Steve Fosset is the story of the record holder that conquered land, water and sky

What do people do by earned millions? When there is so much money that they begin to work for their owner, he most often enjoys life and spends it at his discretion. And there are many ways to do this. For example, American millionaire Steve Fosset began to set records, making incredible travels.

Steve Fosset earned a multimillion-dollar state on the New York Exchange. Having gotten, he was finally able to live the way he wanted. And Fosset dreamed of adventure and dangers. The eccentric rich man began to experience himself for strength and surprise the world. He swam over the La-Channel Strait, participated in dog sledges in the Arctic and automobile rally in the desert. He ran ski marathons and competed in races on high -speed yachts.

The restless fosset belongs to records for the most rapid round -the -world air travel and the most high -rise flight on the glider. In addition, he managed to cross the Atlantic Ocean on a restored aircraft from the First World War. But the most amazing record of Steve Fosset was a round -the -world balloon flight. He was the first in the history of aeronautics to have succeeded.

Record trip on a balloon

The round -the -world flight on the apparatus is easier than air than the air, Steve Fosset prepared thoroughly. He was in no hurry, since, unlike other records, he had no competitors. For such a trip, not only courage and skill are needed, but also a solid amount of money. The ordinary balloon was not suitable for these purposes, so it was necessary to design and make a special one.

Communicating with representatives of the press, Fosset argued that the record itself is not particularly interested in:

“I do not need a hype around my name to find money for extreme achievements. I already have them. Flight on a balloon around the world is just what I want to do. I really want it for a long time. ”

It is worth clarifying that this was not his first attempt to fly around the planet. Previously, Fosset climbed four times into the sky in a balloon for this purpose, but his plans were broken due to weather or technical problems. At the time that luck smiled at him, he started on June 19, 2002 and completed his round -the -world flight on July 3. In the gondola of the spirit of Freedom 58-year-old Fosset, there was only one.

The record holder overcame 31.3 thousand km in a balloon. The flight passed without incident, but at the end there were problems. Fosset needed a whole day to land your device. The landing was interfered with a strong side wind and a breakdown of equipment that was responsible for blowing the ball. In addition, a small fire arose on board, with which Steve managed to cope.

Having set the next record, Steve Fosset cooled to the balloon. When asked by the journalist, is he going to improve the result, the air supply answered this:

“I satisfied all my ambitions according to such flights. I'm not going to make serious flights anymore. Unless ride with friends. ”

Around the world on an airplane

And why it was necessary to waste time and effort on balloons, when a new ambitious plan has matured in my head. Steve Fosset decided to make the fastest non -shock round -the -world flight on a single plane in the history of aviation. Prior to this, the recordings were Dick Rutan and Gina Yeger, who in 1986 circled the planet Earth on the Voyager aircraft without landing and refueling. But there were two of them on the plane.

For a new record, Fosset thoroughly spent again. He ordered Virgin Atlantic Globalflyer aircraft designer Bert Rutan with unique characteristics. From March 1 to March 3, 2005, Steve Fosset circled the globe without a single landing, overcoming 36,898.04 kilometers in 67 hours 2 minutes and 38 seconds.

In 2006, Fosset again raised Virgin Atlantic Globalflyer into the sky in order to achieve new results. And again, the record is this time in the range of a single flight. The pilot overcame 41,467.53 kilometers in 76 hours 45 minutes. As before, he flew around the earth, but along a more complex trajectory. During the flight, Fosset twice crossed the Atlantic.

The death of a brave record holder

In total, the brave millionaire set 88 records in the sky. Despite his age, Fosset was full of strength and energy – in his plans there were many amazing adventures in the air, on water and earth. But in September 2007, what was subconsciously ready for each extrem. During a simple flight on a light -engine aircraft, which Fosset has hundreds behind Fosset, he died.

Fragments of the fosset aircraft

When Fosset stopped communicating and did not return to the airfield in time, it became clear to everyone that trouble had happened. Nevada’s state authorities launched unprecedented searches. They took part in 20 aircraft and helicopters and more than 600 people. Among the rescuers were athletes and climbers, as the searches took place in deserted rocky terrain.

Despite all efforts, neither fosset nor its plane was found. The millionaire was considered missing until his remains were found among the wreckage of a broken aircraft in October 2008. After formal examinations, the Chicago court recognized Steve Fosset dead.

See also – the story of a paraglider of Eva Visniere, who was carried away with a thunderstorm