Posted for "Gary Fitzgerald" <gbfitz@swbell.net>:

 Larry,
 
 Google "iridium" and either buy or rent a sat phone - that's the cleanest
solution.  The phones come data ready.
 
 If you're flying over a quasi-populated area, are willing to do some
experimenting with the data connection and (pay attention to this part) risk
the wrath of the FCC, your cell phone should work.  You didn't hear that from
me, OK???.  You'll run out of lift before you get above the coverage of the
network.
 
 HF may be acceptable for voice (unless there's a thunderstorm within a 2
state radius), but will totally suck for data.
 
 Gary Fitzgerald
 LNC2 extra-slow build ~70%
 engine: TBD
 St. Charles, MO