LONDON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Sir Richard Branson announced Wednesday the planned launch of the first solo-piloted aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without refueling.
The aircraft, known as the GlobalFlyer, will be manned by Steve Fossett, Branson's partner in a previous global balloon attempt.
A plane called Voyager, which carried two pilots, completed the challenge for the first time in 1986. GlobalFlyer, which is scheduled to take off next year, is designed by Burt Rutan, who also created Voyager.
The BBC reported the ultra-light aircraft is being built in the United States and will be made entirely of advanced materials. It will be designed to fly at 45,000 feet and travel about 25,000 miles at speeds of more than 285 mph.
Branson said his announcement, which came one day before the final flight of the Concorde, was meant to demonstrate his interest in the future of aviation.
He told the BBC he tried unsuccessfully to persuade the British government to allow him to continue flying Concorde under the Virgin Airlines flag for several more years.
