American adventurer Steve Fossett drifted into aviation history yesterday, as he became the first man to fly a balloon solo around the world.
Flying through the darkness over the ocean south of Australia in his silvery Spirit of Freedom balloon, Fossett crossed east of 117 degrees longitude, the line from which he set off two weeks ago.
The investment millionaire covered more than 31,000km on the trip, finally succeeding in his sixth attempt at the record.
Speaking by satellite phone, Fossett said: "It is a wonderful time for me. Finally after six flights I have succeeded."
This time around Fossett had plenty of fuel, no rogue nations to avoid and enough spare oxygen to keep him on track.
With weather largely on his side throughout the trip, Fossett finally completed the nonstop feat after five previous, crash-plagued attempts spread over more than six years, conquering one of aviation's last barriers.
After breaking the record, Fossett was expected to continue drifting across Australia for up to 18 more hours until he finds a safe place to land -- most likely on southern Australia's vast Nullarbor Plain.
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