Balloonist Breaks Own Record, Finds Fast Wind

Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett broke his personal record for the longest-duration balloon flight and picked up a fast wind Friday that doubled his speed on his round-the-world quest.

At midday, the Chicago financier was traveling east over the Indian Ocean, 2,000 miles west of Australia, in his bid to become the first person to fly nonstop around the globe in a balloon.

He had been in the air for close to seven days, surpassing his best of six days, two hours and 54 minutes, set in January 1997.

The longest-lasting flight record of nine days, 17 hours and 55 minutes was set in January by Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard and his crew. Piccard’s round-the-world bid was abandoned when China balked at allowing him into its airspace.

Alan Blount, director of Fossett’s control center at Washington University in St. Louis, was confident Fossett could break Piccard’s record.

On Friday afternoon, Fossett sped up to 75 mph on a wind that saved him from a high-pressure system that would have kept him going in circles and used up precious fuel for the heater that keeps the balloon aloft.

He had traveled nearly 9,500 miles from the point in Argentina where he set out Aug. 7. He was at 29,000 feet, his highest altitude so far.