Fedor Konyukhov prepares to depart at Northam Aero Club on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. The 65 year old Russian adventurer aims to set a new world record by circumnavigating the globe without touching down in under 13 days. The current record of 13.5 days was set by American aviator Steve Fossett in 2002. Fedor Konyukhov will travel almost 33,000km in his balloon Rosiere balloon “Morton” which is 52 metres high and weighs 1,600kg. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





Fedor Konyukhov looks on while preparing for lift off from the Northam Aero Club on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





Fedor Konyukhov inspects his craft before lifting off from the Northam Aero Club on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





Australian explorer Dick Smith and Fedor Konyukhov talk before lift off from the Northam Aero Club on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





The balloon of Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov is seen being inflated before the start of his attempt to break the world record for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe near Perth, Australia, in this handout image received July 12, 2016. (Photo by Oscar Konyukhov/Reuters)





Fedor Konyukhov discusses the deprture procedure in the warmth of a vehicle Northam Aero Club on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov hugs a member of his support staff as he prepares to leave in his balloon for his attempt to break the world record for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe near Perth, Australia, in this handout image received July 12, 2016. (Photo by Oscar Konyukhov/Reuters)





The balloon of Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov is surrounded by onlookers before the start of his attempt to break the world record for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe near Perth, Australia, in this handout image received July 12, 2016. (Photo by Oscar Konyukhov/Reuters)





Fedor Konyukhov prepares for lift off from the Northam Aero Club on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





The balloon of Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov is seen after it lifted off in his attempt to break the world record for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe near Perth, Australia, in this handout image received July 12, 2016. (Photo by Oscar Konyukhov/Reuters)





A handout picture provided by the press service of MORTON Group of Companies, show the balloon of Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov in the sky during his solo round-the-world balloon flight just after taking off from a spot near Northam, 96 kilometres north-east of Perth in Western Australia, 12 July 2016. Fedor Konyukhov took off from Northam on 12 July 2016 in attempt to beat the record of 13 days of American aviator Steve Fossett. (Photo by EPA/Morton Press Service)





Fedor Konyukhov lifts off from the Northam Aero Club flanked by hot air balloons on July 12, 2016 in Northam, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)





The balloon of Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov is seen after it lifted off in his attempt to break the world record for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe near Perth, Australia, in this handout image received July 12, 2016. (Photo by Oscar Konyukhov/Reuters)