Our April club night saw over 50 of our members and partners attend a very special evening. Brian Jones retold his remarkable story of the record – breaking round the world flight; the first hot air balloon to circumnavigate the world. The Breitling Orbiter 3 was built by Cameron Balloons, Bristol, and co-piloted by Brian Jones OBE and Bertrand Piccard. By the time Brian and Bertrand took off they had already overcome many problems and the prospect of winning looked poor as a rival balloon was days ahead of them. During the 30,000-mile nineteen day voyage they survived numerous crises; for two days they lost communications and at 35,000 feet they had to endure temperatures of minus 50deg C when their heating failed and their water froze in the tiny gondola They flew non-stop between 1st and 20th March 1999. By the time they reached the Gulf of Mexico their fuel had run perilously low and their decision to carry on across the Atlantic reflected their courage and determination. Their journey took them from Chateau D'Oex in Switzerland across the Mediterranean Sea and over Mauritania in Africa to the Egyptian desert.
Brian’s talk brought their marathon flight vividly to life capturing many highs and lows and how two very different characters forged a unique relationship in the most challenging circumstances In addition to setting seven world records in the Orbiter 3, Jones and Piccard won a million-dollar prize, which they used to set up a foundation, "The Winds of Hope", for children suffering in unreported or forgotten circumstances throughout the world Brian & Bertrand's book "The Greatest Adventure" tells their incredible story; this was a sell out on the evening as members queued to buy it.
