Google Earth Could Help Find Fossett

“I’m talking with friends at Google about seeing whether we can look at satellite images over the last four days to see whether they can see which direction he might have been flying and whether they can see any disturbances anywhere that they can pin from space,” said Branson in an interview with Reuters.

Given the high resolution of Google’s newest photos, such images could be invaluable; Fossett didn’t file a flight plan, so would-be rescuers have had little idea of where to look for him.  More than a dozen aircraft have at one point or another attempted to find the adventurer.

Those aircraft should have an easier time of things today, however, as winds in Nevada are reportedly dying down.  Another point in Fossett’s favor is the fact that his plane’s emergency beacon has been silent; the device is designed to activate in the event of a crash.

With Google (possibly) joining the search, Fossett’s odds of being found become even better.