(CNN) -- U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett says he has last-minute nerves as he prepares an attempt on the "last great aviation record" by piloting an airplane alone around the world without refueling or stopping.
If the skies remain clear the 60-year-old former investor will take off Monday from Salina, Kansas, in the single-jet-engined Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, loaded with more than four times its own weight in fuel.
Over the 80 hours the challenge is expected to take, Fossett will fly to Europe and the Middle East, over Asia and the Pacific, and back to Kansas.
If he succeeds, he will have broken several records including the longest time flying non-stop without refueling. But if he fails, his life is in serious danger.
The most dangerous part of the attempt is the take-off, due to take place between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time (2100 and 0000 GMT).
GlobalFlyer has never been tested with a full load of fuel and any unexpected turbulence or technical problems could spell disaster.
The project is partly sponsored by Sir Richard Branson's company Virgin and the British entrepreneur is in Kansas to wish his friend and former ballooning colleague well.
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