Salina ? Steve Fossett hopes to conquer the last great aviation milestone with a nonstop, around-the-world solo flight.

Fossett is scheduled to launch the single-engine GlobalFlyer this afternoon from Salina.

He will be powered by a single jet engine, 18,000 pounds of fuel and diet milkshakes.

“I just picked a bunch of flavors off the shelf at the store,” Fossett said.

Financed by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, the flight of the single-engine composite jet will begin and end at Salina Municipal Airport. The site was chosen because of its 12,300-foot runway and central U.S. location.

“Kitty Hawk (N.C.) was put on the map by the Wright Brothers. Salina will be put on the map by Virgin Atlantic’s GlobalFlyer and Steve Fossett,” Branson said.

Fossett is scheduled to end his flight at least 66 hours later, or sometime Thursday morning.

Fossett, who says he holds 62 world records in five sports, acknowledged Sunday that he was nervous about the flight. The composite jet will weigh 21,800 pounds at takeoff.

The forecast calls for cool temperatures just above freezing, with light headwinds this afternoon. Fossett has a flight window between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The 23,000-mile flight has already been postponed several times because of shifting jetstream patterns or weather at the takeoff site.

“I’m a bit nervous about takeoff,” said Fossett, who has logged about 30 hours in the aircraft. “I will be the ultimate test pilot. “I have a lot to worry about. It’s a major endeavor.”

The flight attracted more than 160 international journalists who arrived in Salina aboard a Virgin Atlantic 747. Branson will follow Fossett in a chase plan for the first day of the flight and return on the last leg. He has a prior commitment in Canada sandwiched in between.

Branson was optimistic that Kansans and the world would see something special this afternoon. He gave Fossett his wristwatch, complete with emergency beacon device, to wear for the flight.

“We want you and (the watch) back in one piece at the end,” Branson said.

Fossett will fly an average speed of 287.5 mph and rely on the jet stream to stretch fuel. The GlobalFlyer will have about 15 percent extra fuel to allow for weather conditions or other changes to the flight plan, said Jon Karkow, chief engineer for the flight.

Besides the nonstop record, Fossett will attempt to break seven other aviation records, including the longest flight by a jet aircraft. The record is more than 12,000 miles, set by a B-52 bomber in 1962.

Kansas State University’s aviation campus at Salina, located at the airport, will serve as mission control.