by Tom Hamilton
Andy Elson, together with co-pilot
Colin Prescot, is set to take off from a golf course in Almeria, Spain on
this latest attempt to circumnavigate the globe, and with a sizable helping
of luck and a genial jet stream, should complete the journey within 12-21
days.
"We've got an 80 percent better chance of achieving that than any other teams so far," according to 45-year-old Elson. Colin is in strong agreement, "I'd say we have the best chance yet."
Andy is not only passionate about this project, he is in love with the sport, the adventure, the sheer thrill of seeing the earth as he floats serenely above it. If aeronautics wasn't in his blood at birth, it certainly courses Andy's veins now.
He trained as an aeronautical engineer before starting his own engineering business in the early eighties. He came late to ballooning, only discovering its attraction in 1986. He quickly made up for lost time. Andy piloted the first balloon over Mount Everest, setting seven ballooning records, including the first balloon flight over the world's highest mountain, highest take-off by a balloon (15,000 feet) and highest landing by a balloon (16,000 feet).
Until last year he was the designer and chief engineer of all the balloons and capsules for the American world record attempts, including Steve Fossett's.
In January of this year Andy designed, built and co-piloted the Breitling Orbiter 2 balloon, which launched from Switzerland and landed in Myanmar (Burma) after 9 days in the air, setting the world balloon endurance record.
And why does Andy think his latest venture has the best chance? "It's better for so many reasons" says Andy. "For a start we're using kerosene, which we can store in special bags and not pressurized containers, so there's less weight."
Andy has devised a way in which
the kerosene can be burnt at altitude. This balloon can rise higher than
previous balloons and will be able to fly over the adverse weather systems
that could ensure disaster.
Andy has made other improvements that he will not disclose. One improvement that the team does like to talk about is the room in the gondola, "The ceiling is a lot higher in the gondola and we each have our own bunk," says Andy. "It's incredibly important to have your own personal spacebefore we've had to share bunks on a shift pattern."
There's a tiny galley with a special kettle for rehydrating food. They will have fresh food for the first four days, then dehydrated food.
This bubble-like home is made from special aluminum bonded in a honeycomb construction for added strength, with unique insulation, developed in the wake of an oil rig disaster, which makes the gondola particularly resistant to fire.
The Cable & Wireless Balloon will cruise around 30,000 feet, but is capable of climbing to 53,000 feet if necessary. The envelope's skin is made from reinforced polyester film, which reflects well to keep heat in. The gross volume is more than one million cubic feetmost of which is used by the gas cell, and just 24,000 cubic feet by the hot air cone. There are 12 cameras onboard, seven inside and five outside. Eighty solar panels will provide power, charging on-board batteries.
Andy Elson, 45, Wells, Somerset, England, is the project designer, engineer, and pilot.
Colin Prescot, 48, Stockbridge, Hampshire, is the second pilot. In 1976 he founded Flying Pictures Limited, the world's largest operator of hot air balloons and a leading European aerial film production and facilities company. He is married and has three children.
Photography: Chris Beeson, Allsport
