Salina, Kansas

Wolverine · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:49 pm

The weather was absolutely miserable, but we didn't care because we were awaiting the takeoff of the Global Flyer. The wind was near 20 mph and it felt like it was below freezing. A helicopter hovered more than an hour above the GF. Finally, after several hours of waiting, the Citation wound up, the Baron (K-State University's) took off. A while later, at 6:42, the Beech Starship took off. They circled for a while and then the cars pulled away from the GF, the lights turned on (the sun was down so picture taking with my camera was REAL hard), and Global Flyer turned on. It sounded like a B-2 (nearly silent), however, the sound could have been masked by the wind, I'm not sure. I traveled most of the length of the runway (over 5000 ft), and then it took off. The wind (moderate to strong) was from the north, so that helped.

Bottom line...GLOBAL FLYER IS AIRBORNE!!!

Elwyn · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:13 pm

I was trying to track the flight through their mission control but on a dial-up system it's not too good. After finally discovering it had sucessfully gotten underway I breathed a sigh of relief and went out for dinner. Hopefully the computer at work will do a better job since it's on cable. Wow! A reason to look forward to going in to work tomorrow.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:30 pm

Wolverine,
The runway at Salina is ALOT bigger than 5000ft, try 13-15,000 x 300. It used to be a B-36 base. When I landed there they asked which FBO I was going to, if it was the furthest one, you were instructed to fly to half way down the runway before landing.

Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Private Pilot
Crew Chief of TBM, B-25, DC-3, PBY

dj51d · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:38 pm

Your dialup isn't the problem, the site is under heavy load and very slow right now. As of the latest data I could get to load, he's about on the Michigan/Ontario border over Lake Huron.

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:51 am

What is the address to track him with?

Thanks

Lynn

Swiss Mustangs · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:40 am

http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/

Martin

Wolverine · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:29 pm

Heh Heh!

Typo

RareBear · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:34 pm

Last posted update was at 1507 UTC, and at that point he was over Morrocco at about 45,000 ft, with a ground speed of 390 mph.

Walt

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Latest news from the team is that they say that they are unlikely to have sufficient fuel to complete the flight unless they pick up significent tailwinds.

RareBear · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:58 pm

Latest at 1230 EST is that approximately 2660 pounds of fuel have been unexplicably "lost" and there are doubts about being able to finish without significant tailwinds. A landing in Hawaii is one option being discussed. At this point he is out in the Pacific east of Japan.

Walt

p51dman · **Joined:** Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:46 am **Posts:** 27

RE: Matt Gunsch post on this subject.
I was stationed at Schilling in 1957-58-59, and it was a B-47, KC-97 base.
It never was a B-36 base, as the two Bomb Wings that were there, 40th and 310th, switched from B-29's to B-47s.
When I was there, the N-S runway, 17-35, was 13,300 feet long. the NW-SE runway was closed and inactive.
Dick Phillips
ex SAC Air Operations Specialist

dj51d · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:00 am

Latest as of 23:57ET, he is North East of Hawaii and believes fuel will hold out to land back at Salina.

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2005 8:06 am

Almost over the West coast.

airnutz · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:12 pm

Whoopee!!!

C170BDan · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:47 pm

Sounds like one of his next trips is to fly the Atlantic in the Vimy!!!!

http://www.vimy.org

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