Product Description

They could no longer be the first to climb Everest, reach the North and South Poles, sail around the globe, but they could be the first to fly around the world in a balloon - and they were. Written by the pilots, this is the account of their epic success. They describe the difficulties they faced and overcame during this feat of endurance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #870510 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Guardian
'A terrific account'

About the Author
Piccard is a Swiss psychiatrist who was the pilot in all three Breitling Orbiter attempts. Jones was responsible for the construction of the gondola and flight systems of the balloon. He was the co-pilot in the Breitling Orbiter 3.

Customer Reviews

Immensely readable
This book reads like an adventure novel, rather than a real life account of one of the last great aviation feats. It is so full of suspense and twists that you are on the edge of your seat the whole time you're reading it. It is so good that you can't help but read it fast and it's over way too soon, but the spirit of their flight and adventure lingers on. Just brilliant.

A great book about a incredible adventure
Although only a balloonist can really appreciate the real achievement of this adventure and the teamwork necessary everyone should read this book. Having followed the flight day by day at the time both on CNN and the Internet I thought there was little else to know. How wrong I was, this is a superb book extremely well written and produced with Bertrand and Brian in turn telling it as they saw it, it really shows the teamwork, courage, humility and luck that was involved. I like the way Bertrand sums it up by saying he started off with a friend and ended up with a brother. If you haven't already got it put it on your Christmas list.

The Last great adventure
Very readable, tremendous adventure