World Record Balloon Flight From WA
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Sat 02 Jul 2016 - Fri 15 Jul 2016
Fedor Konyukhov has arrived in Northam, WA to prepare for an attempt to fly a balloon around the world in less than 13 days. This is the latest feat in an impressive list of achievements by the Russian adventurer, who is the first and only person in the world so far to have reached the five extreme Poles on earth.
An around the world balloon flight has only been completed twice before; by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones (1999) and the late American aviator Steve Fossett (2002), with Mr Fossett the only solo non-stop flight. I was at the launches of the Fossett attempt and it was an unforgettable atmosphere! After leaving Northam Mr Fossett circumnavigated the earth, covering 33,000km in 13 days.
With advances in technology, Mr Konyukhov hopes to better this by completing it in a shorter time. He is flying a
Roziere balloon which is a combined hot air and helium balloon, not a traditional hot-air balloon. It has an envelope over 51m (168 foot) high. He will also rely on jet streams to make the distance. When his helium tanks were recently delivered to the Northam airfield they were as long as a semi trailer.
Weather permitting, the record attempt will leave from Northam (the home of ballooning in WA) at first light July 7th. Starting the journey in winter eliminates the risk of being caught in tropical storms or cyclones. A special public viewing area will be designated in the south-east portion of the Northam airfield. There will be plenty of viewing opportunity as the envelope itself is 56m tall!
After departing Northam he will be carried east, over New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean, South America, Atlantic Ocean, South Africa, Indian Ocean, to land back in Australia. The landing point would not be known as balloons can only make use of available wind. The flight path can be tracked online using this
link .
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!date 02/07/2016 -- 15/07/2016
%wnperth
194642 - 2023-06-16 04:02:42