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Balloonist prepares for 4th try at nonstop global journey
December 4, 1997
Balloon hovers inside Busch Stadium in St. Louis
Web posted at: 3:16 p.m. EST (2016 GMT)ST. LOUIS (CNN) -- Chicago millionaire Steve Fossett is gearing up for a fourth attempt at becoming the first person to circumnavigate the globe -- nonstop -- in a hot air balloon.
As he did in January, the 53-year-old Fossett plans to take off from Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis. Fossett says he could leave as early as next week or as late as Christmas Eve.
In his last attempt, Fossett stayed aloft for six days and traveled 10,377 miles, both world records. He ran out of fuel before touching down in a mustard field in Nonkhar, a remote village in India. This time, he says he is equipped with a bigger balloon and a bigger fuel tank, and he plans to complete his journey in 15 to 20 days.
The flight is part of the Budweiser Cup, a challenge issued by Anheuser-Busch in November. The first team to complete a nonstop round-the-world balloon expedition wins $500,000, with a matched sum donated to charities. The trip must be completed by December 31, 1999.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Fossett predicts a balloon will circle globe within 3 years - January 21, 1997
- Balloonist alters flight route, can't fly over Russia - January 15, 1997
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