Fossett in new attempt to circle globe

Millionaire Steve Fossett today launched his sixth attempt to solo circumnavigate the globe in a hot-air balloon - one of aviation's last unaccomplished feats.

The former Chicago stockbroker's silver Spirit of Freedom balloon lifted off near Northam in the Western Australian outback at 9.40am local time.

He hopes to circle the globe in 16 days. Fossett, 58, has twice crashed trying to fly around the earth, including a 29,000-foot plunge into the Coral Sea in 1998. Today he launched his balloon 62 miles east of Perth after a delay of several hours caused by unfavourable winds, and began drifting east.

A spokesman said: "He said basically 'I don't want to hang around, we've got to take the risk, we've got to go for it'.

"There's light cloud, it's a glorious morning and it's just absolutely fantastic," he added.