"Steve Fossett is a remarkable adventurer and it is unfortunate his latest around-the-world-by-balloon attempt was unsuccessful," proclaimed Dave Liniger, John Wallington and Bob Martin, co-pilots of Team RE/MAX, a mission which has been in the running for the "Around the World by Balloon" challenge. "We have been among those following, with close interest, Fossett's Solo Spirit flight," commented Wallington, who is from Australia. "Of course, everyone in this unique competition has hoped to capture the honor of being first," added Martin, a science reporter for KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, New Mex. "We regret he did not complete his trip because after four attempts, few deserve the honor more than Steve Fossett," concluded Liniger, chairman of RE/MAX International, sponsor of the Team RE/MAX excursion scheduled to circumnavigate the world via the stratosphere in late December.

Fossett launched his Solo Spirit, a Rozier-style craft, which combines both helium and hot air balloons, from Mendoza, Argentina on August 7th. He immediately encountered problems, reportedly caused by a broken fuel line, and in an attempt to extinguish the external fire and execute repair he sustained minor burns. That first-day event caused him to lose three of the four burners which provide a heat source for the hot air portion of the craft. Within a day, Fossett and his ground crew creatively reactivated one of the three malfunctioning burners. The journey continued until Sunday at approximately 9:23 a.m. (CST) when the emergency locator beacon sounded twice -- an indication of problems. At 11:02 a.m. (CST) it sounded again indicating Fossett was in the water approximately 500 nautical miles off the eastern coast of Australia in the Pacific Ocean. Mission Control had reported strong thunderstorms in the area and Fossett later confirmed he was caught in hail and lightening, forcing the balloon down. He was spotted by the crew of a New Caledonia French rescue plane who dropped a life raft and reported seeing him climb onboard. Several hours later, the Australian yacht Atlanta picked Fossett up, uninjured and in good spirits. The Solo Spirit mission ended approximately 15,200 miles past the initial launch site, breaking the distance record for manned balloon flight set by Fossett during his second global attempt. On that mission, he was forced to land in India after launching from St. Louis.

"It is ironic that the first aircraft ever flown by man was a balloon (Francois Pilatre deRozier, October 15, 1783 in a balloon designed by the Montgolfier Brothers of France who launched their first balloon September 18, 1783 carrying a sheep, a duck and a rooster), yet it is the last aircraft to attempt a global circumnavigation," said Wallington. "Steve Fossett has truly made his place in history with each of his four attempts at the last great adventure in aviation -- the first human to travel around the world in a balloon. We are all pleased he has apparently landed safely," commented Liniger. "We are all proud of him," declared Martin. "Steve Fossett deserves the acclaim afforded all pioneers."

The Team RE/MAX expedition is still on schedule, according to all three pilots, and launch of their unique project is planned for late December from Alice Springs, Australia.

Published: August 17, 1998

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