February 10, 2006 - As I write this, Steve has just passed Houston, TX, getting close to making one full orbit. Our look back at the aircraft's flight test program continues....

April 8, 2004, now three months after rollout, and another test sortie is scheduled. So how do you hangar such a wide plane? You make the gear pivot 90º and put it in sideways! Note the red markings on the ramp for spotting things just right.

July 8, 2004. Another three months, and the Capricorn is back in the air.

July 21, and I feel so special...the Scaled folks are giving us the "Mojave Salute"...normally I'm in the crowd giving a Scaled plane that same honor. Although commonly referred to as "the" GlobalFlyer, the aircraft is actually a Scaled Composites Model 311 (serial number 001, no less!) Capricorn. It is currently registered to Marathon Racing of Greeley, CO as N277SF...but according to the FAA's database, it is powered by a Rotax reciprocating engine (NOT! That's the FAA for you...). That registration number formerly belonged to Steve Fossett's Cole Tim R550 hot air balloon in which he set the absolute around-the-world ballooning record of 320 hours, 33 minutes (click for the record details).

August 12, and it's time to fill up the tanks and see how she flies loaded with gas...note the bend in the wings!

September 9, another test sortie with Jon Karkow at the controls.

October 4, 2004 dawns, and the Capricorn finds itself as display window dressing for another party...this time it's SpaceShipOne's Second X-Prize flight, which it completed successfully, winning $10 million.

October 13, 2004 - The Capricorn is about ready, and it's time for pilot Steve Fossett to take her up for his first flight in what he hopes will give him yet another record. The press is on hand to witness the flight, so he's decked out in his flashy silver suit. Flying chase is astronaut Mike Melvill in his long-range LongEZ. At first, he headed for Rwy 26, but the wind changed, so he did a quick U-ie and headed for Rwy 8.

Presumably Steve is happy with things, as he taxis back in. I had to throw this photo in...as he taxis past my bird, the Pumpkin.

Just over a week later, October 21, Fossett is back at the controls, this time he's showing off for his sponsor, the irrepressible Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic Airlines.

Quite a few other dignitaries are on hand, as well.

With Scaled's Beech Duchess flying chase.

Note the change in drogue chute configuration...now there's just one!

November 24, 2004, the last test flight that I shot. Late in the evening, the light was perfect. Just over four months later, the Capricorn touched down in Salina, Kansas, for the start of the real adventure.

The classic Mojave shot...wind towers and all.