New solo balloon attempt due

United States adventurer Steve Fossett has repaired his giant balloon, ripped apart by a freak gust of wind last month, and says he will make another attempt this summer to become the first balloonist to fly solo around the world.

‘‘It’s a great feeling to be up there crossing a continent or an ocean, to be in complete command of the balloon flying solo,’’ Fossett said in St Louis, USA.

His team will be ready to launch the Solo Spirit on July 25, little more than a month after the accident during inflation that halted his earlier attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

At the time, Fossett, 57, said the damage would require sending the balloon back to its maker in England for repairs - a delay that would prevent another attempt this year.

But a team of engineers from Cameron Balloons in Bristol flew to the launch site in Kalgoorlie, western Australia, shortly after the June 17 accident and decided repairs were possible on the spot.

The planned flight path will take Fossett around the globe in the Southern Hemisphere, where he will spend almost 90% of his time flying over water.