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02. 03. 99
Breitling Orbiter 3 close to Morocco

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B. Piccard scrapes the ice off the fuel control unit


The log book

19:00 GMT: Breitling Orbiter 3, who is now flying at 7000 meters at about 70 km/h, will cross the coast of Morocco around dusk tonight. It will then descend to 5500 meters to catch slower winds towards Mauritania. They are expected to reach the North of Mali tomorrow at midnight.

So far, Breitling Orbiter, which has flown 1500 kilometers since its launch in Château d’Oex, in the Swiss Alps, has encountered no problems at all and is following the scheduled path. Life on board – and at the control center – is very peaceful. Both pilots had time to sleep during the night and even send pictures of themselves. They had cereals with powdered milk for breakfast and their first meal : an emu steak.

Late afternoon, Breitling Orbiter 3 passed within site of the golf course at Almeria (Spain), where the Cable and Wireless balloon launched nearly two weeks ago. This is not the only coincidence : Andy Elson and Colin Prescott are actually flying over Burma, where Breitling Orbiter 2 landed last year. If the balloon follows its predicted course tomorrow, it will pass close to Marrakesh, where Richard Branson’s balloon took of last december. Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones could catch faster winds at 8000 meters, but they would be deviated towards Iraq.

Although it is too soon to be absolutely confident, the balloon’s fuel consumption appears to be better than the computer predictions anticipated, giving a potential flight duration in excess of 20 days. The team meteorologists expect the balloon tho complete the circumnavigation in 16 days.

15:00 GMT: A few moments ago Bertrand Piccard confirmed over the phone that everything was fine and that live under the same roof was very pleasant.

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07:45 GMT: Life on board was reported to be peaceful. The only technical problem appeared to be an over eager flame out protection device in the pilot light system, which the crew overcame with advice from engineers on the ground.

The burners will be progressively turned off as the atmosphere will start warming up and so the first calculation of fuel consumption can be calculated.

As daylight broke the balloon was over the island of Majorca flying at 20'400 feet and tracking South West at 35 knots.

preceding index next

day after day
21.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 has landed successfully
20.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 : Round the world balloon flight completed
19.03.99: The finishing line in sight
18.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 2 days away from happiness
17.03.99: LAST STAGE BEFORE THE ATLANTIC
16.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 at 180 km/h over Mexico
15.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 dashes towards Mexico
14.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 close to the Equator
13.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 zigzags between storms
12.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 half-way through
11.03.99: Two options available over the Pacific
10.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3: China behind, Pacific ahead
09.03.99: 24 hours on the edge of the 26th parallel
08.03.99: Breitling Orbiter over India
07.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 is the only competitor left in the race
06.03.99: Permission refused to fly over military zone in Yemen
05.03.99: An extra passenger on board
04.03.99: Tomorrow Egypt
03.03.99: Jetstreams for tomorrow
02.03.99: Breitling Orbiter 3 close to Morocco
01.03.99: Great start !
28.02.99: Imminent Start


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