Jon Karlow resulted in Fossett's diversion to land at Bournemouth airport instead.

Fossett sent out a Mayday call as more crippling problems surfaced. Icing formed on his windshield affecting his visibility. Fuel was running low - down to the last 200 lb; ditching seemed imminent.

Then at 17:07Z on Saturday, VAGF landed, bursting two tyres on touch-down.

The adventurer-flyer had clinched the world's record for the longest non-stop flight by a fixed-wing powered aeroplane. Fossett's flight of 76 hours 45 minutes over a record distance of 42,469.46 km, beat the previous record of 40,204 km set by Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager in 1986.

In post-flight celebration, a happy but tired Fossett said, "”It was too exciting of a finish. There were many obstacles to overcome from the moment I took off from Kennedy Space Center, from the challenging take-off, difficult cockpit conditions for the early part of the flight, severe turbulence over India and constant concerns over the weakness of the jet streams due to less than favourable weather patterns around the world."