Hot Air Balloon Altitude Record

06th of June 1988
Altitude: 19 500 meters (65,000 ft)
Duration: 3 hours and 10 minutes

With a successful Trans Atlantic hot air balloon crossing already under Per’s belt, it was obvious to Per that an altitude record should be the next one.  The current hot air altitude balloon record stood at 55,000 feet and since weight was critical, Per decided on a solo attempt.  As a balloon of this size was almost uncontrollable during the landing a vast un-inhabited area was needed in the forward flight path and the team settled for a launch at Laredo in Texas. 

The critical item was to keep burner combustion at 65,000 feet.  Per and Alex Ritchie spent many hours at the Lucas Aerospace High Altitude Chamber in Lancashire testing the burner until it was perfected.  The balloon lifted off on 6th June 1988 from the Callahan Ranch just north of Laredo; 2 hours later Per reached just over 65,000 feet and started his descent towards the rattlesnake infested scrubland of Texas.  Since the balloon was fuel free and exposed to the Texas sun it did not want to descend.  Per had to fly with an open valve causing the balloon to go into the most horrendous shapes but finally 3 hours and 10 minutes after launch the balloon was on the ground with Per managed to find the only grass field in Laredo.  For the next 16 years Per’s record went unchallenged.