Balloonist Fossett reaches homestretch

US adventurer Steve Fossett cruised over the Indian Ocean today, hoping to reach Australia and the finish line of his around-the-world balloon quest tomorrow.

Shortly before 0800 Irish time, the Chicago millionaire was zipping along at 196 mph at 32,368 ft, riding a jet stream on the final leg of his sixth bid to become the first solo balloonist to circle the globe.

‘‘This is an amazing speed for a balloon,’’ said David Perlman, shift supervisor at Fossett’s mission control in St Louis, Missouri. ‘‘To be going that fast based just on wind is quite amazing.’’

Weather and equipment permitting, Fossett, 58, was expected to complete the trip as early as tomorrow after two weeks in the air, ending a quest that began on June 18 in western Australia.

‘‘We are really getting excited here,’’ Perlman said. ‘‘We have been waiting for this for such a long time.’’

By early today, Fossett had travelled 16,553 miles, more than 85% of the way.

Later today, Fossett was expected to fly through heavy clouds and perhaps even snow at 30,000 ft. Hot air inside the balloon should keep snow or ice from collecting on it, and Fossett could eventually descend to allow any ice to melt, his flight centre said.

Yesterday, Fossett broke his own four-year-old record for distance travelled by a solo balloonist. He went 14,235 miles in 1998, when his attempt from Argentina ended with a harrowing 29,000 ft plunge into the Coral Sea.

In 1998, Fossett actually travelled 15,200 miles, but the Switzerland-based Federation Aeronautique Internationale cut his mileage to account for his zig-zags, which do not count toward records.

Last August, Fossett set a solo balloonist duration record, flying for 12 days, 12 hours and 57 minutes before ditching on a cattle ranch in Brazil.

No balloonist has successfully made the around-the-world trip alone, although Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard and English co-pilot Brian Jones did it as a team in March 1999 in the Northern Hemisphere.

Fossett holds world records in ballooning, sailing and flying aircraft. He also swam the English Channel in 1985, placed 47th in the Iditarod dog sled race in 1992 and participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race in 1996.