EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2105 posts, RR: 7 Posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2360 times:
According to Airliner World Magazine, Virgin Atlantic Airways founder and Chairman, Sir Richard Branson has set out to beat a new world record: To fly around the world non-stop.
Today was the scheduled day for the first flight to take place, although the record breaking flight would take place in April or October next year, when the weather conditions were at their best.
His team has constructed a specially designed aircraft, in which he and his co-pilot, Steve Fosset will fly the aircraft from. This aircraft is incredibly efficient and will circumnavigate the globe with just 9 tonnes of fuel.
The flight call-sign will be Virgin 101 and is expected to fly over or near cities such as Montreal, London, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Wingman From United States, joined May 1999, 1361 posts, RR: 11 Reply 5, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 2077 times:
Well, Airbus certainly won't be very happy. Not only is Branson risking his life by foregoing his four engines for long haul, he's getting truly suicidal by using just one! Mon Dieu, n'est pas posible!
Nudelhirsch From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 1437 posts, RR: 18 Reply 7, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1919 times:
Arright...one day VS will presemt a monkey steering five A346 at the same time...as long as press, media, TV, and a.net are full of it...
commercials for free...awesome...
Pixuk From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 320 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1779 times:
Sure, Branson is the master of the PR stunt - but he's just working the system. It goes back to his very early days of running his Student magazine and record shop - he couldn't afford the advertising but learnt that editorial was free.
He's a media man's dream, since he's always available for comment or a photo op. Other CEO's shield themselves from the press; Branson craves it. I don't see than as a bad thing - and certainly not a reason for avoiding his airline.
It seems common to bash Branson for his publicity, but I figure he's a clever businessman who is running multiple profitable businesses - including an international airline. Others who are merrily running their airlines into bankruptcy don't get nearly the same rough ride at the hands of a.net or flyertalk; but maybe that's because we don't know their names
QantasA332 From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1499 posts, RR: 29 Reply 12, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1717 times:
Pixuk --
Branson being "the master of the PR stunt" certainly doesn't preclude him being a clever businessman -- he certainly is a clever businessman, and he's doing well as a result!
LZ-TLT From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 430 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1692 times:
"His team has constructed a specially designed aircraft"
Plain lie. The aircraft is (being) constructed by Scaled Composites. And SRB will definitively not the first to do this. Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager did it back in 1986 with Burt Rutan's Voyager.
QantasA332 From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1499 posts, RR: 29 Reply 14, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1640 times:
LZ-TLT, good point. I read an article about the GlobalFlyer in which it said that, but it somehow slipped my mind...thanks for noticing it.
As for it being done before, I'm afraid not -- yes, Rutan and Yeager have flown around the world, but it hasn't been done solo, as the Branson team is planning on doing.
Pixuk From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 320 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1634 times:
Yup, but Nudelhirsch's comment "still wanna fly his airline" because he can work the media isn't much of an argument against, although it is a common low ball hurled at Virgin.
He overpromises on equipment upgrades (J2000 seats, double beds, etc), and that's a valid critisicm; but 'he's good at publicity'? It's a bit thin.
I'll admit I'm a Virgin customer, and I'll be the first one to yell when they screw up; but I do hate to see 'publicity-seeking' used over and over again as a reason why RB is a bad guy. Every other airline pays their PR companies a small fortune to do exactly what Branson is up to - it's just Branson is happy to use himself to get those column inches.
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2105 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 1438 times:
"As far as I knew it would be a solo flight, with Fosset the primary pilot and Branson the secondary pilot (not both on the flight together)"
I think both will be inside. I could be wrong though. When one is sleeping, the other must control... right? Or maybe the autopilot would fly it?
"I posted a topic about this about a few weeks ago with more information. EmiratesA345 please use the search engine."
Thanks Tony. I really don't need the search engine bullshit. I did use it. Nothing came up. It sounds to me as if your upset because your thread got "0" replies.
"Check six and get your facts straight"
Get your eyes checked son. Look at the aircraft. Have you seen another one like it?
No.
Therefore it is specially designed. You get your facts straight before posting your nonsense.
I think this will be an amazing airplane, and hopefully everything will go well! This is an awesome record to beat, so why shouldn't he do it? Some say he's a master of PR stunts, I think its pure genius!
Nudelhirsch From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 1437 posts, RR: 18 Reply 17, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1293 times:
Pixuk, I didn't intend to say anything bad about Branson or his airline, actually it's sad, they don't serve my routes, so I would have three or more stops, which I don't want, I would fly Virgin any time!
I rather write my comment, to slow down or prevent any endless discussion of the project, as there was before with his concorde bid, with his bet versus BA...
I think he is a great businessman and as being one he knows how to play the media game successfully.
JMChladek From United States, joined Aug 2003, 331 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1211 times:
As far as I've been able to read, this will be a solo attempt. I'm guessing that Steve is the primary pilot and Richard will go only if he can get permission from his insurance company to do so. Looking at pictures of the plane, I don't see how 2 people can fit in it. Even if it was a two person attempt, it would be a record setting flight for a JET airplane as Voyager was piston engine powered. Considering Richard lost the round the world balloon race to Piccard and Fawcett's solo stint, it doesn't surprise me that he's going for something with wings this time.
EK413 From Thailand, joined Nov 2003, 1257 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1153 times:
Nudelhirsch
"Arright...one day VS will presemt a monkey steering five A346 at the same time...as long as press, media, TV, and a.net are full of it...
commercials for free...awesome...
still wanna fly his airline...hmmm"
I choose to fly his Airline any day!
So tell me when was the last time you heard about Mr Geoff Dixon handing out personal checks to his (hard working) 35,000 staff? I have respect for Branson & his approach to business.
Read carefully, and here is what you will find in the second text block:
"...The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer looks like no other plane because it is designed to do what no other plane can. Engineered by Scaled Composites...
And about "Have you seen another one like it?"
YES. If you look carefully, you will find out that the design resembles a lot of the original Voyager design with newer elements which look very similar to other Scaled Composites designs(ie White Knight, Proteus).
The only reason the aircraft isn't mentioned on Scaled's website is their policy not to announce their projects until they have flown for the first time.
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2105 posts, RR: 7 Reply 22, posted (4 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 710 times:
LZ-TLT,
No son. You need your eyes checked. What I was referring to was the style of this aircraft. The way it looks. It isn't the typical long tube with wings and engines. It is truly different.
Sure, there have been similar designs, but not the same.
Therefore, this aircraft was designed specifically for this mission.
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2105 posts, 
From United States, joined Nov 2003, 2477 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 320 posts, 
From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1499 posts, 
From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 1437 posts, 
From Thailand, joined Nov 2003, 1257 posts, 