Steve Fossett to fly to Clifden

[Slacker]

From the website "Steve Fossett Challenges"

Latest News
Fossett plans re-creation of Alcock and Brown's first ever non-stop TransAtlantic flight
Steve Fossett and Mark Rebholz to fly North Atlantic in 1919 Vickers Vimy replica this summer.

Just a month after achieving the world's first solo, non-stop round the world airplane flight, record-setting aviator Steve Fossett (USA) has joined forces with American co-pilot and navigator Mark Rebholz and the Vimy Project to target the re-creation of one of the aviation world's first and greatest non-stop flights, the 1919 TransAtlantic flight from St John's, Newfoundland in Canada to Clifden, Co, Galway, Ireland achieved by British flyers John W. Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown. Their aircraft for the re-creation of the 16 hour+, 1,960 mile journey across the North Atlantic will be the well-known Vimy replica which was built in 1991-1994 and which has already made multi-stop flights from the UK to Australia and UK-South Africa.

The twin-engined replica bomber is the world's largest flying biplane, has a 70' wingspan and 4-bladed 10' propellers, stands over 15' high and will weigh over 6 tonnes fully laden on takeoff. It is built of wood, metal and fabric - just as was the original some 86 years ago, but as the original Rolls Royce Eagle V-12 engines are, understandably, hard to find, the aircraft has been powered by a number of different automotive-based engines - first from Chevrolet and then BMW - and now by a pair of 8.4 litre Canadian-built Orenda V8's, aero motors developed from a General Motors truck engine design.

Fossett and Rebholz have been flying the VImy relica - a veritable aerial time machine - with its new engines since last autumn here in northern California. According to Fossett, this very early design is a bear to fly and requires both pilots' attention, especially on take-off and landing. Following the completion of the installation of long-range fuel tanks, new engine cowlings and other final preparations for the Atlantic, the replica will be flown across the USA and Canada during May to arrive at St John's in anticipation of a TransAt weather standby period beginning around June 14 - the anniversary of Alcock and Brown's epic flight.

For additional information please contact Stuart Radnofsky - stuart@project100.com

Considering how close it is to a certain airshow we all know of......could we see this bird hang around Galway for a week or two?

[Goldie fish]

Do they intend landing on the bog in clifden?

[The Sultan]

HaHa! I saw pictures of that on TV recently! I think it as on a programme about Monarch Buterflys!?!

I'd love to see that plane!

[Slacker]

I'd say a certain someone *coughMcGrath* who'd know of such matters.......

[Earhart]

According to Saturdays "The Irish Times" the flight has been postponed due to weather. No rescheduled date set yet.

[Lordinajamjar]

Alcock and Brown Re-enacted


Adventurer Steve Fossett and co-pilot Mark Rebholz are about to land Sunday in Clifden, in western Ireland, after re-enacting the first trans-Atlantic flight made 86 years ago. Fossett and co-pilot Mark Rebholz left Newfoundland on Saturday night.

CLIFDEN, Ireland - Commemorating a record-setting flight 86 years ago, adventurer Steve Fossett and his copilot successfully flew a biplane across the Atlantic and landed Sunday on an Irish golf course to the cheers of 2,000 onlookers.

Fossett and antique airplane enthusiast Mark Rebholz, who jointly operated a custom-built replica Vickers Vimy, wanted to honor and emulate the June 1919 achievement of British pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten-Brown.

Both air crews flew from Newfoundland to Clifden in western Ireland using compasses and sextants for navigation. While Alcock and Whitten-Brown managed the feat in 16 hours, 20 minutes, Fossett and Rebholz took about about 45 minutes longer. And while the British pioneers crash-landed in a bog, their American successors landed smoothly on a local golf course.
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The British duo was the first to fly nonstop across the Atlantic, completing the milestone eight years before Charles Lindbergh made his more famous solo crossing.

Fossett, 60, who already holds world records in five pursuits — in balloons, sailboats, gliders, airships and powered aircraft — said the challenge this time was to operate an aircraft that had no modern power steering.

“This was an endurance test,” Fossett said. “This airplane is very primitive. You have to keep your hands on the controls at all times. If you let go, the plane will go out of control.”

Rebholz, 52, said they had “intentionally minimized the instrumentation on the plane” to try to replicate some of the challenges that faced Alcock and Whitten-Brown — but conceded that use of a modern radio must have made them feel a lot more at ease.

“On the way over we were in contact with all the commercial airlines flying overhead,” Rebholz said. “That is a comforting feeling, talking to other people while you’re flying.”
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Joshua]

Rip

[pmtts]

Fossett searchers 'spot wreckage'

Teams searching for missing adventurer Steve Fossett have spotted what looks like the wreckage of a plane in eastern California, local police say.

An aerial spotter made the discovery late on Wednesday, and teams are going to the area to investigate, a Madera County Sheriff's spokeswoman said.

The search began after a hiker found items thought to belong to Mr Fossett.

Identity documents bearing Mr Fossett's name - including a pilot's licence - as well as cash and a sweatshirt were found by hiker Preston Morrow on Monday.

[Connaught Stranger]

Now wreckage of the plane has been sighted.

Connaught Stranger

[Goldie fish]

Closure of sorts.

[hedgehog]

Do you reckon Fosset and that caneoist in England were in it together

[Vertical t/o]

Bad Form!!! I flew the heli that flew in formation for the photos when he flew into Clifden. RIP indeed.