Russian launches balloon in Australia in record attempt
PERTH, Australia — A 65-year-old Russian adventurer was drifting east across the Australian Outback in a balloon on Tuesday in a bid to set a record for flying solo around the world nonstop.
Fedor Konyukhov launched his 56-meter (184-foot) -tall helium and hot-air balloon at dawn Tuesday from the same field outside Northam in Western Australia state where American adventurer Steve Fossett started his circumnavigation of the globe in 2002.
The accomplished balloonist, sailor and mountaineer hopes to complete the 33,000-kilometre (21,000-mile) journey in a cramped gondola in less than the 13 days that Fossett took. Fossett died in a plane crash in 2007.
Konyukhov’s son, Oscar, said his father had waited six weeks for perfect conditions to take off.