Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer Mission Control announced that the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer has successfully reached the half-way point in its round-the-world record attempt by flying 180 degrees of longitude from the point of take off.

At 07:05:33 UTC (12:35:33 in India) the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer reached the half-way point 275nm (320m) west of Kolkata (Calcutta) in India which means it has now covered 9841.5nm (11,350miles). At this point Steve Fossett was 30hrs and 19 minutes into his record attempt. The total distance which needs to be covered in order to qualify for the record is 19,863nm.

Steve Fossett took off on his circumnavigation from Salina Airport, Kansas at 18:47:10 CST (00:47:10 UTC) on Monday 28 February.

The radical aircraft is piloted by Steve Fossett, legendary aviator, sailor and record breaker, who is attempting the first solo non-stop flight around the world. It is hoped the record attempt will be successfully completed within 80 hours. The pioneering aircraft - the world�s most efficient jet plane - has been designed by aviation legend Burt Rutan.

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic, said:

� We couldn�t have wished for a better start for Steve�s voyage and reaching the half-way point is a major milestone in Steve�s attempt to become the first person to fly solo, non-stop around the world.� Kevin Stass, Mission Control Director, commented:

�There was a loud cheer in Mission Control as Steve passed through the half-way point but we are keeping the champagne on ice as Steve still has a long way to go. I immediately rang Steve to congratulate him on reaching this milestone in the flight and he said he was pleased with his progress so far.�

Built by Scaled Composites, the aircraft is a single pilot, single engine turbofan aircraft designed for non-stop global circumnavigation. Scaled used computer aided aerodynamics to design the aircraft. The structure of the plane is entirely made from composite material and will be ultra light. The aircraft will fly 75% further than the range record for jet-powered planes. A dedicated web site � www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com - is providing updates and details of the record attempt including an unprecedented level of live communication from the aircraft during the flight itself. The site is being designed and managed by Conchango and hosted by Energis.

For further information please contact the press lines at Mission Control on 001 785 395 7054/5/6/7/8/9

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 +441293 747373 Pictures are available of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer during its flight taken from the chase plane

Notes to Editors

Steve Fossett Steve Fossett is well known for his record-breaking adventures in balloons, sailboats, gliders and powered aircraft. He is a pilot of exceptional breadth of experience - from his tenacious quest to become the first person to achieve a solo balloon flight around the world (finally succeeding on his 6th attempt in 2002) to setting, with co-pilot Terry Delore, nine of the 19 Glider Open records, including the first 2,000 km Out-and-Return and the first 1,500 km Triangle flights. His achievements as a jet pilot for Cessna in a Citation X include records for U.S. Transcontinental, Australia Transcontinental, and Round-the-World Westbound non-supersonic flights. In 2002 Fossett received aviation's highest award, the Gold Medal of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).

RICHARD BRANSON Richard Branson�s taste for adventure led him in 1986 to set the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in his boat Virgin Atlantic Challenger II. In 1987, the Virgin Atlantic Flyer, with Branson at the controls, became the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic. Branson assailed the other great oceanic challenge in 1991, crossing the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Arctic Canada, again breaking all existing records with speeds of up to 245 mph in a balloon measuring 2.6 million cubic feet. In the late 1990s, Branson and Fossett began a spirited competition to become the first to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon. They eventually joined forces but were not able to achieve the feat. In 2002 Fossett succeeded in a solo attempt.