Five prospective balloons teams have failed in their attempt to fly around-the-world this winter. One team, Virgin Challenger, is sitting in Marrakech hoping for a second chance. By the time you read this the 97-98 season will be over. Someone commented that it looked like The Three Stooges trying to fly around-the-world this year. In November there was such promise. What went wrong?
December, the Virgin Challenger
team took a calculated risk to inflate their balloon in less than optimal
conditions. They knew it was chancy but, felt the risk was worth the reward.
If the winds that snatched the envelope away had held off for another thirty
minutes maybe they would have pulled it off. By then the gondola would have
been attached and the wind would have been easier to handle.
Steve Fossett had his team on alert for a possible launch at the same time. He canceled and waited till later. Was he really bluffing the Virgin team as some have speculated?
On New Year's eve Fossett's Solo Spirit and Kevin Uliassi's J. Renée lifted off within hours of each other. A real race it seemed was finally in the air. Lindstrand was at home in England frantically sewing a new envelope.
Unfortunately, Uliassi's envelope burst soon after reaching his planned altitude. Fossett, meanwhile, made the fastest crossing of the Atlantic to date. But to where? How did Billones plan to get him back to the subtropical jet? Bob Rice using the same weather to forecast for Uliassi had called a completely different game plan. Fossett dumped fuel over Wales trying to maneuver away from Libya, again. Eventually he would be caught in doldrums, lucky to make it over the Black Sea before calling it quits. Maybe for good.
Next up, Dick Rutan and Dave Melton in the Global Hilton. Rutan has flown around-the-world non-stop, non-refueled. A picture perfect sunrise launch in Albuquerque ends in a fiery abandoned sunset landing north of Dallas, Texas.
Breitling team drop their gondola on way to the launch pad and have to spend time fixing it. Finally they take off, loose a third of their fuel, and waller around the Mediterranean for days. China says they can't overfly. The team hangs out talking with villagers in India. China says, OK, but it is too late. Breitling doesn't have the fuel to cross the Pacific. Instead they decide to go for an endurance record. Which might not get recognized.
In all the interviews I have given to various media in the last few years regarding an around-the-world attempt by balloon I have said that there are three elements that must all work right. The weather pattern has to be there and hold up for two weeks, the equipment must hold together, and the individuals onboard must be able to meet the challenge. I really never gave much thought to political overflight problems. I clearly underestimated the games despots play.
All five team's had equipment problems, some more serious then others. Two had human problems as well as less than favorable weather. Fossett's pesky heaters failed him again. It is no fun being at 22,000 feet and cold. He's been there and done that. Andy Elson had severe headaches. Why? Seems he has a caffeine dependency. Think of it as withdrawal symptoms. Not a good way to start a two week, very confined trip.
The wheel is being invented here. Every flight, success or failure, adds to the body of knowledge for the next attempt. Will a team claim Anheuser Bush's million dollar prize before it expires? I think it will happen. Who and when? Ask the bookies in Vegas.
Take a look at the letters to the editor this month. People are coming out the woodwork with plans for RTW flight. All the press is giving ballooning a high profile. What better opportunity to introduce new people to the sport of ballooning. A world flight could give ballooning in the late 90s the same jump start that Double Eagle II did twenty years ago.
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