Balloonist claims new record for solo flight
CANBERRA, Australia — A cold and exhausted 65-year-old Russian balloonist came back to Earth with a bruising thud in the Australian Outback on Saturday after claiming a new record by flying solo around the world nonstop in 11 days, officials said.
Fedor Konyukhov landed 100 miles east of Northam, where he started his journey on July 12, about three hours after he flew over the same town on his return, flight coordinator John Wallington said.
Konyukhov’s gondola — a carbon box 6 feet, 7 inches high, and 5 feet, 11 inches wide — bounced twice over 200 yards in an empty field and tipped on its side before the support crew grabbed it to prevent the deflating balloon from dragging it farther, crew member Steve Griffin said.
The Swiss-based World Air Sports Federation did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the new record.