Fedor Konyukhov, Ivan Menyailo Set World Record for Longest Nonstop Flight aboard Hot-Air Balloon

Fedor Konyukhov and Ivan Menyaylo have successfully landed their hot-air balloon ‘PhosAgro’ in the village of Khatanga, in the eastern part of the Taymyr Peninsula, setting a world record for the longest nonstop flight.

During the expedition, the pilots covered a distance of 2,540 km, surpassing the previous world record, set in 1994 by Michio Kanda (Japan), by 174 km.
Now two world records – for distance flown and for the duration of a nonstop flight aboard a hot-air balloon – belong to Fedor and Ivan.

Having launched on 24 March at 05:15 Moscow time, from Kirovsk, in the Murmansk region, the balloon passed above the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets autonomous districts as well as Krasnoyarsk krai.

After flying over the Putorana Plateau, which is known for its severe weather conditions, the balloon made a precise landing, on 26 March at 03:24 Moscow time, on the runway at the Khatanga airfield, located in Krasnoyarsk krai, at 72 degrees north latitude.

For the first time in the world aviation history, a hot-air balloon with an open basket flew over the waters of two Arctic seas: the Barents and the Kara.

Moreover, the longest-ever flight on a hot-air balloon beyond the Arctic Circle was completed: the entire flight took place in a corridor between 67 degrees and 72 degrees north latitude.

The maximum altitude reached during the flight was 5,820 metres, and the maximum speed attained was 109 km per hour.

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