NORTHAM, Australia (Reuters) — Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov lifted off from Northam in Western Australia on Tuesday (July 12) in his attempt to break the world record for a hot air balloon solo flight around the world.
The 64-year-old Russian Orthodox priest’s wife and children watched as he departed at sunrise from the same place American aviator Steve Fossett started his successful solo flight in 2002 to circumnavigate the globe. Fossett took 13 and a half days, a time Konyukhov hopes to beat.
Supporting him as he lifted off was Australian entrepreneur and adventurer, Dick Smith.
“He would be incredibly excited. He’s climbing at about 500 feet per minute, he’s put the burner on, the helium is now being heated by the sun and off he’s going, he may be back here in 14 days’ time,” Smith told Australia’s Nine Network.
Konyukhov has a long list of expeditions, including climbing Mount Everest, walking to the North and South Poles and rowing 16,000 kilometres (9942 miles) across the Pacific Ocean.
This particular adventure is his biggest yet, said his wife, Arina.
“It was his dream from his youth and he always says (to) me one of his most (biggest) dreams and one of the most difficult dream is to (go) up on air-balloon. So, it’s the main dream of him,” she said.
Konyukhov and his team have been preparing for the flight for almost a year.
The Roziere balloon was built in Bristol, UK, and Konyukhov obtained a temporary balloon pilot certificate to perform flights in Australia.
The team arrived in Western Australia in early June, but the launch was postponed due to a cargo delay and bad weather.
Neil Bennett from the Bureau of Meteorology Western Australia said it would be difficult to tell whether Konyukhov would succeed in breaking the record.
Konyukhov plans to fly over New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and back to Australia, travelling about 33,000km (20505 miles).
