K-State at Salina - GlobalFlyer

View later blog posts

2006-03-20T13:48:00.000-06:00

During the flight we had to start a new blog due to server issues with Blogger.com. To view the entries for the rest of Steve's flight, go to http://globalflyer2.blogspot.com

2006-03-16T21:40:00.000-06:00

Tailwinds are looking good. They were last reported at 45 knots.
This may allow for an earlier arrival time.

Lat: N10.82730
Long: W135.87214
Altitude: 52400 ft
Speed: 223 kt
Heading: 47.70°
Elapsed Time 62:58

Steve's Position

2006-03-16T19:56:00.000-06:00

Steve is over the Pacific Ocean:

Lat: N6.50450
Long: W140.72339
Altitude: 52,762 ft
Speed: 231 kt
Heading: 55.30°
Elapsed Time: 61:17

Answer: Engine information

2006-03-16T19:40:00.000-06:00

Question: "I would like information on the jet engine used to power the aircraft. How long between servicing? Between overhaul? How much fuel does it burn an hour? What other aircraft does it power? How long has it been in service?"

Answer: "Here is a response from Williams International, the engine's manufacturer: The first of the FJ44 series of engines was put into service in 1992 and the most recent just last fall. The Model on GlobalFlyer requires minor on-wing service at 250 flight hour intervals, an on-wing turbine inspection every 2000 flight hours, and an overhaul at 4000 flight hours. Fuel burn rates vary considerably depending on flight condition, but typical cruise fuel consumption is 0.67 pounds per hour of fuel flow per pound of thrust. The FJ44 engine powers many aircraft including all three Citation Jets manufactured by Cessna, the Premier aircraft built by Raytheon Aircraft, the SJ30-2 aircraft made by Sino Swearingen, and many others. One thing is sure, while Steve is aloft our favorite application is the Scaled Composites GlobalFlyer."

Steve is still heading Northeast

2006-03-16T19:14:00.000-06:00

Steve is still heading Northeast towards the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, ETA over Mexico is early tomorrow morning.

Stats:

Lat: N4.95560

Long: W142.95742

Altitude: 52234 feet

Groundspeed: 238 knots

Heading: 55.00°

Elapsed Time60:37

Steve's position

2006-03-16T18:29:00.000-06:00

Steve is flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Stats:

Lat: N3.26532
Long: W145.37343
Altitude: 52,266 feet
Speed: 250 knots
Heading: 55.00°
Elapsed Time59:52

Answer: What has been done to the tires to avoid future problems?

2006-03-16T18:02:00.000-06:00

The question was this: "What changes have been made to the wheels to prevent 'flat tires' like what happened to Steve at Bournemouth and Karkow at KSLN? "

Here is the answer:
"There are no tubes in the tires. Likely the air is leaking out through the wheels which consist of two pieces bolted together. The material types for the o-ring that seals between the wheel halves has been changed. However we are experiencing extremely cold temperatures so the o-rings may have no effect."

Answer: How far ahead is the simulator?

2006-03-16T17:47:00.000-06:00

Brad Amstutz the flight instructor, and former K-State student, who is simulating Steve's flight is approximately five hours ahead of the GlobalFlyer. Brad is altering his course to decrease the distance between them.

Other events Steve has participated in.

2006-03-16T17:32:00.000-06:00

Steve has participated in a lot of events, here are some of the more unusual events he has been in.

Iditarod Dogsled Race 1165 mile race across Alaska, 47th Place March 1-15, 1992
Ironman Triathlon (Hawaii) 2.4 mi. swim, 112 mi. bike, 26.1 mi. run October 26, 1996eh

For a complete list of Steve's participation check out the K-State at Salina web-site.
Steve's bio at the K-State Salina site

Steve turns North

2006-03-16T17:14:00.000-06:00

Steve has started the journey North. He is heading toward the West coast of Mexico.

Answer: Why is Steve so far South?

2006-03-16T17:02:00.000-06:00

Steve is still flying over the Equator over the Pacific Ocean. Steve is flying as South as the Equator to extend his distance. The winds over the Equator are light, so this was the perfect spot to extend the distance for this flight without hurting economy.

Stats:
Lat: N0.00127
Long: W150.78936
Altitude: 52,505 feet
Groundspeed: 266 knots
Heading: 90.30°
Elapsed Time58:23

Steve's position

2006-03-16T16:28:00.000-06:00

Steve is still over the Pacific Ocean cruising at a speed of 265 knots and an altitude of 52,307.

Stats:

Lat: N0.00168
Long: W153.04910
Heading: 87.90°
Elapsed Time57:51

FInd out more about the GlobalFlyer

2006-03-16T16:03:00.000-06:00

We have been receiving some great questions regarding detailed technical information. For more technical information, the GlobalFlyer website has an engineering section; Scaled Composites also has a great deal of information about the design and structure of the plane.

GlobalFlyer

Scaled Composites

Answer: How is Steve doing on fuel?

2006-03-16T15:46:00.000-06:00

We have questions about Steve's fuel status, it is good. After 56 hours of flight there is 3,300 pounds left.

Steve checks in with Mission Control

2006-03-16T15:32:00.000-06:00

Steve just called Mission Control and reported no fuel loss and the fuel calculations are looking good to arrive back in Salina. Steve also talked to Mrs. Fossett for a few minutes.

Update on the flight instructor simulating the flight.

2006-03-16T15:13:00.000-06:00

Flight instructor Brad Amstutz has been simulating Steve's flight. He is doing very well when the web update team went to see him he was in good spirits with a smile on his face. He has had about 4 hours of sleep total since Tuesday morning. He is currently ahead of Steve's position, because he cannot simulate all of the flight conditions.

It's cold up there.

2006-03-16T15:01:00.000-06:00

It is cold above the Equator with outside temperatures reaching a low of -77.C during the flight.

Test

2006-03-16T14:57:00.000-06:00

Test

Steve Fossett

2006-03-16T14:42:00.000-06:00

Steve holds 110 records in five different sports, 70 of which remain unbroken, he considers his 2005 flight in the GlobalFlyer as one of his most important achievements. Flying around the world solo, non-stop and without refueling, he started and finished this record in Salina, Kan., with assistance from K-State at Salina students. It was a feat of engineering, aviation and sheer human endurance that placed Steve in the record books and in the history books, alongside the likes of Charles Lindbergh.

Answer: Number of tires

2006-03-16T14:24:00.000-06:00

There are four tires on the GlobalFlyer: two tires on the nose gear, and one each on the left and right main gear.

Answer: Website hits

2006-03-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

Question: Approximately how many "hits" have you had on your web site?

As of approximately 2:00 p.m. CST, the website has had 20,740 hits total. Of those, 6,734 were today alone.

Steve is over the Pacific Ocean

2006-03-16T13:56:00.000-06:00

Steve is still over the Pacific Ocean heading toward the western coast of Mexico. It will probably be early tomorrow morning before Steve reaches Mexico.

Stats:
Lat: S0.00026
Long: W163.90933
Altitude: 51,540 feet
Speed: 264 knots
Heading: 89.00°
Elapsed Time
55:21

Meet the web update team.

2006-03-16T13:31:00.000-06:00

The web update team (or bloggers)from left to right Jeff Easter, Lindsey Boeckman, Brian Weber, Robin Mikols, Justin Stuhltatz, Yuki Narita, Cristina Thurlow, Janet Thurlow, not in the picture Micah Westblade, Floyd Abang and Tricia Erker.

For the first time, K-State at Salina students will be responsible for all of the Web site tracking of Steve’s record attempt. This will include an around-the-clock continuous blog, updated several times each hour, as well as position and weather updates as Steve progresses around the world. This project will require excellent communication skills, as well as a technical understanding of aviation, engineering and technology. The Web sites that followed Steve’s previous GlobalFlyer record attempts attracted millions of hits from around the world, so posting the updates and information will be a critical role to play in a successful mission.

Audio removed from internet feed.

2006-03-16T13:25:00.000-06:00

The audio has been removed from the internet live feed. This caused a momentary signal loss, but the signal is back to normal.

Steve's Position

2006-03-16T13:08:00.000-06:00

Steve is over the Pacific Ocean he reached the equator about 45 minutes ago.

Stats:
Lat: N0.00048
Long: W167.45605
Altitude: 51,920 feet
Speed: 253 knots
Heading: 89.20°
Elapsed Time
54:31

Answer: Who flew the GlobalFlyer back to Salina?

2006-03-16T12:56:00.000-06:00

John Karkow, the GlobalFlyer project engineer for Scaled Composites, flew the GlobalFlyer back to Salina Kansas from England.
There was no damage on the landing in England. The only damage was to the tires(two of four tires were flat) the plane itself was not harmed in any way.

Steve's Records

2006-03-16T12:54:00.000-06:00

Steve Fossett currently holds records in a variety of areas, including:

21 Outright World Records in Sailing
10 World Records in Gliders
6 Solo Around the World attempts in Ballooning
3 Single Handed Records
9 Race Records

In addition to these records, he has many other accomplishments.

Answer: High winds

2006-03-16T12:29:00.000-06:00

Question: How will high winds effect the landing tomorrow?

Currently, the winds are forecasted to be lighter than they are today. GlobalFlyer will land into the wind. High winds will enable Steve to land with a slower ground speed. This means that he will need less runway distance to land than normal.

Mrs. Fossett made a call

2006-03-16T11:44:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Fossett made a call to Steve, and he said he is doing all right. The outside air temperature is -77 degrees Celsius.

Answer: Changes to the GlobalFlyer fuel systems

2006-03-16T11:37:00.000-06:00

Question: Were there any changes made to the fuel or fuel vent system after the
last flight that prevented the loss of fuel this time?

There were no changes made to the plane from the last flight which flew out of England last month. There had been changes made to the plane before it made the flight out of England.
Mission Control theorizes that one of the reasons that the fuel did not vent over this takeoff may have been because Steve climbed slower and pressure inside the tanks had time to equalize to the pressure outside.

Meet the aircraft maintenance team

2006-03-16T10:50:00.000-06:00

The aircraft maintenance team consists of
James Reed, Will Klein, Josh Hill,
Landon Truetken, Mike Newlin, Eric Lawrence.

The aircraft ground crew provides maintenance work to the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer in preparation for a flight, as well as recovery efforts on the plane after a flight. In preparation for the next record attempt, the team has been making adjustments and modifications to be certain that it is in the top condition for Steve to fly around the world again.

Answer: What sleep conditioning does Steve do before the flight?

2006-03-16T10:23:00.000-06:00

Question: What does Steve do for sleep conditioning before the flight, and does he sleep a lot when he returns?

Answer: Steve gets a normal amount of sleep up to the flight and he will usually sleep for about 10 hours a night for a few nights when he returns.

Steve is over the Pacific Ocean

2006-03-16T10:03:00.000-06:00

Steve is currently over the Pacific Ocean.

Stats:
Lat: N8.74132
Long: W174.35885
Altitude: 51,999 feet
Groundspeed: 235 knots
Heading: 152.10°
Elapsed Time
51:27

International Date Line

2006-03-16T09:45:00.000-06:00

The International Date Line is the imaginary line on the Earth that separates two consecutive calendar days. That is the date in the Eastern hemisphere, to the left of the line, is always one day ahead of the date in the Western hemisphere. It has been recognized as a matter of convenience and has no force in international law.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/international_date.html

Answer: What technology did Steve use to talk to the space station

2006-03-16T09:29:00.000-06:00

Question: What technology did Steve use to talk to the space station

The space station has an ISDN satellite phone and Steve has satellite phone on the Iridum network. Steve also uses that phone to contact Mission Control.

Steve's expected arrival

2006-03-16T09:24:00.000-06:00

Steve's expected arrival is Friday March 17th mid-day.

Answer: News Media inquires

2006-03-16T09:04:00.000-06:00

Question: How many inquires do you get from the news media both Foreign and Domestic?

Answer:
We have had a lot of news media inquiries, mostly domestic. Most American major networks and cable news outlets have contacted us to learn more about Steve's flight. In addition, we've had e-mail inquiries from individuals around the U.S., as well as Canada, Germany, Israel, France and the Czech Republic.

GlobalFlyer flight simulator

2006-03-16T08:54:00.000-06:00

There is a GlobalFlyer flight simulator available for you to try out. It is available on the GlobalFlyer website, and we have provided a direct link to it.

GlobalFlyer Flight Simulator

Steve's position

2006-03-16T08:36:00.000-06:00

Steve is over the Pacific Ocean he passed the International Date Line a little while ago.

Stats:
Lat: N12.84661
Long: W178.52945
Altitude: 51,409 feet
Groundspeed: 250 knots
Heading: 128.30°
Elapsed Time
49:58

Steve chats with the International Space Station

2006-03-16T08:08:00.000-06:00

Steve spoke with International Space Station Commander, Astronaut William McArthur, orbiting in the International Space Station just a few minutes ago!

Yet another exciting first during this amazing record attempt!

Flight Data:
Lat: N13.58429
Long: W179.46629
Altitude: 51627 ft
Speed: 240 kt
Heading: 129.10°
Elapsed Time: 49:42

Photo Courtesy: http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/ISS_OVR/

Answer: Fossett Family

2006-03-16T07:55:00.000-06:00

Question: Do Mrs. and Mr. Fossett have children, and where are they living?

The Fossett's do not have any children.

Their main base is located in Chicago, IL., while they also maintain residences in Beaver Creek, CO., and Carmel, CA.

Morning checkup

2006-03-16T07:18:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Fossett came in to check on Steve and see how the flight was progressing. They spoke briefly on the phone about the flight and how he was doing.

In just a few minutes Steve will be receiving a telephone call from the International Space Station orbiting overhead.

Flight Data:
Lat: N16.34959
Long: E177.21641
Altitude: 51764 ft
Speed: 255 kt
Heading: 130.80°
Elapsed Time: 48:41

Answer: Oxygen

2006-03-16T06:59:00.000-06:00

Where does Steve get his high altitude essential oxygen from - a tank or a generator?

Steve's oxygen is provided by the pressurization system from the jet engine. In an emergency, if the engine quits, he has a supplemental oxygen bottle on board that will provide enough oxygen for an emergency descent.

Great Question!

2 Days Aloft

2006-03-16T06:25:00.000-06:00

Steve has now been aloft for 2 days straight, nothing new for him, but quite a feat!

He is currently over the Pacific Ocean and will be crossing South of Hawaii, heading for the Equator.

Flight Data:
Lat: N18.28965
Long: E174.83458
Altitude: 51535 ft
Speed: 262 kt
Heading: 129.80°
Elapsed Time: 48:00

Answer: Fuel Tank Switching

2006-03-16T06:03:00.000-06:00

How often does Steve switch between the fuel tanks during the flight?

Right now the GlobalFlyer fuel system is set on "Auto Mode". Fuel from the wings gravity feeds into the boom tanks, and from there is fed to the tank behind Steve. The engine draws its fuel from the tank behind Steve for use in combustion. When in "Auto Mode" the fuel is taken from one of the 4 main boom tanks, 2 in each boom, and moved into the tank behind Steve. The system will switch between the tanks automatically every time 50lbs of fuel is burned.

Answer: Ice buildup

2006-03-16T05:27:00.000-06:00

There is very little, if any, moisture in the higher altitudes that Steve is flying in. This eliminates the need for deicing equipment on the surfaces of the aircraft.

As for inside the aircraft, Steve has a defrost system to prevent ice from building up on the exterior canopy.

Steve heads South

2006-03-16T04:32:00.000-06:00

Steve's currently on a Southeast heading, taking him south of the Hawaiian Islands. On previous attempts Steve made his Ocean crossings North of the Hawaiian Islands. This route change is a major part of the added distance that will set Steve firmly in the record books once again.

Flight Data:
Lat: N24.12887
Long: E166.94985
Altitude: 48363 ft
Speed: 290 kt
Heading: 126.50°
Elapsed Time: 45:56

Answer: View from the top

2006-03-16T03:53:00.000-06:00

What does the view look like for Steve at these high altitudes?

The following photos are what Steve has seen in previous record flights:
Steve's view can be very different, depending on the weather and terrain he is traveling over.

This photo shows him over the Atlas Mountains in Africa on his first record flight.

This photo shows the GlobalFlyer over weather systems near the Atlas Mountains during the first record flight.

Photos Courtesy: www.GlobalFlyer.com

Answer: Flight Characteristics

2006-03-16T03:34:00.000-06:00

The aspect ratio of GlobalFlyer is 32.5. The aspect ratio of a wing is defined as the square of the span divided by the wing area. A higher aspect ratio gives a lower drag and a better glide angle. This is a relatively high aspect ratio.

The most efficient angle of attack for best range varies throughout the flight as the aircraft weight changes. It is about 3 degrees at the beginning of the cruise segment and 1 degree at the end.

The wings and tails use custom airfoils designed by aerodynamicist John Ronczof, Gemini Technologies. John also designed the airfoils for the Rutan Voyager and Beech Starship.

GREAT questions, don't stop now!

Call from Steve

2006-03-16T03:20:00.000-06:00

Mission Control got a phone call from Steve.
He's been able to take more "power naps." He has also requested block altitude change from FL450 through FL490. This is due to more favorable winds at higher altitude.

Answer: Flight plan changes to add distance

2006-03-16T02:47:00.000-06:00

The question was asked, "Would Steve alter his flight plan if fuel allowed in order to increase the distance record?"

There are 50 pre-selected points on Steve's route that have been approved by the FAI. He will fly the pre-selected route and cover just over 22,000 nm.

ETA of landfall

2006-03-16T02:18:00.000-06:00

GlobalFlyer is currently flying over the Pacific Ocean.
We estimate at the current ground speed, he will be making landfall at Baja, Mexico at 21:17 Thursday CST (03:17 Friday UTC).

Answer: Altitude fluctuations

2006-03-16T01:18:00.000-06:00

There have been some questions as to why Steve's altitude has been fluctuating.

The answer is simple, Steve has been given a block altitude clearance from FL450 to FL470 (45,000' - 47,000'), allowing him to fly with the up and down drafts freely. He can also find the most favorable winds within that block, without the need to amend his clearance.

Also, the altitude readouts that have been posted on the blogs are from differing sources at different times. The majority of the altitudes are provided by the "Blue Sky Network", which is GPS based. Some of the blogs as well as the ticker on the main web page have included the "pressure altitude" from Steve's flight data. These two systems have some slight variance between them.

Keep the questions coming!

Situation Report

2006-03-16T00:57:00.000-06:00

Steve's situation is normal.

There is no indication of any problems with the fuel system, which has had some leakage on previous record attempts.

Currently he is starting his long journey over the Pacific.

He has traveled a total of 11,866 Miles, in 42 hours 21 minutes.

Flight Data:
Lat: N34.51549
Long: E148.51032
Altitude: 47112 ft
Speed: 353 kt
Heading: 112.30°
Elapsed Time 42:22

Steve called Mission Control

2006-03-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Steve called Mission Control.
He entered the Pacific Ocean and is ready to get some rest.

Leaving Japan

2006-03-15T23:56:00.000-06:00

He is leaving Japan, and now flying over the Pacific Ocean.

Altitude: 47,000 feet
Ground Speed: 359 knots

Approaching to Hamamatsu

2006-03-15T23:27:00.000-06:00

GlobalFlyer is approaching Hamamatsu.

Altitude: 46,593 feet
Ground Speed: 367 knots

Answer: GPS

2006-03-15T23:20:00.000-06:00

Yes, the GlobalFlyer has an auto pilot. It has 2, two axis, TruTrak autopilots.

This post has been corrected from previous information.

Approaching to Toyota

2006-03-15T23:16:00.000-06:00

GlobalFlyer is approaching to Toyota City.

Altitude: 46,839 feet
Ground Speed: 366 knots

Approaching to Kansai International Airport

2006-03-15T23:04:00.000-06:00

GlobalFlyer is approaching to Kansai International Airport (RJBB).

Altitude: 46,600 feet
Ground Speed: 359 knots

Answer: The price tag of the GlobalFlyer

2006-03-15T22:43:00.000-06:00

There has been several questions as to how much the aircraft costs. The exact cost has never been released.

Answer: Any more flights?

2006-03-15T22:06:00.000-06:00

There are currently 7 "holy grail" aviation records. As of today, 3 are held by the SR-71, 1 by a MIG-25, 1 by the Voyager Aircraft, and 2 by the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. If all goes well, the GlobalFlyer will beat the Voyager Aircraft for the closed circuit distance record. More information about these records can be found here.

Answer: Where's he going?

2006-03-15T21:50:00.000-06:00

Steve will make land fall over Baja, Mexico. He will enter the United States in the vicinity of El Paso, Texas. This is also where he will begin his decent.

Answer: How's Steve?

2006-03-15T21:36:00.000-06:00

Steve is doing well. Mission control is doing his position reports, relieving some of his workload. Google earth currently puts his position 11,748 nautical miles past his start point. The flight plan for the flight is an estimated 22,022 nautical miles. Steve is past the halfway point!

Japan on the Horizon

2006-03-15T21:32:00.000-06:00

Steve is now half-way across the East China Sea on his way to Japan.
He will be passing over Nagasaki, Japan.

Latitude: N31.434
Longitude: E123.166
Altitude: 45,698 ft
Speed: 340 knots
Heading 77.30 degrees
Elapsed Time: 38:38

Shanghai Noon

2006-03-15T21:00:00.000-06:00

Steve is now approaching Shanghai, China and will soon be over the East China Sea.

Latitude: N31.153
Longitude: E121.602
Altitude: 45,654 ft
Speed: 327 knots
Heading 73.40 degrees
Elapsed Time: 38:23

China Progress

2006-03-15T20:23:00.000-06:00

Steve is progressing across China.

Latitude: N31.790
Longitude: E117.381
Altitude: 46305 ft
Speed: 351 knots
Heading 89.90 degrees
Elapsed Time: 37:45

Answer: Direction and ETA of landing

2006-03-15T19:10:00.000-06:00

GlobalFlyer will land into the wind. We do not know at this time what direction that will be. The ETA is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Answer: Design of Airplane

2006-03-15T19:08:00.000-06:00

Max range for a jet is generally at best ((Cl^1/2) / Cd). The best indicated airspeed at 20,000 lbs is 130 KIAS and at 6000 lbs is 80 KIAS. These are speeds for best range which are not the same as for best endurance which is what the question asks about but is not relevant. Average tailwinds this flight are about 70 knots.

Still Moving On!

2006-03-15T18:55:00.000-06:00

Steve is making very good time across China.
He is almost halfway across the country now.

Latitude: N26.361
Longitude: E104.852
Altitude: 46,810 ft
Speed: 314 knots
Heading 56.60 degrees
Elapsed Time: 35:28

Attention!

2006-03-15T18:10:00.000-06:00

Check out Google Earth. Make sure to download Steve's path.

Position Update

2006-03-15T17:39:00.000-06:00

Steve is well into China.

Latitude: N24.084
Longitude: E100.646
Altitude: 46,826 ft
Speed: 307 knots
Heading 63.60 degrees
Elapsed Time: 34:35

Answer: Weather forecast for Steve

2006-03-15T16:57:00.000-06:00

Steve is at an altitude where weather is not a factor. Steve and mission control are most concerned about winds and turbulence. The next five hours should bring Steve favorable winds ranging from 60 to 100 knots from the west.

Answer: K-State Rewards

2006-03-15T16:42:00.000-06:00

Unlike the 2005 mission, this mission provided EVERY K-State at Salina student the opportunity to be involved. Since the Salina GlobalFlyer website launched, there have been just over 12,000 hits. Students in mission control have been given numerous networking, and job experience opportunities. The college has been mentioned on news programs such as Paul Harvey's "Good Day", and in publications such as the L.A. Times.

Answer: Steve on a diet?

2006-03-15T16:40:00.000-06:00

There have been questions about aircraft weight and these are the numbers be have available to us. The total gross weight is approximately 22, 475 lbs. Total fuel being 18, 300 lbs. The aircraft weighs 3,900 lbs. This leaves 275 lbs for Steve and his baggage.

Answer: Watching the landing?

2006-03-15T16:19:00.000-06:00

Steve is expected to arrive in Salina mid-day on Friday. The field will not be open to the public. You can watch the landing from anywhere around the airport as long as you obey traffic laws.

Answer: About the GlobalFlyer

2006-03-15T16:16:00.000-06:00

Between the flights, the crew performs routine maintenance on the aircraft. Every system is inspected and worked over. After the first flight, a secondary fuel vent system was installed to prevent unwanted fuel loss. Because of the large team involved with aircraft maintenance, one month is plenty of time for a turn-around.

Answer: K-State vs. K-State at Salina

2006-03-15T15:55:00.000-06:00

Kansas State University has multiple campuses. Main campus is in Manhattan, Kansas. While the main campus, Manhattan, offers most degree programs, the Salina campus offers degrees in Technology and Aviation. The Manhattan campus has an approximate population of 22,000, and Salina has an approximate population of 900.

Steve is now over Myanmar

2006-03-15T15:33:00.000-06:00

Steve has entered Myanmar

Steve is leaving Bangladesh

2006-03-15T15:28:00.000-06:00

Steve is leaving Bangladesh and heading toward the Myanmar border.

Stats:

Lat: N22.32257
Long: E91.28707
Altitude: 47414 feet
Groundspeed: 299 knots
Heading: 95.90°
Elapsed Time32:50

Steve is over Bangladesh

2006-03-15T15:11:00.000-06:00

Steve is now over Bangladesh flying at a groundspeed of 303 knots, and an altitude of 47,434 feet.

Lat: N22.48075 Long: E89.93482 Heading: 97.50° Elapsed Time32:34

Steve nears Indian border.

2006-03-15T14:32:00.000-06:00

Steve is nearing the Indian Border at the speed of 330 knots and at an altitude of 47,061 feet.

Stats:
Lat: N22.81500
Long: E86.17106
Heading: 76.80°
Elapsed Time
31:54

Answer: Wing flex on take-off

2006-03-15T13:59:00.000-06:00

The answer has to do with what is called "Wing Loading". When Steve is rolling down the runway accelerating to Takeoff speed, there is not much lift being produced by the large wings. When he "Rotates" Steve pulls the aircraft into a nose up attitude. This increase in pitch attitude causes the amount of lift generated by each wing to increase substantially.

When GlobalFlyer took off it did so with a substantial amount of fuel onboard, both in the wing tanks and in the boom tanks. When Steve lifted off the wings flexed upward because the wing fuel was supported by the lift generated by the wings. The boom tanks do not create any lift to sustain flight and resisted that motion upward, due to gravity acting on the weight of the fuel in the tanks. This results in the situation you see on the takeoff video where it appears the wings wanted to lift off prior to the GlobalFlyer.

Consider this simple model: Holding a yard stick at both ends, suspend a bowling ball from the center using a rope. The act of you holding each end is the "Lift" during rotation. The act of the bowling ball is the immense weight contained in the boom tanks being pulled by gravity, resisting the takeoff.

One factor that led to the large "Flex" in the wings relates to the composite material that Scaled Composites constructed the GlobalFlyer with. It allows a larger amount of flexibility than Aluminum construction would.

Another factor is the extreme length of the wings. The longer a wing is, the more susceptible it is to wing flex from wing loading, as well as turbulence.

Great Question!

A video of takeoff can be found here.

Steve's Position

2006-03-15T13:20:00.000-06:00

Steve is halfway across India cruising at 304 knots at an altitude of 47,302 feet.

Stats:
Lat: N21.25142
Long: E79.66280
Heading: 73.90°
Elapsed Time30:42

Meet the Mission Control team.

2006-03-15T13:06:00.000-06:00

The Mission Control Team:
from left to right
Jill Hudson, Dan Kozak, Patrick Dean Rinearson, and Nancy Milleret.

Both Nancy and Pat assisted with Steve’s two previous flights in March 2005 and February 2006 and will be leading the Mission Control team’s efforts to give Steve around-the-clock support during the next record attempt. Working with Nancy and Pat in Mission Control will be Dan Kozak, sophomore in professional pilot, from Lansing, Kan.; and Jill Hudson, senior in professional pilot from Culver, Ind.

Weight to Fuel Ratio

2006-03-15T12:50:00.000-06:00

For every extra pound Steve takes with him on the GlobalFlyer he has to add five pounds of fuel for the trip around the world.

Steve's position

2006-03-15T12:20:00.000-06:00

Steve is over India cruising at a speed of 308 knots and at an altitude of 47,401 feet.

Stats:
Lat: N22.50287
Long: E74.57198
Altitude: 47401 feet
Speed: 308 knots
Heading: 107.50°
Elapsed Time29:43

Facts about India

2006-03-15T11:50:00.000-06:00

India's national bird is the Indian peacock.
The national flower is the lotus, the national animal is the tiger.

Answer: How often can Steve doze off and how long are his naps?

2006-03-15T11:32:00.000-06:00

We have received some questions regarding how often Steve can take a nap and how long can he nap?

When he can nap depends on when he has time to nap. When he has to communicate with mission control and air traffic control he stays alert. He would have more time for naps over the ocean than he will when he is over land.
Usually, Steve's naps will last three to five minutes. On one of his previous flights Steve only got two hours of sleep.

Steve is entering India

2006-03-15T11:07:00.000-06:00

Steve is now entering Indian airspace.

Stats:
Lat: N24.19299
Long: E68.12206
Altitude: 47397 ft
Speed: 321 kt
Heading: 97.20°
Elapsed Time
28:32

Steve is passing over Pakistan

2006-03-15T11:03:00.000-06:00

Steve is passing over Pakistan. He will be heading to India next.

Stats:
Lat: N24.26248
Long: E67.49450
Altitude: 47,472 feet
Speed: 325 knots
Heading: 96.10°
Elapsed Time
28:26

Answer: Why can't Steve sleep for longer than time periods?

2006-03-15T10:46:00.000-06:00

We have had the questions arise about Steve using the autopilot more so he can sleep for longer time periods.

Because the airplane's autopilot is not perfect Steve has to make constant small adjustments.

Mission Control contacts Steve.

2006-03-15T10:39:00.000-06:00

Mission Control contacted Steve about entering Indian airspace. Steve also said hello to Mrs. Fossett.

Halfway across the Indian Ocean

2006-03-15T10:20:00.000-06:00

Steve is about halfway across the Indian Ocean headed toward Pakistan.

Stats:
Lat: N24.33274
Long: E63.22379
Altitude: 46,945 feet
Speed: 322 knots
Heading: 82.70°
Elapsed Time
27:41

Student simulates flight

2006-03-15T09:40:00.000-06:00

Brad Amstutz, senior flight instructor for K-State at Salina, is
mirroring Fossett's three day, three night flight as the simulation
pilot at K-State at Salina. He also was the simulation pilot last year
and is looking forward to this year's simulation and the study.

This year, additional information will be obtained from the flight as
Kimberly Raddatz, a K-State graduate student in psychology, performs a series of tests on the GlobalFlyer simulation pilot. The tests are
designed to study the effects of sleep deprivation with regards to
aviation.

Raddatz will periodically test Amstutz's cognitive and perceptual
functioning with a variety of tests. He will be asked to perform
certain tasks and will be scored on how well he performs, she said.
Other tests will include word and creativity problems and
questionnaires. A risk assessment test also will be evaluated through
various scenarios, such as, weather and rough terrain risks.

Steve's Position

2006-03-15T09:21:00.000-06:00

Steve is headed toward the Indian Ocean, and the next border he will be crossing is Pakistan.

Stats:
Lat: N23.51452
Long: E57.83337
Altitude: 47,111 feet
Speed: 314 knots
Heading: 78.80°
Elapsed Time
26:45

Answer: Information about the webcam

2006-03-15T09:15:00.000-06:00

We had an inquiry about the type of camera we are using for the live web-cast. The camera in Mission Control is a Canon XL1, recording at 30 frames per second. This feed is then compressed for use over the web.

Steve is over Oman

2006-03-15T09:03:00.000-06:00

Steve has crossed the Oman border

Oman is located in the Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Oman is slightly smaller than Kansas.

Stats:
Lat: N23.81616
Long: E56.16227
Altitude: 47,068 feet
Speed: 326 knots
Heading: 117.00°
Elapsed Time
26:25

Mission Control calls Steve

2006-03-15T08:45:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Fossett came into mission control and called to say hello to Steve and check on his progress. It is now night for Steve.

Steve's Position

2006-03-15T08:34:00.000-06:00

Steve is now over United Arab Emirates.