Hope Floats

UP IN THE AIR

On March 1, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, co-pilots of the Breitling Orbiter 3, took off in the hope of becoming the first balloonists to circumnavigate the globe. We bring you a look at some recent, unsuccessful attempts to achieve that honor.

BALLOON Cable & Wireless launched 2/17/99

PILOTS Andy Elson Colin Prescot

DAYS AIRBORNE 17

UNEXPECTED TWIST Passed plane full of waving passengers

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE "I don't think we failed. We...just found another way that doesn't work"

[BALLOON] RE/MAX canceled 1/15/99

[PILOTS] David Liniger John Wallington Bob Martin

[DAYS AIRBORNE] 0

[UNEXPECTED TWIST] Never got off the ground

[INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE] "If the goal is worthy, you don't give up"

[BALLOON] ICO/Global Challenger launched 12/18/98

[PILOTS] Richard Branson Steve Fossett Per Lindstrand

[DAYS AIRBORNE] 7

[UNEXPECTED TWIST] Flew into restricted airspace over Tibet

[INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE] "We'll buck up and start ourselves again"