Fyodor Konyukhov
© RIA Novosti. Vladimir Trefilov

Russian man to fly hot air balloon from North Pole to Yakutia

Fyodor Konyukhov, who plans to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon next year, will fly from the North Pole to Yakutia as part of his preparations, Arctic-Info news agency reported.

The flyer said at a news conference that the Arctic flight would start on April 2, 2016 from the Barneo drifting research station near the North Pole. During the flight, which will last about 50 hours, he will cover over 2,000 kilometres. The Arctic trip at low air temperatures should prepare him for the upcoming circumnavigation at an altitude of 10,000 metres.

The circumnavigation flight is planned for June 2016. Konyukhov will lift off from Australia and fly over the Tasman Sea, New Zealand, Chile, Argentine, the Falkland Islands, South Africa, the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans.