The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft is

wheeled out of a hangar in Salina, Kansas. The final countdown was

underway for a 5:00 pm(2300 GMT) takeoff of the experimental plane aiming

to make the first solo, non-stop, non-refueled flight around the

world.(Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

BEIJING, Mar. 2(Xinhuanet)-- Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett launched his Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer aircraft from the Salina Municipal Airport shortly before 7 p.m., starting a solo, non-stop flight around the world.

If he succeeds in this adventure, he will become the first to complete a solo trip around the world without making a single stop.

"It's going to be one of the most difficult flights I've ever done because of the workload of flying solo and the endurance of flying for three days," Fossett was quoted as saying by AFP.

The 23,000-mile flight had already been postponed several times because of shifting jet stream patterns or weather at the airport.

Steve Fossett has set around-the-world records in a sailboat and a hot air balloon.

(Agencies)