The three-man crew aboard the Breitling Orbiter 2 are making slow progress in their bid to fly around the world.

The team has passed over Corsica and Sardinia and is now heading towards Italy.

But low wind speeds since the balloon launched from Chateau d'Oex in Switzerland on Wednesday, combined with a fuel leak could mean the crew face the possibility of bringing the craft down before they complete the record.

The balloon lost 1,000 litres of kerosene burner fuel in the early stages of the flight.

Andy Elson, the British member of the crew, said: "I do not know if we can do it. We used an awful lot of fuel, we used a third of our fuel in the first 24 hours when we had a fuel problem.

"If we can get up in to the jet stream in the next 24 or 26 hours and get a good track, we are still in with a chance."

Elson: Plans to wear a parachute when he makes repairs

Mr Elson must venture outside the balloon's capsule for a second time in an attempt to repair a faulty air seal on the balloon's rear hatch. It is thought it may have been left open accidentally.

If it is not repaired it would prevent the crew from pressurising the capsule and moving to higher altitudes.

Mr Elson, an engineer, must abseil over the end of the gondola to hold the hatch in place as his crew mates clamp it down. He has said that he plans to wear a parachute while carrying out the tricky manoeuvre.

The Breitling Orbiter 2, which is currently travelling at 10mph at a height of about 16,000ft, is making its third attempt to fly around the world.

The crew hope to reach 30,000ft and catch a high altitude jet stream over Italy on Sunday. This will increase their speed to around 75mph.

The British millionaire Richard Branson also hopes to launch his own Virgin Challenger attempt in the next few days.

Earlier in the week he said he had a 50/50 chance of taking off from Marrakesh at the weekend.
 

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