Launch
Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland
Date: 1st March - 0805 UTCAltitude: 0ft
Altitude record - Algeria
Set the world altitude record at 38,507ft
Date: 20th March - 1710 UTCAltitude: 38,507ft
Speed: 112 knots
Heading: 085
Landing - Mut,Egypt
Final landing at Mut
Date: 21th March - 0600 UTCAltitude: 0ft
Speed: 12 knots
Heading: 0150
Yemen
Yemen - no permission to enter and risk of being shot down
Date: 6th March - 2318 UTCAltitude: 18,400ft
Speed: 46 knots
Heading: 095
Finishing line - Maurtania
Cross the finish line
Date: 20th March - 1021 UTCAltitude: 35,000ft
Speed: 101 knots
Heading: 085
Fumes! - Mexico
A dangerous build-up of fumes in the
capsule makes life interesting
Speed: 46 knots
Heading: 097
Fuel problems - Haiti
Advised to land by Flight Director as
we have travelled two thirds of the
Distance but used three quaters of
our fuel.
Altitude: 34,500ft
Speed: 64 knots
Heading: 077
Welcome
Orbiterballoon.uk is my personal web site. Thank you for visiting and I hope that you will find your time here informative and enjoyable.
When the Breitling Orbiter 3 touched down in Egypt on 21st March 1999, after the first successful circumnavigation of the world, my life changed dramatically. I have been called a variety of names in the past, but it came as quite a shock to be referred to as one of history's 'aviation pioneers'.
On this site I will try to keep you up to date with what I am doing in my professional life and give news of current projects and interesting tit-bits. One of the most important of these, for me, is our Winds of Hope foundation. While Bertrand Piccard and I were drifting high above the earth in our small capsule, we became very aware of the fragility of our planet and of the people who inhabit it. Winds of Hope aims to promote a more sensitive approach to our environment and to the future of mankind. In particular we seek to help children who are suffering in forgotten or unreported circumstances.
