A Short First Heat in Global Balloon Race

The pursuit of one of aviation’s last frontiers--flying a hot-air balloon around the world nonstop--was a head-to-head race for only a few hours.

Two competing balloonists began the exhausting, exhilarating and dangerous 20,000-mile journey Wednesday evening.

In St. Louis, millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett lifted off at 5:05 p.m. from Busch Stadium, his shiny silver balloon shimmering against the white backdrop of the snow-covered ballpark. It is his fourth attempt to circle the globe.

A couple hundred miles to the north, Kevin Uliassi, 34, left in his white balloon about 8:45 p.m. from a 300-foot-deep quarry near Rockford, Ill. But a few hours after he took off, a spokesman said a tear in his balloon would force him to abort the flight within 24 hours.

Fossett left nearly an hour earlier than expected, saying the conditions were right. Nearly 300 people clapped and cheered as his balloon rose into the air.

Fossett may soon have other competitors. Dick Rutan, who helped fly the experimental lightweight plane Voyager around the world nonstop 11 years ago, plans to take off from Albuquerque as soon as the weather is right.

Other adventurers want to make the round-the-world quest as well. British millionaire Richard Branson planned to lift off early last month from Morocco, but the balloon tore away from its moorings and sailed away without him over North Africa. Branson vows to try again.

And Swiss balloonist Bertrand Piccard is preparing for a launch from the Swiss Alps. No date has been set.

“I’m very worried about the competition,” Fossett said just prior to liftoff. “I’m hoping my prior experience in dealing with problems with the flight will give me the advantage.”

The timing of the launches is no coincidence.

Fossett spokeswoman Sue Killenberg said the jet-stream conditions for long-range flying are best in December and January.

Hot-air balloons cannot be steered with any precision. Instead, they have to rely on high-altitude winds to carry them around the world.