A-Model 72189 Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer

The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer was an American performance and sports aircraft with a composite structure, a three-hull structure and a landing gear retracted in flight. The drive was provided by a single Williams International FJ44-3 turbofan engine. The prototype flight took place in 2005, and the aircraft was decommissioned in 2006. Only one copy of this unusual plane was built, which is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer was designed by the famous American aircraft constructor - Burt Rutan for Steven Fossett. The only task of this plane was to enable a lonely flight, without stopping, around the world. This one goal was followed by the entire structure of the machine, which was made of light and durable carbon-epoxy composites, and its structure was based on three hulls. The middle one houses the pressurized pilot's cabin, and the side (outer) hulls are actually only fuel tanks. The propulsion was based on the Williams International FJ44-3 engine, popular in civil aviation, with a relatively simple but reliable design. Great emphasis was also placed on the so-called aerodynamic excellence that is comparable to the best sailplanes! This meant that the plane at the appropriate altitude was able to fly a distance of 300-400 kilometers without the engine running. The famous flight started on February 28, 2005 and lasted until March 3 of the same year, with a complete success!