Press release, July 2, 2002 - First round-the-world flight in a balloon in the Southern Hemisphere

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Subject to detailed analysis of the evidence for the flight and subject to confirmation that it was conducted in full compliance with all the applicable provisions of the FAI Sporting Code, Mr Fossett looks likely to be able to claim new FAI world records in the following categories :

AM 14 (Rozier Balloons with a volume of between 16000 and 22000 m3) : Time Around the World : no record yet achieved by AM14 balloon. Distance : with approximately 31'300 km flown, the current record set by Steve Fossett (22'910 km flown in 1998) should be broken. Duration : the current record of 12 days 12 hours 57 minutes set by Steve Fossett in 2001 should also have been broken.

Depending on the performance he achieves, it is also possible that he may be in a position to claim the Absolute World Record (for any type or size of free-flying balloon) for Shortest Time Around the World - currently standing at 15 days, 10 hours and 24 minutes, set by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in Breitling Orbiter 3 in 1999. Since his Round the World track is shorter, he is probably unlikely to be in a position to break the Absolute Distance Record of 40 814 km also set by Piccard and Jones in 1999.

When the flight is complete, Official Observers will immediately start their analysis of the flight data. Since Mr Fossett is the holder of a FAI Sporting Licence issued in the USA, the records claimed must first be ratified as US National Records by the National Aeronautic Association in Washington DC, the FAI's member organisation in the USA. Once this has been done, the evidence will be carefully checked by FAI's experts and ratification by the FAI as world records will follow soon thereafter.

The Observers will be checking especially the evidence for the exact time and place of take-off and landing, and the precise trajectory followed by Mr Fossett's balloon. They will also wish to make quite sure that the balloon did not touch the earth's surface at any intermediate point between the launch and landing.

For further information : www.spiritoffreedom.com

Jean-Marc BADAN Promotional Manager

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale 
Av. Mon-Repos 24
CH-1005 Lausanne / Switzerland
FAI - The World Air Sports Federation 
Tel. +41.21.345.10.70 / Fax +41.21.345.10.77 
e-mail : jmb@fai.org / Internet : http://www.fai.org