Read all my GlobalFlyer blog posts here: my first story is here.
GlobalFlyer is the biggest event to hit the sleepy city of Salina, Kansas, in a long time - on second thoughts, make that forever. I met a rare breed in this part of America's heartland - a Democrat - who told me that the city's other claims to fame are frozen pizzas, car batteries and fluorescent bulbs; Salina boasts the world's largest factories for each.
It's a huge story for the local paper, naturally.
The Salina Journal reports on the arrival of the media hordes and Richard Branson on board a Virgin Atlantic 747 last night, featuring quotes from fellow journalist Steve Bird of the "London Times" who got talking to reporter Tim Unruh as we waited to get our first peek at GlobalFlyer in the airport hangar. Bird even taught the local hack some English vernacular. ("We're knackered," he said. That's British for "exhausted.") I've even got some friendly blog competition in the form of the Journal's Mission Log.
At last night's reception for Branson, Fossett et al last night at the local theatre, the lowdown from the locals was that celebrity pilot John Travolta was rumoured to be flying in to Salina to watch the GlobalFlyer landing. At the moment, though, everyone is focused on this afternoon's takeoff.
