Pioneer Aircraft to Repositioned to Salina, Kansas to Attempt First Ever Around-The-World Solo Flight Virgin Atlantic Airways announced the repositioning of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer experimental aircraft to Salinas, Kansas from the Mojave Desert where exhaustive air checks and test flights have been conducted. The repositioning flight begins the final stage of preparation as the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer attempts the first ever around-the-world solo flight. The launch window for the attempt opens on February 2nd, when weather and jet stream conditions are forecasted to be most favorable. The aircraft will be piloted by Steve Fossett, the current Round the World Record holder in both balloons and sailboats. Together with Virgin Atlantic Airways, known as one of today’s most innovative airlines, Mr. Fossett will attempt to break the last great aviation record by making the first solo non-stop flight around the world. The flight is estimated to take approximately 80 hours, during which the aircraft will fly 75% further than the range record for jet-powered planes. The pioneering aircraft - the world’s most efficient jet plane - has been designed by aviation legend Burt Rutan Built by Scaled Composites, the aircraft is a single pilot, single engine turbofan aircraft designed for non-stop global circumnavigation. The structure of the plane is entirely made from composite material and will be ultra light. The aircraft will fly at 45,000ft and travel 40,000 km at speeds in excess of 250 knots (285 mph, 440 kph). The aircraft will fly at up to 52,000 feet and travel approximately 23,000 miles at speeds in excess of 285 mph. A dedicated web site – www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com - will provide details of the project. It will give updates on its progress over the coming weeks and will provide an unprecedented level of live coverage of the record attempt during the flight itself. The site is being designed and managed by Conchango and hosted by Energis.