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This is some flying!
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Posted by: MadScientistMatt

Steve Fossett has made history by being the first man to fly a plane around the world solo, nonstop, without refueling. Definitely a triumph of engineering, determination, and insomnia.

http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com

Posted by: Mr. P

Absolutely, but I noticed there is precious little in the media about the design and engineering that went into the plane. It's essentially a copy of the Burt Rutan design philosophy, and I thought it was a Rutan design, however I don't see Burt's name anywhere.

Searching for the designer up comes a guy by the name of Jon Karkow. He, along with the Rutan philosophy and Branson's money, built a nifty piece of work. Of course, Rutan doesn't have a lock on smarts, but you have to admit......"without Rutan's work to blaze the trail.........this event wouldn't have happened".

Mr. P

Posted by: merczephyr

Quote:


	Scaled's 'Model 311' aircraft is a single engine turbofan aircraft specifically designed for non-stop global circumnavigation by a solo pilot with no passengers. The 'Voyager' aircraft which took Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager around the world non-stop could well be considered 311's 'big sister', but evolution and invention on the part of Burt himself and Jon Karkow has certainly played its part in making this aircraft unique.

http://www.virginatlanticglobalflye...ction/index.jsp

It sure sounds as if Burt had a hand in it.

Posted by: MadScientistMatt

Interestingly enough, when he designed the Voyager, Burt Rutan chose to make it a two person plane because he didn't think one pilot would be able to make it alone.

It seems from this page that Burt Rutan did most of the design work, and Jon Karkow did a lot of the production work.

Posted by: Mr. P

good find Matt, that pretty much clears it up. I saw a statement from Branson inferring that the other guy was the designer, and I did not see "any" mention of Rutan in the first couple of articles. The design "drips" of Rutan philosophy, so I assumed he either had a big part in it, or someone was really copying his system.

Mr. P

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