Branson aims to fly high and break non-stop record
GlobalFlyer is the Virgin boss's latest record breaking challenge in a move away from his ballooning efforts. The record breaking flight is expected to take place in April, but could be put back to October depending on test flights and favourable winds.
The single piloted, single engine turbo fan aircraft which will fly at around 50,000ft has been built in the Mojave Desert, California. Mr Branson, who saw the finished plane for the first time yesterday, said: "It is just a beautiful looking machine. It looks as magnificent as the project it is an awesome project and I wish there were two seats."
Dressed in a silver flight suit, the 53-year-old entrepreneur posed happily in front of the aircraft which has two fuel-carrying fuselages with Steve Fossett, the renowned adventurer who will pilot it.
At just under 40ft long, GobalFlyer has a wing span of 114ft and weighs 3,577lb when empty.
The lightweight aircraft made up of composite materials including carbon fibres will take off weighing 22,066lb, including more than four times its own weight in fuel.
It will burn 18,000lb of fuel from its 17 tanks on its 23,000-mile journey around the globe.
Mr Fossett, 59, is principal pilot for the project with Mr Branson being held in reserve in case anything goes wrong. The Virgin chief does not currently hold a full pilot's licence, but in the "extremely unlikely" event of Mr Fossett not being able to take the flight, Mr Branson will embark on an intense pilot's course.
Mr Fossett said he was confident in the plane's designer, aviation legend Burt Rutan, despite the massive amount of fuel he will be carrying. He said his greatest concern would be at the start of the challenge: "The highest risk is at take off it will be the first time at which this airplane has flown at its maximum weight.
Mr Fossett will have to fight to stay awake for the 80-hour flight.
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