Flying round the world in a balloon was the last great aeronautical challenge. Then in March 1999 Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones set off from Switzerland in the Breitling Orbiter 3 and 20 days and 29,000 miles later landed in Egypt finally completing the journey where so many others had failed.This book tells the remarkable story of how the balloon was developed and how the balloonists dealt with the horrendous problems they faced on the way round. They explain what life was like in a tiny gondola in freezing temperatures at up to 35,000 feet. It is a gripping adventure tale that will fascinate all who read it.