Pilot flew hot air balloon deep into underground cave

A hot air balloon pilot succeeded in flying deep underground in a cave in Croatia, a feat he believes is a world first.





On September 18, Ivan Trifonov, 70, descended into Mamet Cave on Velebit Mountain and came back up about 25 minutes later.





Using a specially designed balloon, Trifonov was able to navigate the cave, which is 675 feet deep and 200 feet wide at the top. Instead of a basket Trifinov sat in a small steel frame, perched above twin gas tanks. "It was very hard and I don't think anyone else will ever repeat this venture," he said.


YouTube link.

Trifonov is expected to submit it into the Guinness Book of World Records. He has already established Guinness World Records as the first to fly a hot air balloon over the Mediterranean Sea, in 1989, over the North Pole, in 1996, and over the South Pole, in 2000. He was also reportedly the first to fly over Jerusalem, the Great Wall of China, and the Kremlin in a hot air balloon.