<P> On August 29, 2006, he set the world altitude record for gliders over El Calafate, Argentina at 15,460 metres (50,720 ft). </P> <P> On February 21, 1995, Fossett landed in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada, after taking off from South Korea, becoming the first person to make a solo flight across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon . </P> <P> In 2002, he became the first person to fly around the world alone, nonstop in any kind of aircraft . He launched the 10 - story high balloon Spirit of Freedom from Northam, Western Australia on June 19, 2002 and returned to Australia on July 3, 2002, subsequently landing in Queensland . Duration and distance of this solo balloon flight was 13 days, 8 hours, 33 minutes (14 days 19 hours 50 minutes to landing), 20,626.48 statute miles (33,195.10 km). The balloon dragged him along the ground for 20 minutes at the end of the flight . Only the capsule survived the landing; it was taken to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it was displayed . The control center for the mission was in Brookings Hall at Washington University in St. Louis . Fossett's top speed during the flight was 186 miles per hour (299 km / h) over the Indian Ocean . The trip set a number of records for ballooning: Fastest (200 miles per hour (320 km / h), breaking his own previous record of 166 miles per hour (270 km / h)), Fastest Around the World (13.5 days), Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon (20,482.26 miles (32,963.00 km)), and 24 - Hour Balloon Distance (3,186.80 miles (5,128.66 km) on July 1). </P> <P> While Fossett had financed five previous tries himself, his successful record - setting flight was sponsored by Bud Light . In the end, Fossett actually made money on all his balloon flights . He bought a contingency insurance policy for $500,000 that would pay him $3 million if he succeeded in the flight . Along with sponsorship, that payout meant that in the end Fossett did not have to spend any of his money other than for initial expenses . </P>

When was the first around the world flight completed in a hot air balloon