11.   Balloon pilots cannot steer or control their speeds with precision, relying instead on extremely fast, high-altitude winds to carry them around the globe.

12.   He floated farther than any other balloon pilot, enduring temperatures so cold that he had to hold his drinking water next to his body to thaw it.

13.   One balloon pilot forced to stay behind.

14.   Swiss balloon pilot Bertrand Piccard announced Wednesday that he has chosen Brian Jones as his teammate for his next attempt at circling the world in a balloon.

15.   The balloon pilots contacted the Iranians to sort out the misunderstanding and were eventually allowed to continue.

16.   The balloon pilots had snacks ranging from caviar to candy bars and had a microwave oven for packaged, astronaut-style food.

17.   Two British balloon pilots attempting to fly nonstop around the globe set a new world record Saturday for the longest hot air balloon flight.

18.   Belarussian authorities gave no warning before shooting down and killing two American ballonists last week, a fellow American hot air balloon pilot said.