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Morning News

Adventurer Steve Fossett Takes Off to Fly Quickest Trip Around the World in Medium-Sized Jet

Aired February 15, 2000 - 9:58 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: American daredevil Steve Fossett, who probably still thinks about a hot air balloon record of some kind, is in the air once again.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: This time it's a more conventional aircraft.

CNN's Denise Dillon has more now on Fossett's latest quest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DENISE DILLON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Adventurer Steve Fossett makes a final check of his aircraft before the renowned balloonist and yachtsman sets off on his next quest for a world record: flying around the world in a medium-sized jet faster than anyone else ever has.

Fossett took off from Los Angeles, Monday night, hoping to make it around the world and be right back where he started in less than 48 hours. He is flying his own Cessna Citation X twin jet.

STEVE FOSSETT, ADVENTURER: I enjoy flying, and this is what my outlet, that I want to go out and do something that's very interesting to me and will represent a personal achievement.

DILLON: The current record stands at 47 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds. Flying at 45,000 feet, Fossett hopes, with good tail winds, to reach speeds of more than 750 miles per hour. If the conditions are right, he could shatter the old record and make the complete trip in less than 40 hours.

Two copilots will be on board with him, as well as an official timekeeper.

MICHAEL PABLO, NATL. AERONAUTICS ASSOCIATION: The present record is about 787 kilometers an hour, I think, around the world. They need to beat that by one percent, which means they need to give us an average speed of about 797, just on the low side of 800 kilometers an hour average speed around the world, and that includes time on the ground refueling. That counts as flying time.

DILLON: The official distance to circumnavigate the world is 22,843 miles. The crew will have to make at least six stops for refueling. Each pit stop will take about 30 minutes, all while the clock is ticking.

As they take to the skies, Fossett is no doubt reminded that it was five years ago to the day that he made history in the skies by becoming the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon.

Denise Dillon, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: And as always, which him the best of luck.

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