Released: February 04, 2005

February Weather Deemed Best For GlobalFlyer Solo Flight

MANHATTAN, Kan. – When the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer takes off from Salina on the Kansas High Plains in February, it should encounter weather as close to perfect as one can possibly get in Kansas, according to State of Kansas climatologist Mary Knapp.

“Historically, atmospheric conditions in Kansas are more stable in February than during any other time of the year,” said Knapp, who is charged with compiling and archiving weather data for the state.

The GlobalFlyer will attempt a record-setting solo, non-stop flight around the world. Mission control for the project, coordinated by Virgin Atlantic Airways and Chief Executive Officer Richard Branson, will be housed on the Salina campus of Kansas State University. The flight is scheduled to take off and land at the Salina Municipal Airport.

Knapp, who is based at K-State Research and Extension at the university’s Manhattan campus, cited data showing the mean average precipitation in February at 0.94 inch in Kansas, near the low end of the scale, compared with other months. Only January and November are slightly lower, she said, but the likelihood of snow was greater in January and reduced visibility and thunderstorms pose a greater risk in November.

“Later in the year, when the earth’s surface begins to heat up, there’s a greater possibility for storms and turbulence,” Knapp said.

“The flight will have a huge payload of fuel when it’s taking off, so that’s a factor,” she said. “This time of year it’s less likely that they’ll encounter rough weather.”

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Mary Lou Peter
mlpeter@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News