While modest by international ballooning standards,Sipinen's flight beat the previous double record of two flights of 430 kilometresset in 2008. The record is still unofficial and has to be confirmed.

Sipinen took off on Saturday, covering the new recorddistance in 11 hours and 11 minutes with a ground speed reaching 65 km/h onsome stretches. He says that it was an ideal time of the year for the venture,as days are long enough for extended flights, while cold temperatures keepupdrafts to a minimum.