 Vijaypat Singhania, an Indian, has claimed a new world record for the highest flight in a hot air balloon, after a voyage lasting several hours.
The 67-year-old textile tycoon soared past 21,000 metres (69,000 feet) but fell just short of his original target.
He travelled in a pressurised cabin attached to a balloon as high as a 22-storey building.
BALLOON FACTS AND FIGURES
Indian tycoon and aviator, Vijaypat Singhania
Current record: 64,997ft (19,811m)
Target altitude: 70,000ft (21,336m)
Balloon capacity: 1.6m cu ft
Total height: 160ft (48.8m)
Gross weight: 1,820kg (1.8 tons)
Pilot flies in 560kg sealed aluminium capsule approx 2.7m x 1.4m (9ft x 4ft 6in)
Fitted with 18 burners, three fuel tanks, sat-phone; camera; two VHF radios; GPS; life-support system; safety-release system and parachute
Ascent: 3 hours
Descent: 1.5-2 hours
National television carried live coverage of the voyage, which ended with Mr Singhania's safe return to Earth some five hours later.
During the ascent, air temperatures plummeted to around -93C (-135F).
Mr Singhania's craft comprised a pressurised aluminium capsule with a specially designed multi-coloured balloon and 18 burners.
The balloon was connected to a parachute that would have been released automatically in case of any emergency.
A helicopter carrying a technical team followed the balloon closely and was in constant touch with Mr Singhania throughout the flight.
Before taking off Mr Singhania, who chairs Indian textile giant Raymond Group, told the BBC that flying was in his blood.
"I thought let us do something important in life, therefore I went about preparing for this world record."
Asked what motivated him to set new records, he said flying was "a want, a passion and an obsession" for him.
"The father of Indian aviation, JRD Tata used to say, 'You don't have to be crazy to get in to aviation, but it helps'... you could say the same for me," he said. |
