The Breitling Orbiter refers to a series of three Rozière balloons developed by the Bristol-based company Cameron Balloons, sponsored by the Swiss watchmaker Breitling, with the goal of achieving the first nonstop balloon flight around the world. A Rozière balloon is a hybrid design that combines elements of both hot-air and gas balloons, using a helium cell within a hot-air envelope to maintain altitude and extend flight duration. The project culminated in the success of the Breitling Orbiter 3, which accomplished this historic feat in March 1999.

The Breitling Orbiter 3, piloted by Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist Bertrand Piccard and British balloonist Brian Jones, launched from Château-d’Oex, Switzerland, on March 1, 1999. Standing 180 feet (55 meters) tall when fully inflated, it was powered by six propane burners fueled by 28 titanium cylinders (plus four additional ones added before launch for safety) mounted along the gondola. The gondola itself was a high-tech capsule made of Kevlar and carbon fiber, sealed at 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) to maintain pressure, with systems for oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide filtration to sustain the crew. Solar panels provided electrical power, and GPS and satellite communications enabled navigation and contact with the ground team.

After launching, the balloon traveled southwest over the Mediterranean, then eastward across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Central America, and the Atlantic, covering 25,360 miles (40,813 kilometers). On March 21, 1999, after 19 days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes aloft, Piccard and Jones landed in the Egyptian desert near the Dakhla Oasis, marking the first nonstop circumnavigation of the globe by balloon. This flight set records for the longest distance and duration of any unrefueled aircraft at the time, records that still stand for balloons today.

The success of Breitling Orbiter 3 followed two earlier attempts: Breitling Orbiter 1 (1997) ditched in the Mediterranean after a fuel leak, and Breitling Orbiter 2 (1998) landed in Myanmar after failing to secure clearance to cross China. Lessons from these failures informed the design and strategy of the third balloon, including its fuel reserves and route planning to catch favorable jet stream winds at altitudes above 30,000 feet (9,000 meters).

The gondola of Breitling Orbiter 3 is now displayed at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, D.C., a testament to its place in aviation history. The mission not only showcased human ingenuity and endurance but also highlighted the fragility of the planet, inspiring Piccard and Jones to later found the Winds of Hope foundation to promote environmental and humanitarian causes. Breitling has since commemorated the achievement with special-edition watches, like the Aerospace B70 Orbiter, embedding pieces of the original balloon into the design.

Bertrand and Bryan just after landing in Egypt
Jim Sorenson records GPS position where drag rope hit on landing.
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