American adventurer Steve Fossett, sitting in the front seat, and local
Omarama glider pilot Doug Hamilton prepare for a familiarisation flight
of local terrain in an ASH 25 glider in Omarama July 23, 2002. The
Perlan Project aims to take a German DG505 glider past the existing
record of 14,938 m (48,996 feet), through severe turbulence and extreme
temperatures to 18,288 m (60,000 feet). If the mission succeeds, a
pressurised sailplane will be built in an attempt to reach 30,000m
(100,000 feet), on the edges of space. REUTERS/Simon Baker

SB/RCS