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Two Eagles gas balloon completes record Pacific crossing | Two Eagles gas balloon completes record Pacific crossing |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Two pilots in a helium balloon have completed their crossing of the Pacific with a sea-landing off Mexico, setting new milestones on a six-day trip. | Two pilots in a helium balloon have completed their crossing of the Pacific with a sea-landing off Mexico, setting new milestones on a six-day trip. |
American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev landed safely, their Two Eagles Balloon team said. | American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev landed safely, their Two Eagles Balloon team said. |
They claim to have beaten the world distance and duration records by flying for more than 137 hours and travelling more than 5,209 miles (8,383km). | They claim to have beaten the world distance and duration records by flying for more than 137 hours and travelling more than 5,209 miles (8,383km). |
To set the records the team needed to beat the existing records by 1%. | To set the records the team needed to beat the existing records by 1%. |
"The Two Eagles balloon team is pleased to report the Two Eagles balloon has landed safely just off the Baja coast near La Poza Grande," their team said in a statement. | "The Two Eagles balloon team is pleased to report the Two Eagles balloon has landed safely just off the Baja coast near La Poza Grande," their team said in a statement. |
"The pilots made a controlled descent to a gentle water landing about four miles off the Baja coast. The balloon is stable and still inflated and the pilots are fine." | "The pilots made a controlled descent to a gentle water landing about four miles off the Baja coast. The balloon is stable and still inflated and the pilots are fine." |
The two pilots left Japan on Sunday and had aimed to land in Canada or the US. However, weather forced them to change course towards Mexico. | The two pilots left Japan on Sunday and had aimed to land in Canada or the US. However, weather forced them to change course towards Mexico. |
They were met in the sea by a Mexican fishing boat. | |
The statement stressed that the sea landing was acceptable "under the international rules governing the establishment of world records". | The statement stressed that the sea landing was acceptable "under the international rules governing the establishment of world records". |
"Two around-the-world attempts using a different type of balloon landed in the water and were approved as records." | "Two around-the-world attempts using a different type of balloon landed in the water and were approved as records." |
Closet-like space | |
The two pilots needed to beat the existing records - both set in 1981 - by 1%. | The two pilots needed to beat the existing records - both set in 1981 - by 1%. |
For duration that meant staying aloft for about 138 hours and 45 minutes, and for distance they needed to travel about 5,260 miles. | For duration that meant staying aloft for about 138 hours and 45 minutes, and for distance they needed to travel about 5,260 miles. |
The Two Eagles Balloon team said the landing "occurred at six days, 16 hours and 37 minutes", with the pilots covering the distance of 6,646 miles. | The Two Eagles Balloon team said the landing "occurred at six days, 16 hours and 37 minutes", with the pilots covering the distance of 6,646 miles. |
Gas-air balloons are difficult to steer, relying on the differing wind speed and direction at different altitudes. | Gas-air balloons are difficult to steer, relying on the differing wind speed and direction at different altitudes. |
In order to change height the pilots have only a helium release valve to go down and sandbags to jettison to go up. | In order to change height the pilots have only a helium release valve to go down and sandbags to jettison to go up. |
The hi-tech "Two Eagles" balloon is made of a strong Kevlar and carbon-fibre composite, but weighs only 220 pounds (100kg). | The hi-tech "Two Eagles" balloon is made of a strong Kevlar and carbon-fibre composite, but weighs only 220 pounds (100kg). |
It is fitted with monitors and other instruments that track their course and compile data to be submitted to record-keepers. | It is fitted with monitors and other instruments that track their course and compile data to be submitted to record-keepers. |
The specially-designed capsule sits beneath a huge helium-filled envelope and is designed to stay aloft for up to 10 days. The pilots live in a closet-like space with a very low ceiling. | The specially-designed capsule sits beneath a huge helium-filled envelope and is designed to stay aloft for up to 10 days. The pilots live in a closet-like space with a very low ceiling. |