The Balloonists' Own Epic Tale of Their Round-the-World Voyage
In this tense and often moving narrative, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, the pilots of the 'Breitling Orbiter 3' balloon, tell the remarkable story of their historic round-the-world flight. By the time they took off from Switzerland on 1 March 1999 they had already had to overcome many problems, and the prospects of winning the race to be first round the world looked poor - a rival balloon was days ahead of them. Yet in the end they made history. The flight was a triumph not only of technology by of the human spirit.
During their 30,000-mile nineteen-day voyage they survived numerous crises, and by the time they reached the Gulf of Mexico their fuel had run perilously low - their decision to carry on across the Atlantic for the final leg reflected their courage and determination to succeed where others had failed.
Using their log book, journals and photographs taken on board, Piccard and Jones have brought their marathon flight vividly to life. Their account tells of an epic adventure, but shows also how two very different characters forged a unique relationship in the most challenging circumstances of their lives.
