Steve Fossett and GlobalFlyer have just entered New Mexico after traversing Arizona. The Virgin GlobalFlyer website (http://www.globalflyer.com/MissionControl/Tracking/) shows the aircraft not far south of the New Mexico/Colorado border, on a bearing of 75 degrees at 214 knots and an altitude of almost 45,000 feet.

Reports suggest that Fossett should land in Salina, Kansas at 1.17pm local time (just after 19.00 GMT). Project sponsor Richard Branson - who is in Mission Control in Salina - told ABC news that he was "reasonably confident that by midday he will make it", adding: "He's a great glider and so if he runs out of fuel before he gets here he will somehow, we hope, make it all the way." ®

Previous reports

GlobalFlyer over continental US (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/03/globalflyer_reaches_us/)
GlobalFlyer on a wing and a prayer (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/03/globalflyer_update/)
GlobalFlyer and Fossett take to the skies (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/01/globalflyer_take_off/)