NORTHAM, Australia (AP) — Windy conditions hampered the launch of American adventurer Steve Fossett’s latest solo round-the-world balloon trip early Wednesday, forcing a four-hour delay.
Fossett had been planning to take off around dawn on Wednesday (about 2000 GMT, Tuesday) in his sixth attempt to fly solo around the world in a balloon.
But strong winds meant he did not begin the four-hour process of inflating his hot air and helium-filled balloon, the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom, until shortly before dawn (2000 GMT).
Fossett’s launch team set up six big fans close to the balloon in an attempt to counteract the wind.
The 58-year-old millionaire investment tycoon from Chicago needs to have virtually no wind for the four-hour inflation as the slightest gust can topple the 40-foot high balloon and possibly rip it open, ending the attempt before it begins.
Despite his long list of previous failures, Fossett said Tuesday he was feeling good about his chances.
“I suppose I had confidence in other flights and I believed we were well prepared, but this time they’ve solved all the problems we’ve had in previous flights,” he said from the launch site in Northam, a small farming town 60 miles east of Western Australia state capital Perth.
“No, I’m not confident at all, instead I’m optimistic. I feel this is the best chance we’ve ever had,” he added.
Last July he took off from Northam but bad weather forced him to crash land his balloon in Brazil after 12 days. The trip was the longest ever solo balloon flight.
The last flight also was plagued by worries that Fossett, who will be propelled eastward around the globe by high altitude winds, did not have enough oxygen. This time, he’s taking twice as much as last July.
Once he gets airborne, Fossett will sit in a closet-sized kevlar and carbon capsule under the balloon breathing oxygen through a mask and eating military-style rations. The balloon will drift about six miles above sea level for most of the flight.
He will take short naps, maybe grabbing four hours sleep each day. His cramped capsule is full of sophisticated communications and navigational equipment including satellite phones and global positioning system equipment.
A mission control center at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, will monitor the flight and weather conditions and communicate regularly via e-mail and satellite phone.
Despite the meticulous preparations, Fossett acknowledged luck would play a major part in the success or failure of the flight.
“There are so many things that can go wrong,” he said.
“We stand here now thinking we’re all set up and as prepared as we can be (but) there are hidden problems with routing, weather, equipment, and…I’ll have to deal with it. Hopefully none of these problems will force me to land.”
Fossett holds world records connected to balloons, sailboats and airplanes. He placed fourth in the Iditarod dogsled race in 1992, swam the English Channel in 1985 and participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race in 1996.
