Fossett search expanded, patience urged

RENO, Nev., Sep 7 (Reuters) Air crews searching for US adventurer Steve Fossett four days after his plane went missing vastly expanded their search area yesterday in a mission they likened to looking for a needle in a haystack in the vast Nevada desert.

Authorities said it could take two weeks or more to find the 63-year-old millionaire and aviation record-setter whose plane disappeared without a trace on Monday.

But despite finding no locater signals or emergency beacons from Fossett or his plane, hopes were high of finding him.

''We're all remaining very positive and very hopeful with this search,'' Nevada police spokesman Chuck Allen said at a news conference yesterday.

Maj. Cynthia Ryan of the Nevada Civil Air Patrol said the search area had been expanded from 600 sq miles (1,600 sq km) to 10,000 sq miles (26,000 sq km).

Ground patrols of the mountains and a search of western Nevada's Walker Lake have been added, and the air search was extended into California's mountain border.

''Trying to make that needle stand out in a haystack that big is going to be a real challenge and is going to be frustrating for people who were hoping for results early on,'' Ryan said.

''Searches of this nature very typically can go on two weeks and longer. So four days into it, we are still scratching the surface,'' she said.

''We can't always guarantee the result that everyone would like, but I do guarantee results,'' Ryan added.

Fossett's plane disappeared while he was out scouting dry lake beds for a planned attempt to set a land speed record.

Nothing has been heard from a sophisticated watch that Fossett is known to wear that is designed to let pilots signal their location in an emergency.

Authorities said several aircraft carrying infrared equipment had searched the area through the night without result.

More than 12 planes took off at dawn today to resume the full-scale search in the Nevada desert, whose mountains rise up to 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) and are buffeted by blustery cross winds.

BRANSON HOPEFUL Searchers are using several types of planes, including some with imaging technology that quickly distinguishes man-made objects, including aircraft wreckage, from natural objects.

A sighting on Wednesday proved to be an old airplane wreck, rather than the Bellanca Citabria Super Decathlon that Fossett flew.

British billionaire Richard Branson, who teamed with Fossett on several aviation adventures and who underwrote his record-setting solo non-stop airplane flight around the world in 2005, said on Wednesday he was optimistic Fossett was alive but that he was concerned.

''He's not only the greatest aviator in the world, he's also the greatest gliding pilot in the world,'' Branson said. He added that he had tried to find Fossett using satellite mapping from Internet search company Google Inc.

Fossett earned his fortune as a financial trader. In 2002 he became the first person to fly a balloon solo around the world.

REUTERS PBB KP0454