Balloonist back on earth with a bang and a record
Russian priest claims to have circled globe in just 11 days
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA— A cold and exhausted 65-year-old Russian balloonist came back to earth with a bruising thud in the Australian Outback on Saturday after claiming a record by flying solo around the world non-stop in 11 days, officials said.
Fedor Konyukhov landed 160 kilometres east of Northam, where he started his journey on July 12, about three hours after he flew over the same town on his return, flight co- ordinator John Wallington said.
“He’s landed, he’s safe, he’s sound, he’s happy,” Wallington said from the landing site. “It’s just amazing. It’s fantastic — the record’s broken, everyone’s safe. It’s all good,” he added.”
Konyukhov’s gondola — a carbon box 2 metres high, 2 metres long and 1.8 metres wide — bounced twice over 200 metres in an empty field and tipped on its side before the support crew grabbed it to prevent the deflating balloon from dragging it farther, crew member Steve Griffin said.
“He’s got a bruise on his cheek, but he’s pretty well unscathed,” Griffin said.
Video of the landing showed Konyukhov smiling but silent as he emerged from the gondola. He stroked his bearded left cheek and wiped his eyes as he was hugged and cheered by supporters.
Konyukhov flew by helicopter back to Northam, where his first shower in 11 days was a priority, Griffin said.
Konyukhov demonstrated precise navigation of his 56-metre-tall helium and hot-air balloon by returning to Australia directly over the west coast city of Perth, then over the airfield at Northam, 96 kilometres to the east by road.
American businessman Steve Fossett also started from Northam to set a then-record of 13 days, eight hours for his 33,000-kilometre journey in 2002.
Konyukhov, a Russian Orthodox priest, travelled more than 34,000 kilometres in roughly 11 days, six hours. His journey took him through a thunder storm in the Antarctic Circle, where temperatures outside the gondola fell to -50 C.
The gondola heating stopped working on Thursday, so Konyukhov had to thaw his drinking water with the balloon’s burner, Wallington said.