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Vijaypat Singhania sets record of balloon flight
Mumbai: Veteran Industrialist and Aviator Vijaypat Singhania today completed a historic flight to a height of 69,852 feet and became the first person in the world to fly a hot air balloon to the fringes of space. Singhania, 67, lifted off at 6:45 a.m today, in a specially- designed nylon balloon from the polo ground of a race course in India's commercial hub of Mumbai. He reached a record height of 69,852 feet at about 8.55 a.m. and then landed at a place between Nashik and Shirdi at 11:25 a.m. He broke the 17-year-old world record of 64,997 feet (19,811 metres) set by British-based Swede Per Lindstrand in Plano, Texas, in June 1988. Singhania had originally aimed for 70,000 feet, but decided against it towards the end of the journey. "I do not intend to stay at 70,000 feet so long as I reach there and return, that's more than adequate. In fact, from the point of FAI (Federation Aeronautique International ) regulations, so long as I cross 67,000 feet which is three percent more than the current record, my record would have been established. I just selected 70,000 feet to be on the safe side," said Singhania before beginning his feat. The Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) says an aviator must achieve at least a three percent improvement on an existing record to qualify for recognition as a new record.
The
entire voyage was being broadcast live on national television using cameras
on the helicopter, inside the balloon's cabin and on the ground. Singhania's
daughter Shefali was beaming with pride at her father's latest accomplishment.
"Ever since I was a kid, I have known that he goes into the details of
everything that he takes up in his life. So I think that we knew from
the bottom of our hearts that he would definitely achieve it," said Shefali.
Singhania's 40-ton (44-U.S. ton) balloon, fired by propane and kerosene,
was designed by British pilots Andy Elson and Colin Prescot. The temperature
outside the balloon will fall as low as -93 degrees Celsius (-135 Fahrenheit)
and oxygen will be virtually negligible. Singhania had stressed at the
importance of the pressurized cabin, saying last week that if a person
were exposed to such temperatures his "blood would boil." A unit on the
ground was monitoring oxygen levels and other life support systems inside
the cabin. Singhania, the chairman emeritus of the Raymond Group, one
of India's leading textile companies, also had set a record for ultra
light aviation 17 years ago when he flew 9,655 kilometres (6,000 miles)
from Britain to India in 23 days. Singhania is the only Indian to have
won the aviation sports gold medal from the Federation Aeronautique internationale
(FAI) that ratifies aviation records, for a 24-day world air race covering
34,000 km in 1994.
-Nov 26, 2005
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