Round-the-world balloonist nears halfway mark

Steve Fossett has flown to within about 1,000 miles of the coast of South America.

The American is now within days of the halfway point on his bid to make the first solo balloon flight around the world.

Air currents have carried Fossett more than 10,000 miles since he took off from Australia on August 4.

Solo Spirit, a combination helium and hot air balloon, has been flying at an altitude of 24,000ft, averaging about 52mph.

Bob Rice, meteorologist for the mission control team based at Washington University, said Fossett is expected to reach the coast of Chile early on Wednesday.

From there, it will take him about a day and a half to cross a relatively narrow section of South America and reach the Atlantic Ocean.

The Atlantic will mark the halfway point on the flight, the fifth solo attempt by the 57-year-old Chicago millionaire.

On Sunday, Fossett received an e-mail of encouragement from fellow adventurer Richard Branson, who teamed up with Fossett and Swedish aviator Per Linstrand in an unsuccessful attempt at the first nonstop, around-the-world balloon flight.

Branson wrote: "Our family is following your progress day by day. Half of me wishes I'd stowed away in your balloon."

The three men travelled 12,400 miles in seven days on their December 1998 flight before they had to ditch in the ocean off Hawaii, a little more than halfway to their goal.