AFTER months of preparation for his latest balloon adventure, David Hempleman-Adams is being forced to wait.

The steel-nerved Swindon-born explorer plans to cross the Atlantic alone in an open wicker-basket balloon the first time such a feat has been attempted.

But until the right weather conditions materialise, David has been forced to bide his time at his launch point, Alleghenhy County Airport just outside Pittsburgh.

During the record-breaking attempt, he will be reach altitudes of up to 24,000 feet and will need to wear an oxygen mask.

Watching the weather conditions just as closely are the flight co-ordinators at the Chase De Vere control room in Bath.

Flight director, David Owen, said: "At the moment the weather conditions are just not suitable for him to go.

"The prevailing winds would send the balloon due south.

"Our window of opportunity is any time before October 15.

"After that time, it is very unlikely that we would get suitable conditions for flying.

"But we are not too worried at the moment, there is still a while to go yet.

"We are looking at a slow track wind that will blow David's balloon towards Europe in about seven days.

"The plan is to find a suitable wind to allow him to track clear of New York and Boston, for obvious reasons, and then travel due East.

"We should be able to steer him to some extent by getting him to alter his altitude into winds blowing in different direct-ions."

As part of his preparation for the flight, David has been sleeping in an oxygen tent to help him acclimatise to the high altitudes.

Without the protection of a capsule, David will be exposed to all the hardships of Atlantic weather and because of the constant hands-on flying required to fly a balloon, David can only hope to grab about an hour of sleep at any one time during his seven-day trip.