Around the World in 20 Days: The Story of Our History-Making Balloon Flight Tapa dura - 1999

BERTRAND PICCARD (left), 41, is a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry. He comes from a family of scientific explorers: His grandfather was the first man to reach the stratosphere in a balloon, while his father dove to the deepest part of the ocean in a bathyscaphe. After he had become a hang-glider champion, he originated the Breitling Orbiter project and was the pilot in command of all three attempts. He lives in Lausanne, Switzerland. BRIAN JONES (right), 52, spent thirteen years with England's Royal Air Force. He developed a passion for flying balloons in 1986, became an instructor in 1989, and is now the United Kingdom's chief flying instructor. He worked on the Breitling Orbiter 2 attempt and was the project manager for Breitling Orbiter 3. Originally the backup pilot, he was instated as pilot just weeks before launch. He lives in Wiltshire, England.