I think Branson is about it - the only guy with the cash and the desire to do 'cool stuff'. Global Flyer was one, SS2 will be the next.

When it comes to the era of the great Explorer, it was the like of Sir Ranulph Fiennes who finished off what little on-foot exploring there was left to do. Ellen McArthur, Brian Jones (with Bertrand Picard ), that's the recent British exploratory personalities. Richard Noble counts to some extent with Thrust SSC 8 years ago being the first (and to date only ) supersonic car, all be it an exploration of technology more than geography.

There's still some 'great' Britains around, but unfortunately, we have a nation and industries who dont feel the need for, or want to back particularly exciting things anymore. A typical example, British Airways were going to sponsor Thrust 2 in the 1980's - but they didng, they funded Orchestras instead.

Doug