13 July 2016
Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has set off on a solo round-the-world flight in a balloon, aiming to beat Steve Fossett’s 14-year-old record for the 33,000 kilometre trip. Track his progress here
Konyukhov set off from Northam, Western Australia yesterday – the same place Steve Fossett set off from in July 2002. The record stands at 13 days 8 hours 33 minutes. Konyukhov is hoping to beat the record by a substantial amount using up-to-date technologies. He is, however, using a very similar balloon – a Roziere 550 built by British company Cameron Balloons.
“Nobody in the world makes better balloons that the Brits,” said Konyukhov, “so our balloon is being made by Cameron Balloons and it will fly on Russian helium.”
Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov tries the Cameron balloon cockpit for size. [Photos: FlyFedor]
Konyukhov’s attempt has the backing of Russian president Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, and also the Russian Geographical Society.
The flight route is Australia – Tasman Sea – New Zealand – Pacific Ocean – South America (Chile and Argentina) – Falkland Islands – Atlantic Ocean – Africa (Cape of Good Hope) – Indian Ocean – and back to Australia.
Structure of the Cameron balloon – as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Cameron Balloons has also built a composite gondola which houses the balloon’s control systems, oxygen supplies, flight communication and navigational instruments, a sleeping-bunk, water supplies, food rations, life-saving emergency equipment, first-aid supplies and clothing.
Fedor Konyukhov RTW Balloon Flight
