![The Breitling Orbiter lifts off, with pilot Wim Verstraeten and co-pilot Bertrand Piccard aboard, from Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland in the attempt to become the first hot air balloon to circumnavigate the world The Breitling Orbiter lifts off, with pilot Wim Verstraeten and co-pilot Bertrand Piccard aboard, from Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland in the attempt to become the first hot air balloon to circumnavigate the world](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/G45THB/the-breitling-orbiter-lifts-off-with-pilot-wim-verstraeten-and-co-G45THB.jpg)
The Breitling Orbiter lifts off, with pilot Wim Verstraeten and co-pilot Bertrand Piccard aboard, from Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland in the attempt to become the first hot air balloon to circumnavigate the world
![Twenty years since balloonists Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones took off on their record-breaking round-the-world flight | World Air Sports Federation Twenty years since balloonists Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones took off on their record-breaking round-the-world flight | World Air Sports Federation](https://www.fai.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_detail_xxlarge/public/article/image/piccard_jones.jpg?itok=SWGUS4pD)
Twenty years since balloonists Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones took off on their record-breaking round-the-world flight | World Air Sports Federation
![CGTN on Twitter: "#OnThisDay in 1999, Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon became the first balloon to make a nonstop trip circumnavigating the globe. Piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, it took off CGTN on Twitter: "#OnThisDay in 1999, Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon became the first balloon to make a nonstop trip circumnavigating the globe. Piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, it took off](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2EMjumU0AApOGH.jpg)
CGTN on Twitter: "#OnThisDay in 1999, Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon became the first balloon to make a nonstop trip circumnavigating the globe. Piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, it took off
![Breitling Orbiter 3, piloted by Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard, airborne over the Alps. Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland Stock Photo - Alamy Breitling Orbiter 3, piloted by Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard, airborne over the Alps. Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/zooms/6/432da139f854447abd90ab454a6bf25d/drhn91.jpg)