DAVID Hempleman-Adams became the first person to fly a balloon solo over the ...

DAVID Hempleman-Adams became the first person to fly a balloon solo over the Arctic Ocean using an open wicker basket in a balloon sponsored by UK insurer Britannic. He achieved the feat on the second day of his bid to fly over the North Pole and broke the UK solo record of 13 hours, writes Katy-Jo Howliston. Mr Hempleman-Adams is reportedly relieved to have made it over the 200 miles of open water and to have solid ice below him now, “Thank God that part is behind me and I have solid ice below. Now I can look forward to reaching the pole.” His balloon, the Britannic Challenge, left the ground in Spitzbergen, Norway and is expected to fly over the North Pole sometime today.