Russian breaks world’s Fossett’s balloon record

Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov floats at more than 6,000 metres above an area close to Northam, Australia, in his hot-air balloon as he makes a record attempt to fly solo in a balloon around the world nonstop. (Photo: AP)

Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has broken the record for the fastest round-the-world flight in a hot air balloon, his crew said Saturday, surviving a gruelling endura-nce test of storms and freezing temperatures. Flight coordinator John Wallington said Konyuk-hov, who took off from Western Australia on July 12, had successfully flown the route by Saturday afternoon. He landed before dark.

His journey, taking just over 11 days, is faster than the record set by the late American adventurer Steve Fossett who in 2002 became the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon in a feat which took 13 days.

“The record is broken — no question,” Wallington told AFP, adding that Konyukhov had flown his helium and hot-air balloon almost exactly over his starting point. “He flew over the same field which he took off from.” The flight route has taken Konyukhov, who is in his 60s, from Australia to above New Zealand, across the Pacific Ocean, South America, the Cape of Good Hope and the Southern Ocean.