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THE GREAT NON-STOP AROUND THE WORLD BALLOON RACE
Chapter Sixteen - November 1, 1999 Things have been pretty quiet as regards a non-stop 'round the world balloon circumnavigation since Piccard & Jones won the Budweiser trophy and the million bucks. Rumors have flourished about solo attempts, but nothing has happened. The Breitling Orbiter 3 is now on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution along with the Spirit of St. Louis and other famous spacecraft & aircraft. It is a memento of a team effort where most exhibits are of intrepid solo performances. Of course, we can't omit the meteorologists without whom nothing would have occurred. It's like the space effort in that an enormous team of back-up and preparation people is required. The space pilot is primarily an observer, seldom called upon to do anything except comment or push a retro-rocket firing button on instruction from the ground. He or she requires skill or knowledge only when all systems fail and manual control is the only option remaining. The balloonist, on the other hand, must unfailingly maneuver his craft from one altitude to another to continue his progress. He is totally dependent on the meteorologist to find and guide him to the next air currents moving in the right direction at the right speed but equally dependent on his skill to guide the balloon to the right place at the right time to let it capture his craft. Of all the sciences known to mankind meteorology is the least predictable. Despite advances made in recent years, new happenings in earth and astronomical phenomena affect unforeseen changes in the weather. Written records of significant meteorological data are relatively new, 100-200 years. Unlike other math based disciplines, outside forces frequently change significantly to force a new set of "givens" on the weather prognosticator. In recent history El Nino and La Nina have caused castastrophic weather phenomena such as tornadoes and hurricanes in record numbers and the later is still around. Massive global warming and cooling are changing climatology constantly which in turn changes the ability of the meteorologist to predict future weather. Everyone admires and respects the lone adventurer who faces the known and unknown perils of the uncharted skies. He must endure the fatigue, loneliness, and setbacks of his journey unassisted and aided only by the weathermen who plot his course from their secure position at home. Every step of the way is dangerous. He must have faith in his own abilities and experience as well as his maker to complete his journey. Kevin Uliassi is still looking for sponsors to continue his solo challenge to go around the world. Toward the end of October he announced he was again ready to go for it in an unpressurized, open gondola. His 1998 New Year's Eve effort brought him only 3-1/2 hours of flight time from his takeoff point in Loves Park, Illinois to a precarious landing in Northern Indiana. The J.Renee balloon has been redesigned to prevent gas overpressure and subsequent explosion such as happened before. He was lucky in that his experience as a veteran hot-air balloonist enabled him to make a safe landing. The balloon, equipment, and supplies await only the Pilot, proper weather and sufficient finances. |