Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
On a balloon ride across three oceans.
Legendary Russian traveller
Fedor Konyukhov is preparing for a risky
round-the-world flight by balloon.
The flying vehicle will be soon sent
to the launch site in Australia.
Ten countries are involved in the grand project
that is supported by Russian Geographical society.
Their goal is to break a new record and
conquer air space at the first attempt.
Channel One will show how the trip is going.
Dmitri Soshin has more on will power,
engineering solutions and dangers of the flight.
Fedor Konyukhov always challenges himself and nature.
Two years ago, he crossed the Pacific Ocean
in 160 days while rowing solo on the boat
"Turgoyak", covering the distance in record time.
Now he's preparing for a new challenge -
a solo non-stop round-the-world flight by balloon.
The legendary Russian traveler
is going to launch soon, in June
from the airdrome in Australian town of Northam.
Konyukhov is going to cover 35,000 kilometers.
He will reach New Zealand across the Tasman Sea.
Then, having flown across the Pacific Ocean,
he will reach South America.
Then, crossed the Atlantic Ocean,
the balloon will fly over South Africa.
Next, Fedor will cross the Indian Ocean,
and, finally, reach Australia.
Konyukhov is ending the flight
in the east coast of Australia.
Fedor Konyukhov, traveller:
“A young man wouldn’t take this on, because
one also needs life experience. Those who
are 50-60 would be able to do it.
Young people can’t make it.”
In Bristol they gave the 64-year old adventurer
the biggest helium/hot-air balloon on the planet.
It’s been manufactured over nine months.
There are a few sections inside
the 15,500 cubic meter envelope
for helium and hot air.
When the gigantic balloon is filled with gas,
it will be as high as the Cathedral
of the Dormition of the Moscow Kremlin.
This is Konyukhov inside the envelope -
like inside a big cloud.
Don Cameron, designer of the balloon:
“You can plan a lot for such projects and
try to forecast all forces-majeures,
but after all, it’s an adventure.
It’s impossible to predict everything.
And success isn't guaranteed.
Much depends on the skills of the pilot.
We created the best air balloon,
but we can only test it during the flight.”
Konyukhov will live in a gondola with
no viewing ports and with only a
roof-hatch for at least for two weeks.
There are satellite and radio communications,
a furnace, food supply, and equipment for
observing the altitude, in the small cabin.
David Boxall, engineer:
“It’s hard to control the balloon!
It goes along the air stream,
it’s like sitting on the wind.
Choosing the right wind, you direct the flight.
A meteorologist from Belgium will help Konuykhov.
He will tell him the wind direction.
If you go up, you will move in one direction,
if you go down, you will move in other one".
He must fly at a height of 10,000-11,000 meters.
The autopilot will help him maintain altitude.
At night he will go down to 1,000 meters and lower.
“Here I will go on instruments.
There are also TV cameras watching.
And here you can see the ascent, climb indicator.
The arrow will show the speed
the balloonI goes, up or down”.
Ascending higher than three kilometers
the pilot should put on an oxygen mask.
The oxygen supply is expected to be
enough to last Konyukhov 21 days.
"You should see through the hatch -
the sun in the morning, the stars at night.
If you don't see this, it means you're falling".
He must not make even the smallest mistake –
if he misses the required wind, the gigantic balloon
will become uncontrollable.
Probably the hardest challenge is loneliness:
sit here in a small, very closed space –
it’s much smaller that a passenger car.
When you extend your arms,
your fingers touch the walls.
Besides, it will be quite cold here, only 5 degrees.
So he will have to constantly wear a warm vest,
sleep in a warm sleeping bag and observe the board.
There is only one person who so far managed
to fly a balloon solo around the world
non-stop.
In 2002, well-known traveler Steve Fosset
did that only on his sixth attempt –
it took him a little less than 15 days.
Fedor dreams on improving on the absolute
speed record set by the American -
320 km/h - as well as longest distance record – 5,126 km.
Konyukhov first flew an air balloon 10 years ago.
Yet this January while preparing
for the round-the-world flight,
he set another world record for the
longest-duration balloon flight.
Fedor and his instructor, Ivan Menyaylo,
spent almost 33 hours in the air.
Then he flew a training flight across the Alps.
Now in Bristol, they are preparing
the balloon to be sent to Australia.
In mid-June, the international launch
crew will arrive there.
These people helped Steve Fosset
to successfully circumnavigate the earth.
Dmitri Soshin, Channel One.
Bristol, England.