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08. 03. 99
Breitling Orbiter over India

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The log book

17:00 GMT: Breitling Orbiter 3, who has flown more than 11’500 kilometers since take-off in Château d’Oex last Monday, is currently flying over India at 5600 meters (16'500 feet) at a speed of approximately 40 knots. The balloon will enter Chinese airspace Wednesday morning and will reach the Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning, before heading North towards Japan..

The pilots had a big fright upon arriving in India this afternoon. The air traffic control in Bombay could not find the craft immatriculation number and denied permission to overfly its airspace. However, after a few faxes and phone conversations from the mission control center in Geneva, Breitling Orbiter 3 received clearance, to the relief of the team.

The Indian border was crossed at around 3pm GMT. The balloon will pass North of Bombay and then fly towards Bophal (Tuesday at dawn) and Bangladesh (Tuesday late afternoon), before entering China, just under the 26th parallel. " The crucial manoeuvers to avoid the forbidden part of China are starting now " said Belgian meteorologist Luc Trullemans.

05:00 GMT: It was Bertrand Piccard who flew the balloon this night and he sent his thoughts of which you will find hereafter a short excerpt:.... Brian is sleeping and I try to sum up my first impressions of this flight, because what is most important to me is to memorize the impressions of this incredible experience more than just the facts themselves. Over the ocean after 6 days of flying over the desert. I would rather have to write "deserts" because in opposition of what I thought, since each sunrise revealed an other mixture of sand and rocks, designs and shapes, shades and colours. Boundless spaces without any human track....

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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