Russian Balloonist Fedor Konyukhov Sets New Record for Flying Non-Stop Around the World

Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has broken the record for the fastest round-the-world flight in a hot air balloon, his crew said on Saturday July 23,2016, surviving a gruelling endurance test of storms and freezing temperatures.

Flight coordinator John Wallington said Fedor Konyukhov, who took off from Western Australia on July 12,2016 had successfully flown the route by Saturday. He landed before dark.

His journey, taking just over 11 days, is faster than the record set by the late American adventurer Steve Fossett who in 2002 became the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon in a feat which took 13 days.