Flying into the record books

Millionaire Steve Fossett has been forced to spend an extra night in the air as the winds that helped him become the first person to fly solo around the world in a hot-air balloon bedevilled the final stage of his voyage.

After 13 days fighting the elements from the 7ft by 51/2ft capsule beneath his Spirit of Freedom balloon, the former stockbroker from Chicago faced one final challenge: hitting the Earth safely. Officials said Fossett, 58, who has achieved the record at his sixth attempt, was taking a longer route over southern Australia as he could not touch down because of high winds.

Speaking from the closet-sized gondola beneath his giant silver balloon, Fossett said: "It's a very dangerous situation." He is aiming to land in the outback tomorrow around dawn, when desert winds are usually light.

He had planned to set down this evening but ground winds of 18mph scuppered that plan. He needs winds of 10mph or less to land safely.

At present he remains above 21,700 feet and plans to stay at high altitude until conditions improve. Mission control in St Louis, Missouri, expects him to try to land near Birdsville, western Queensland, instead of the planned Woomera, northwest of Adelaide.

Landing the balloon, which is 140ft tall and 60ft wide, is one of the riskiest manoeuvres of the journey. As it slows it will become harder to control.

Fossett made aviation history yesterday after passing east of 117 degrees longitude, the "finishing line" where he started, high above Australia's southern coast. Speaking from satellite phone after his achievement, he said it was a "wonderful" experience.

His journey has so far covered 20,552 miles but it has been far from an easy ride. He has been living on military-style rations and bottled liquid oxygen.