Feb 2001:
Test fly the hot air balloon to 24,000ft, quite cold up there with temperatures of -38'C, flight lasts 1hr 14mins.

April 2002:
Visits to Lindstrand and Cameron Factories to chat to Per Lindstrand about High Altitude flight. The burner design seems to be a stumbling block and will probably cost more than I can afford.

May 2002:
USA based company loans Altitude encoder for the flight. Email Jo Starkbaum about his world record flight for an AX7 (77000cuft) balloon which reached 14018m... sadly no response.

June 2002:
Various UK and USA based companies agree to loan vital items such as radio, transponder and oxygen equipment. Request to CAA Airspace directorate for flight to 40,000ft.

July 2002:
Visited the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine to learn about aspects of high altitude physiology and to experience pressure breathing. At extreme altitudes and because of the lack of pressure inside the lungs it becomes necessary to breathe oxygen under a slight positive pressure to prevent the symptoms of Hypoxia.
>> Quite by chance I find details on the internet for a simple furnace burner and also hear that Julian Nott the British pioneer of High Altitude Hot air balloon flight has lent the British Balloon Museum and Library his high altitude burner from his world record flight of 55,000ft. A few phone calls later and I am happily chatting to Julian about burner design....
>> Visit to the Farnborough Air Show to talk to potential sponsors. Transaero Inc agree to lend me an oxygen mask and helmet for the flight. Major sponsor now being sort for envelope and burner.

August 2002:
I take a look at Julians burner and with his permission take some critical dimensions and photo's. A quick scan through the yellow pages reveals an engineering company nearby that specialises in stainless fabrication. A short while later and a visit to their premises in Long Crendon, Bucks and they agree to help in the construction of the burner. I do the initial sketch drawings and give them to Avenell engineering for the translation into CAD for the cutting and bending machines.

September 2002:
I start the first draft of the flight plan and pre flight checks that will be made prior to the flight...

December 2002:
Avbrief have agreed to give metrological information for the planned flight. Their subscribers section of their website will be invaluable in keeping an eye on the weather and allowing us to plan our take off day. http://www.avbrief.com
>> A prototype of the bespoke burner has been made by Avenell engineering. Once the dimensions have been checked then it will progress to lightweight stainless steel (See the photo gallery).
>> Medical Gas Services have now supplied the composite Oxygen cylinders for the flight, testing of these will take place shortly.

January 2003:
Expedition Engineering: Inventing and designing a unique lightweight framing system to keep Rob, the burner, fuel tanks, the balloon and everything else in the right place relatively to one another.
>> Rob and fellow team member John are off to the frozen wastes of Alaska late Jan early Feb. In addition to equipment testing in the extreme cold of an Alaskan Winter they will be supporting a world record attempt for AX1 and AX2 size balloons by Australian, Steve Griffin. Rob is also planning to set some British records for the same class of balloon. You can follow their progress with the link. www.flymetothemoon.com.au/yeti

October 2003:
Formula One Car racing exhaust specialists Primary Designs of Thame together with designer Mike Shirley (MS Designs) have completed a major step in the production of the burner. Manufactured from Inconell the completed Burner stands nearly 5ft tall, next week sees the coils fitted and the first testing. photo

November 2003:
I was fortunate enough to recently visit Sky Ventures in Orlando, Florida. This vertical wind tunnel is used by skydiving teams for advanced training but is also open to the public who just want to experience the thrills of skydiving without ever having to wear a parachute or jump from a plane. Carlos took me into the tunnel for about 2mins at a time and by the end of 30mins I had learnt more than during a week of skydiving. Its wonderful to feel relaxed and be able to experiment with different body positions. In the event that I have to bale out of the balloon during the record attempt I will feel a lot happier in free-fall. Thanks to all of the Skyventure team and especially Carlos. See Photographs

2004:
The beginning of this year saw a number of attempts to get launched, however last minute hitches prevented the flights going ahead.
> British Balloons and Airships Club award Rob The Adam Sparkes trophy for his Alaskan record setting adventures.
> The summer has been spent chatting to the CAA again to renew the permissions for the flight, the previous one having expired.
> Rob has also between assignments been undertaking freefall parachute safety training, June saw him in the door of Hinton Skydiving centres LET 410 at 12,000ft with AFF instructor's Bryan Poole and Dave Emerson for the first of a number of jumps that has now led to his FAI 'A' licence. Far from just being an emergency skill this is so much fun that I will be continuing to do it for pleasure!

February 2005:
The balloon envelope has been built and test flown, it will be delivered shortly. In the meantime work continues on the carbon composite structure that will hold rob and the fuel tanks