41.   Ritchie and Per Linstrand teamed with British entrepreneur Richard Branson last year in an attempt to be the first to circle the world in a balloon.

42.   Rutan and co-pilot Jeana Yeager took nine days and four minutes to circle the world without landing or refueling.

43.   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.

44.   The daredevil billionaire has attracted attention in recent months for his foiled attempts to circle the world in a hot-air balloon.

45.   The latest balloon to join the global competition to be the first to circle the world nonstop lifted off Wednesday morning.

46.   The Swiss-based entry in the global competition to circle the world by balloon is ready to lift off, organizers said Tuesday.

47.   The Swiss-based entry in the global competition to circle the world by balloon was making final preparations to lift off early Wednesday morning.

48.   The Swiss-based entry in the global competition to circle the world nonstop by balloon lifted off Wednesday morning.

49.   The two men had lifted off with the sunrise, hoping to circle the world in less than three weeks and so achieve the last unconquered feat of aviation.

50.   There they were greeted and congratulated by British tycoon Richard Branson, who had himself tried to be the first to circle the world.