Steve Fossett is helped out of the Global Flyer after he landed safely in Bournemouth, Sussex. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    LONDON, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett finished the longest nonstop flight in aviation history and made a new world flight distance record of 42,467 km on Saturday.

Adventurer Steve Fossett of the U.S. is congratulated by Virgin Atlantic chief executive Sir Richard Branson (L) as they fly to Kent International Airport in southern England after Fossett made the longest non-stop flight in aviation history, February 11.(Xinhua/AFP photo)

    Ground control said Fossett, 61, broke the distance record of 40,210 km while piloting his lightweight experimental plane over Shannon, Ireland, late Saturday.

    Fossett began the journey in Florida on Wednesday. The flight lasted about 76 hours but ended with an emergency landing at Bournemouth International Airport in southern England instead of at the planned military air strip in nearby Kent, because of generator problems.

    Previous distance record was set in 1986 by the lightweight Voyager aircraft piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager.

    Fossett holds the record of flying solo around the globe in a balloon and of being the first person to circle the globe solo in a plane without stopping or refueling. Enditem