Brian Jones (aeronaut)
Brian Jones (born 27 March 1947 in Bristol, England) is an English balloonist.
Brian Jones, along with Bertrand Piccard, co-piloted the first successful uninterrupted circumnavigation of the world on board the balloon Breitling Orbiter 3. They set off on 1 March 1999 from Château d'Oex in Switzerland and landed in Egypt after a 45,755 kilometre flight lasting 19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes.[1]
For this achievement, he received awards including the Harmon Trophy, the Hubbard Medal, the FAI Gold Air Medal and the Charles Green Salver.
Still active in balloning records, In November 2010 Jones piloted the Esprit Breitling Orbiter as a launch platform for Yves Rossy. Rossy made the first successful attempt to perform loops using a jet-powered flying-wing backpack.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Higher, Farther, and Longer — Record Balloon Flights in the Second Part of the Twentieth Century". U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission. http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/20th_cent_records-2/LTA12.htm. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ "Jetman". Sport Aviation. March 2011.
[edit] External links
- Milestones of Flight: Breitling Orbiter 3 Balloon Gondola Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 29 May 2010
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