balloonist

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Russian Priest Pops Round-the-World Balloon Record

He battled storms, cold to make it in 11 days

(Newser) - A cold and exhausted 65-year-old Russian balloonist came back to Earth safely in the Australian Outback on Saturday after claiming a new world record by flying solo around the world nonstop in 11 days, an official says. Fedor Konyukhov, a Russian Orthodox priest, landed 100 miles east of the town...

2 Men Ballooning Over Pacific Set Record

'Two Eagles' now on course to break duration record

(Newser) - Two balloonists who took off from Japan early on Sunday have sailed past the world distance record and are still in the sky. American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev— the "Two Eagles"—passed the old record of 5,261 miles yesterday and are due to pass the...

Lawn-Chair Balloonist Plans Flight Over Iraq

Kent Couch will lift off from Baghdad later this month

(Newser) - If all goes well, an Oregon gas-station owner will fly over Iraq in his balloon-powered lawn chair later this month. Kent Couch boarded a flight today to the Middle East in preparation, reports the Los Angeles Times . An Iraqi man plans to go up with him on his own chair...

Missing US Balloonists Found Dead
Missing US Balloonists
Found Dead
Dec 7, 2010 4:50 AM CST

Missing US Balloonists Found Dead

Fishing boat finds remains in Adriatic Sea

(Newser) - An Italian fishing boat has found the remains of two American balloonists who vanished during a cross-Europe race two months ago. Veteran balloonists Richard Abruzzo, 47, and Carol Rymer Davis, 65, were still inside the balloon's gondola when it was hauled out of the Adriatic Sea, AP reports. Contact with...

Italy Ends Search for US Balloonists

'No hope' of finding Americans alive: officials

(Newser) - Italian police canceled the search for two balloonists who went missing six days ago while flying over the Mediterranean, the Telegraph reports, with authorities saying there was "no hope" of finding them alive. The pair, who are American citizens, disappeared while flying through a patch of thunderstorms during a...

US Balloonists Vanish During Cross-Europe Race

Coast guards searching Adriatic Sea for missing pair

(Newser) - The Italian and Croatian coast guards are searching the Adriatic Sea for a pair of American balloonists who vanished during the world's premier—and most dangerous—balloon race. Richard Abruzzo of New Mexico and Coloradan Carol Davis were last detected yesterday morning piloting their craft over the sea in rough...

6 Stories