Aventurers and Explorers - Bertrand Piccard
On 21st March 1999 balloonist Bertrand Piccard and his co-pilot Brian Jones landed the Breitling Orbiter 3 in the Eygptian desert and seized what had been hailed as the last great trophy in aviation, to circumnavigate the globe non stop in a hot air balloon.
The voyage last nineteen days and they travelled further and longer than any other aircraft. It was his third attempt at the record.
The Federation Aeronautique Internationale who had regulated the event confirmed that three world records had been broken - distance, time and duration.
The Piccard family are famous Swiss adventurers. His grandfather Auguste was the first man to reach the stratosphere and his father Jacques designed the first tourist submarine and is holder of the deep sea diving record.
Bertrand Piccard has explored most forms of free flight from microlight aircraft and aerobatic hang-gliders to parachuting and ballooning he holds several records including European Champion in aerobatic flight and the world record for altitude.
He studied medicine specialising in psychotherapy.
A brilliant inspirational and motivational speaker and fluent in both French and English.
