Source: The Guardian – theguardian.com
Fedor Konyukhov, 65, launches from Australian outback with aim to set a new world record by circumnavigating the globe in under 13 days.
The Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has successfully launched his helium balloon from an Australian outback town in his bid to break the world record for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe.
Fedor Konyukhov prepares for lift-off from Northam, Australia on Tuesday. The 65-year-old Russian adventurer aims to circumnavigate the globe, beating the previous record of 13 days set by American Steve Fossett in 2002.
Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty ImagesKonyukhov launched his 52-metre tall balloon from the same field outside Northam in Western Australia where American adventurer Steve Fossett started his circumnavigation of the globe in 2002.
Fedor Konyukhov prepares to depart Northam aero club in Western Australia on Tuesday. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images
The 65-year-old hopes to complete the journey in a cramped gondola in less than the 13 days that Fossett took. Fossett died in a plane crash in 2007.
The entrepreneur and adventurer Dick Smith said Konyukhov was the most likely person to break Fossett’s record.
“He’s an incredible adventurer. He’s what I call a responsible risk taker,” Smith told reporters at Northam.
“I sat in the gondola last night with him, it’s an incredibly complex piece of machinery … He’s also prepared to take quite high levels of risk.”
Dick Smith and Fedor Konyukhov talk before the Russian adventurer launches his hot-air balloon. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images
From Northam, 96km north-east of Perth, the 1.6 metric ton balloon is expected to fly east across Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and South Africa before returning to Australia after drifting more than 30,000km.
The launch was originally scheduled for 2 July but weather conditions forced a delay.
Source: The Guardian – theguardian.com