Fossett's Plane Loses Fuel, Lowering Chances of Beating Record

Published: Feb 09, 2006
Source: www.bloomberg.com



Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett's plane lost fuel during its first day of flight, lowering his chances of beating the world distance record, mission controllers said.

The trimaran-like Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer plane overnight lost about 4 percent of its original fuel load, equating to about 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 kilometers) of distance, Chief Engineer Jon Karkow said today in a press conference in Crawley, southern England, aired by Sky News.

``We have a lower chance than we thought we had before we launched,'' Karkow said. ``I think it's not a sure thing.'' The loss is probably due to the plane's venting system, which acts to prevent a buildup of pressure in the fuel tanks, he said.

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