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Balloonist soars over Libya en route to India
January 18, 1997
Web posted at: 9:20 a.m. EST (1420 GMT)(CNN) -- American balloonist Steve Fossett soared over Libya Saturday and was en route to India after the North African nation finally gave him clearance to use its airspace. But his crew said the delayed go-ahead may have jeopardized the round-the-world balloon flight.
Libya had denied use of its airspace Friday, forcing Fossett to alter his flight course and decrease his altitude, thereby wasting fuel and missing powerful jet stream winds. But in a last-minute decision, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi gave Fossett the green light.
"It's like the train is leaving the station without him," said Bo Kemper, manager of Fossett's Solo Spirit balloon project. "The chances of him recovering are negligible."
(261 K / 23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
By early Saturday, the 52-year-old adventurer -- hoping to become the first balloonist to circle the globe nonstop -- soared above the southeastern tip of Libya for nearly two hours. He climbed to an altitude of 26,000 feet -- almost 5 miles (8 km) above the Earth -- where he caught a swift current that carried him at speeds of 148 mph.
50K map of Fossett's travel path
"That's the quickest he's flown so far," Kemper said, emphasizing that typical speeds have ranged between 80 to 125 mph. "The higher you go, the quicker speed you'll get."
As of 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT), Fossett was moving across Egypt in his metallic silver Solo Spirit.
Although Fossett has picked up speed, Kemper said it hasn't made up for lost time. And while Kemper refused to call the mission over, he observed, "The chances have diminished significantly."
"But you have to remember, we know we can get Steve to India. And at that time, that means Steve will have traveled half way around the world -- double the best distance traveled ever."
Fossett broke his own solo-flight record for balloon travel Friday when he reached 5,435 miles (8,747 km), a record he had set on a previous flight from South Korea to Canada.
'Best regards'
The balloonist was forced to reroute his course to the south after Libya denied use of its airspace. The news of the denial came in a terse three-line telegram, signed off with "best regards." Gadhafi told CNN's Cairo bureau that permission had been denied because of a U.N. embargo that has limited the operations of Libyan Airlines.
Kemper had said the change in course would use up so much propane that Solo Spirit would most likely have to put down in India unless better weather comes along to keep the balloon aloft.
The official Libyan news agency, JANA, later reported the nation's change of heart: "The American balloon will be allowed in Libyan airspace."
Ever since Fossett lifted off from St. Louis on Monday, the Solo Spirit expedition team had mounted an international effort to pressure the Libyan government to allow use of its airspace.
The dangers of entering international airspace were illustrated by two American balloonists who died in 1995 when they were shot down by Belarus soldiers who claimed they had no clearance to fly overhead. Organizers said they had been cleared.
CNN transcript:
- Balloonist's project manager discusses problems with Libya - January 17, 1997
Related stories:
- Libya changes mind, will allow balloonist to pass - January 17, 1997
- Balloonist denied passage over Libya - January 17, 1997
- U.S. balloonist nears African coast - January 16, 1997
- Balloonist alters flight route, can't fly over Russia - January 15, 1997
Related sites:
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- Fossett Updates
- About Steve Fossett
- Transglobal balloon challenger
- Balloon Life Magazine
- Hot Air Balloon FAQ
- A Brief History of Ballooning
- Virgin Global Challenger
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