Bertrand Piccard (born 1 March 1958) is a Swiss explorer, psychiatrist, and environmentalist. Brian George Jones (born 27 March 1947 in Bristol, England) is an English balloonist. Brian Jones, along with Bertrand Piccard, co-piloted the first successful uninterrupted circumnavigation of the world on board the balloon Breitling Orbiter 3. They set off on 1 March 1999 from Château d’Oex in Switzerland and landed in Egypt after a 45,755-kilometer flight lasting 19 days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes.

In 2012 Piccard was designated as a Champion of the Earth by the UN Environment Programme. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation.

For this achievement, Brian received awards including the Harmon Trophy, the Hubbard Medal, the FAI Gold Air Medal, the Charles Green Salver, the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, and an OBE in the 1999 Birthday Honours.

Breitling Orbiter 3 was the first balloon to fly around the world non-stop, piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones. Designed and built by Cameron Balloons, of Bristol, England, Breitling Orbiter 3 stood 55 m tall when inflated completely. The propane gas that fueled its six burners was contained in 28 titanium cylinders mounted in two rows along the sides of the gondola. Concerned about the fuel consumption, the team added four additional propane containers prior to launch; these additions proved necessary to complete the trip. The Breitling Orbiter 3 held the record for the longest distance un-refuelled flight (40,813 km) of any aircraft in aviation history until the 2006 flight of the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer. It still holds the record for the longest duration un-refuelled flight (19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes).

The gondola of the balloon is now displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum, Dulles Airport outside Washington D.C.

According to Wikipedia