Скачать или смотреть USA: FOSSETT'S JET CROSSING - NEW WORLD RECORD

(16 Feb 2000) English/Nat

American adventurer Steve Fossett has smashed the world record for circumnavigating the world in a medium sized jet.

The 55 year old aviator beat the old record set in 1988 by more than five hours.

It was a triumphant round the world journey for American adventurer Steve Fossett.

The 55 year old, his two copilots and an official time keeper left Los Angeles airport on Monday afternoon, returning Wednesday morning in a record time of 41 hours 13 minutes 11 seconds.

The old record stood at 47 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds.

It was set in 1988 by Edgar Kaiser flying a Hawker 800.

Flying his Cessna Citation ten business jet, Fossett refuelled at Bermuda, Agadir (Morocco), Luxor Egypt), Calcutta (India), Nagasaki (Japan) and Midway Island in the Pacific ocean.

Fossett, a multiple world record holder as a balloonist, yachtsman and aviator was ecstatic.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It's just a great experience. There's just a great romance to flying around the world and doing it faster than anybody else in that medium and so it is a very happy experience."
SUPER CAPTION: Steve Fossett, Adventurer

Fossett and his team flew in favourable weather for most of the way, picking up tail winds from 40 to 150 mph and flying between 45 and 47 thousand feet.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It looks like he's beaten the record by about 14 percent. I had his average speed at approximately 559 miles an hour."
SUPER CAPTION: Michael Pablo, National Aeronautics Association

For copilots Alex Tai and Darrin Adkins it was a dream adventure come true.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Most pilots don't get to do this sought of thing really. Most professional pilots- we get to fly from A to B with passengers and make sure we don't spill coffee and things like that. To be asked by Steve to do things likes this, it's a boy scout thing isn't it? It's great fun, you're flying just for the thrill of doing something and this sort of thing tests it and pushes it, fantastic."
SUPER CAPTION: Alex Tai, Co pilot

Their fastest pit stop was at Midway where they spent only 18 minutes on the ground.

The new record awaits final certification by the F-A-I (Federation Aeronatique Internationale) of Lausanne, Switzerland.

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