2 March - Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer Update - Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer in Fight against Time.

SALINA, Kan. -- At 8.00am CST (14:00UTC) this morning the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer Mission Control team announced that Steve Fossett's attempt to set the record to be the first person to fly around the world non-stop without refuelling hung in the balance. Caught in a fight against time, the team confirmed that the fuel onboard appeared to be drastically lower than was expected at that point in the record attempt.

There are two ways of reading fuel load onboard the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. The first being fuel burn sensors and the second being the fuel probes in the tanks.

After a long and exhausting night of checks and rechecks, between Steve Fossett and Mission Control, due to the fact that the fuel burn sensors and the probes were showing significant discrepancies, the team were left with very little choice but to conclude that early fuel indications had not given an accurate reading on the actual amount of fuel onboard and that in fact the lower of these two readings, the probes, were the accurate indicators. It is not yet clear whether the problem is due to the gauge incorrectly indicating the amount of fuel onboard or if it was a loss of fuel due to leakage.

The aircraft took off with 18,100lbs of fuel and it appears that within the first 3.5 hours of flight 2600lbs of fuel simply disappeared. Currently the fuel onboard, at just over the half way mark, is estimated to be 5,500lbs.

The team, working alongside Steve, are investigating a variety of scenarios to get Steve and the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer back home to Salina safely and with a world record. The first being alternative routing further south, the second the decision to continue with the current routing relying on the speed of the jetstreams across the Pacific, which need to retain a speed of minimum 58knots, to maximize remaining fuel efficiency, although this will result in Steve being at the mercy of the winds. If this is the chosen decision the team will be faced with two "go - no go" decisions by approximately 12:20pmCST (18:20UTC) when the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer reaches the coast of Japan and begins the long journey across the largest ocean in the world - the Pacific.

Speaking from China, just West of the East Chinese Sea, Steve Fossett, said:

"This is huge set back. To think we might not have enough fuel for the remainder of the flight.

"I immediately started the think of alternatives, possibly a route over Mexico for example or how far I could glide. I have not that high a level of confidence at this point. There are still significant hurdles to overcome - not least being the fact that the success of this flight is now down to the calculation of the winds. Also the fear that unforeseen problems in the fuel redistribution from the tips of the wings, which we have yet to undertake, is a worry."

Jon Karkow, chief engineer for the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft, explained:

"This issue is extremely concerning as it will be weighing heavily on Steve's mind and has put the record attempt in jeopardy. The Scaled team, and everyone at Mission Control, will continue to support Steve through the gruelling hours ahead."

An update will be issued as soon as more information becomes available.

CURRENT FACTS AND FIGURES

TIME (central US):                                  08:00am CST

ELAPSED JOURNEY TIME:                      37 hours  13 minutes

DISTANCE COVERED:                        11,645nm/ 13,391 miles

VAGF POSITION:       Flying at 45,400 feet, flying over China Airspace

SPEED:                         325 knots 373/ mph (ground speed)

FLIGHT SUMMARY:      Since our press conference at 10pm (CST) last
                     night Steve reached the half-way point of the
                     attempt over Calcutta, India at 07:05:33 UTC
                     (12:35:33 Local time to India).

                     He is currently approximately 250 nautical miles
                     west of the East China Sea.

                     The flight path will next take him over Shanghai
                     and Nagasaki.

For general media inquiries, please contact the press lines at Mission Control on 785 395 7054/5/6/7/8/9. For additional information and interview requests, please contact Lori Levin (Salina) 661-313-0301, (East Coast) or Debbie Dar, 609.897.7865 or e- mail [e-mail] or (West Coast) Sian Parry or Lauren Eastman at Glodow Nead Communications 415.394.6500, [e-mail] or [e-mail]. For broadcast satellite info contact Bev Brunston at On the Scene at 323.930.1030 or http://www.onthescene.com.

The website will be updated constantly from Mission Control so for up to date information please log onto www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com.

UK Virgin Atlantic Press Office [phone]

Please call the above numbers to obtain pictures of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer during its flight taken from the chase plane

UPCOMING PRESS BRIEFING: 1P.M. CST, March 2, 2005