First non-stop and non-refueled, around-the-world solo flight

Of Steve's condition Richard added: "He is wide awake. I just asked him whether he might go back and have a sleep and he said "no I plan to party," so I suspect he'll still be going for another 24 hours."

Richard also maintained that Steve is just relieved to be alive and thought that Steve began to relax and enjoy the flight when he had crossed the Pacific Ocean. The entire Mission Control team was there on Steve's arrival. Jon Karkow, from Scaled Composites, thanked everyone involved in the project and said: "It's been a real team effort." And when Steve was reunited with Kevin Stass, Mission Control Director, all he needed to say to the man who has guided him throughout the flight was "what a job".

Although the flight has been recognised as the first solo trip around the world by Guinness World Records, it is still to be sanctioned by the National Aeronautique Association (NAA). When it is, it should be recognized as the fastest non-stop, non-refueled circumnavigation ever.

Only moments after Steve Fossett gave Sir Richard Branson back his beloved Breitling watch, Richard announced that he has decided to auction it on the website to raise money for our nominated charity ORBIS.

With an in-built Emergency Positioning Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) it can send a rescue signal using Global Positioning System satellites, the watch that Richard gave Steve before he took off on historic world record attempt has almost been on as many adventures as Steve.

Of the watch's adventures, Richard said: "It's been the first watch to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a balloon, and was also the first to cross the Pacific Ocean and has been over the Himalayas.

"Now it's the first watch to go around the world in a plane and is the only watch to go around the world in a plane on a solo flight," Richard added

So the watch, which would have cost around $10,000 new, has had quite an enviable history and has also had the daily pleasure of being on Richard's wrist.

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