Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones completed the first nonstop circumnavigation by balloon in 1999.
They flew Breitling Orbiter 3, a hybrid balloon that combined a helium envelope with a hot-air system. The mission launched from Château-d’Oex, Switzerland, on 1 March 1999 and landed in Egypt on 21 March, completing the first successful nonstop balloon journey around Earth.
The flight lasted 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes. It covered roughly 45,755 kilometres, although the exact distance varies slightly by reference and measurement method. The achievement demonstrated that a balloon could remain aloft long enough to circle the planet while managing fuel, weather, and long-distance navigation.
This was not the first circumnavigation attempt. Earlier projects, including Breitling Orbiter 2, failed to complete the journey. The 1999 mission is also distinct from Steve Fossett’s later first solo circumnavigation by balloon in 2002.