Steve Fossett
Adventurer and Pilot of GlobalFlyer

Updated on Tuesday, September 4, 2007

We have many exclusive photographs of the construction and flights of the GlobalFlyer.
We have been documenting the aircraft since its design stages, and have had exclusive access
during the construction and early test flights.

We also have portraits, a nice interview, and many still photos of Mr. Fossett.

 

Flight One - 2005:

Steve Fossett lifted-off from Salina, Kansas
at approx. 6:47:00 p.m. Monday, February 28, 2005
and returned on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at 1:48:56 p.m.
completing the first solo non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world.

In the process, he set several world records, and accomplished
one of the few possible "first" records remaining in aviation.

Flight Two - 2006:

Fossett set-off to make the all-time aviation distance record,
eclipsing all round-the-world records for all types of aircraft,
on Wednesday morning, February 8, 2006.
The flight began at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

He landed safely (barely) at Bournemouth Airport in England
at 5:07 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2006
after losing his generator, and all onboard electric power.
After declaring an in-flight emergency, Fossett was given
a priority landing slot at Bournemouth in England,
just miles from his intended destination of Kent.

The flight lasted 76 hr. 45 min., taking Fossett
26,389.3 miles (42,222.88 km.)

We were not able to cover the 2006 flight, so have no photos of Flight Two.

 

Shown below are samples of some of our images (we have thousands!).

 

Please contact us for information and rates for licensing these photos.
We are pleased to work with news organizations worldwide.

Jim Sugar 415-388-3344
Cell:
415-497-9191
jimsugar@aol.com

Brian P. Lawler 805-544-8814
Cell: 805-550-4736
brian@thelawlers.com

 

ALL IMAGES ARE UNDER COPYRIGHT OF JIM SUGAR AND BRIAN LAWLER 2001-2005
unless otherwise credited.
World flight, landing and post-flight images are copyright 2005 World Picture News.

 

 

Pushing GlobalFlyer out of the hangar in Salina
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Kevin Stass in Mission Control during world flight (1)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Kevin Stass in Mission Control during world flight (2)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Students in Mission Control at Kansas State University, Salina (1)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Students, Mission Control at Kansas State University, Salina (2)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

GlobalFlyer approaches Salina Airport after world flight (1)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

GlobalFlyer approaches Salina Airport after world flight (2)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

GlobalFlyer approaches Salina Airport after world flight (3)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

GlobalFlyer approaches Salina Airport after world flight (4)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

GlobalFlyer approaches Salina Airport after world flight (5)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Steve Fossett emerges from GlobalFlyer after world flight
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Peggy Fossett greets Steve after his world flight
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Steve Fossett greets well-wishers in Salina after flight (1)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Steve Fossett greets well wishers in Salina after flight (2)
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Steve Fossett signs autographs in Salina after world flight
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

Guinness Record
This image is available from World Picture News, New York

 

GlobalFlyer at Mojave 1

 

GlobalFlyer at Mojave 2

 

Jon Karkow (test pilot, project manager) in the pilot's seat of GlobalFlyer

 

Jon Karkow looks out of cockpit of GlobalFlyer in Mojave

 

GlobalFlyer over foothills (40) April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar


GlobalFlyer over foothills (41) April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

GlobalFlyer over mountains (3) April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Global Flyer over mountains (59) April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Global Flyer over mountains top-right April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Global Flyer over mountains April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Global Flyer hazy blue April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Global Flyer over mountains (4) April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

A spectacular hi-res image of Global Flyer front-on April 26, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Global Flyer one foot off runway at landing April 26, 2004. Photo by Brian Lawler

Global Flyer landing April 26, 2004. Photo by Brian Lawler

GlobalExplorer on first flight 1. March 5, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

GlobalExplorer on first flight 2. March 5, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

GlobalExplorer on first flight 3. March 5, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

GlobalExplorer on first flight 4. March 5, 2004. Photo by Jim Sugar

Steve Fossett portrait wearing his flight suit. January 8, 2004 Photo by Brian Lawler

Richard Branson, Burt Rutan, Steve Fossett with GlobalFlyer. January 8, 2004

Steve Fossett with GlobalFlyer. January 8, 2004

Steve Fossett with GlobalFlyer. January 8, 2004

Steve Fossett with GlobalFlyer (2). January 8, 2004

Richard Branson with GlobalFlyer in background. January 8, 2004

Richard Branson, Burt Rutan, Steve Fossett with GlobalFlyer (1). January 8, 2004

Richard Branson, Burt Rutan, Steve Fossett with GlobalFlyer (2). January 8, 2004

Fossett, Branson, Rutan at press conference (1). January 8, 2004

Fossett, Branson, Rutan at press conference (2). January 8, 2004

Fossett, Branson, Rutan at press conference (3). January 8, 2004

Fossett, Branson, Rutan at press conference (4). January 8, 2004

High-angle front view of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. January 8, 2004

High angle left wingtip 3/4 view. January 8, 2004

High angle left wingtip side view . January 8, 2004

High angle right wingtip 3/4 view. January 8, 2004

 

Press release photo, medium angle 3/4 view left wingtip. January 8, 2004

Level view 3/4 from left wing. January 8, 2004

Low-angle front view. January 8, 2004

 

 

Construction photos

We have been documenting the construction of GlobalFlyer since the wing spar was laid-up in carbon-fiber epoxy in 2001. We had two time-lapse cameras trained on the plane for 13 months, and have collected 11,000 time-lapse frames of the construction. In addition we have bimonthly progress photos of the plane as it was built. Some examples are shown here:

Hi-res 180° panorama of constuction by Brian Lawler

GlobalFlyer's 110-foot wing spar in the workshop, 2002

Carbon-fiber reels in the workshop, 2002

 

GlobalFlyer wing surfaces in autoclave room after curing, 2002

Interior of the left wing (all open spaces are future fuel tanks)

GlobalFlyer under construction (many available)

GlobalFlyer tail structure

GlobalFlyer instrument panel during construction

Scaled worker scribes a line on the fuselage

Scaled worker sights through a theodolite

Scaled employees discuss positioning of the left pod

Overview, mid 2003

 

Virgin Atlantic painters apply clear coat to the tail

Technician applies Virgin lettering to the tail

Williams International logo being applied to the engine cowling of the plane

 

Scaled Composites employees at roll-out of GlobalFlyer

 

 

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