American and Russian Balloonists Duo Completes Record Breaking Trans-Pacific Flight

 

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.

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%.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

The two pilots left Japan on Sunday Feb 01,2015 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.

American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev's odyssey was eventually timed at 160 hours and 37 minutes at a distance of 6,646 miles (10,696 km), according to the Two Eagles team.