Fossett completes record-breaking flight

American millionaire Steve Fossett has set the aviation world record for a round-the-world solo, non-stop flight, without re-fuelling.

Mr Fossett returned to Salina Municipal Airport in Kansas, landing the Virgin GlobalFlyer at 19:50 GMT, 67 hours and 2 minutes after he took off.

There had been fears that he would be unable to complete the trip, after he suffered a series of setbacks during the flight, including problems with the Global Positioning System and the mysterious loss of a 2,600lbs of vital fuel reserves from the plane's 17 fuel tanks.

However, near to the Hawaiian Islands, he decided to continue his journey, making it back to Salina Airport, largely thanks to favourable tailwinds, which helped propel the GlobalFlyer across the last 2,620-mile leg across the Pacific Ocean.

Steve Fossett had to endure gruelling sleep deprivation (he admitted that he did not sleep at all on the first day and only had half a dozen short naps during the rest of the trip) and lived on diet milkshakes during his journey, which he admitted was "difficult". He said: "It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. To be on duty for three days and nights with virtually no sleep. I was in control and I think I was able to make rational decisions and didn't make major errors, which is a great danger when you get this tired."

The flight is the latest in a long line of record-breaking successes for Mr Fossett. He described his latest achievement as "the most important aviation record yet to be done, but it's not the last important record… I'm not ready to announce any new projects, but, in fact, I have three projects in planning right now."

Sir Richard Branson, Steve's partner in the record-breaking attempt, was in Salina to congratulate him and soaked him in champagne when he disembarked from the aircraft. Sir Richard joked: "I poured the champagne over him to try and cool him down a bit… he stinks to high heaven!"

Although the flight has been recognized as the first solo trip around the world by Guinness World Records, it has still to be sanctioned by the National Aeronautique Association (NAA). When it is, it should be recognized as the fastest non-stop, non-refuelled circumnavigation ever.

A B-52 bomber that flew 12,000 miles non-stop without refuelling in 1962 set the previous record.

(KMcA/SP)