Fossett breaks flight distance record
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-12 11:47

During takeoff Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center, his plane leaked fuel and he nearly ran out of runway.

"I had to pull up with all my might" to get the plane in the air before the end of the airstrip.

Severe turbulence over India "almost broke the plane apart," he said, forcing him to strap on a parachute for fear of having to eject.

Instead, his flight team altered his projected route. They had him cross Florida, where he began his journey Wednesday, and take a southerly path on the flight's last leg to take advantage of better winds.

The plane's ventilation system also malfunctioned midway through the trip, causing temperatures in the 7-foot cockpit to rise to as much as 130 degrees. Fossett was forced to drink a large part of his water supply earlier than planned because of the heat, his flight team said.

Early Saturday, Fossett decided to try to finish the trip after reaching the middle of the Atlantic.

"He burst two tires on landing and the poor Global Flyer had to be dragged off the runway," said Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic.

His voyage broke the airplane distance record of 24,987 miles set in 1986 by the lightweight Voyager aircraft piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, as well as the balloon record of 25,361 miles set by Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard in 1999.

After the news conference, Fossett was presented with the Guinness World Record for the longest flight in history.

Fossett already holds the record for flying solo around the globe in a balloon and for being the first person to circle the globe solo in a plane without stopping or refueling. That flight last year lasted 67 hours and was hampered by a fuel leak.

While in the air, Fossett took power naps no longer than 10 minutes each and drank a steady diet of milkshakes. His plane was equipped with a parachute pack holding a one-man raft and a satellite rescue beacon.

Branson_ who was beaming with pride throughout the conference_ said Fossett's record was a superhuman effort.

"He's just flown further than man, or woman, has ever flown," said Branson. "He has had pretty much no sleep since he set off from Kennedy a few days ago, and he has been through an incredible amount."