Russian sets off from WA on hot air balloon world record attempt

A Russian man described as "the world's greatest adventurer" has set off in a hot air balloon from Western Australia, in a bid to fly around the world in under two weeks. 

Fedor Konyukhov, 65, lifted off from Northam, about 100km east of Perth, shortly after dawn today in his 56-metre tall air-helium balloo.

Hundreds of people, including his family, watched on.

He hopes to break the 13-day 33,000km record set by American aviator Steve Fossett in 2002, who also launched his solo non-stop flight from Northam.

Mr Konyukhov is due to cross the border into South Australia tomorrow morning, arrive in New Zealand the next night and then cross the Pacific Ocean, where he can use a fast-flowing jet stream to move quicker.

Australian entrepreneur and fellow adventurer Dick Smith, who was there to see him off, has known Mr Konyukhov for 26 years.

"This is a very risky flight without any doubt ... we have no idea what the winds are going to be like," he said.

"He's become undoubtedly the world's greatest adventurer."

Northam, a town with a population of about 6000, is a desirable launch point because of its location in the Avon Valley, which has low winds.

The southern hemisphere is also a desirable starting point, with past expeditions in the north having run into problems while trying to fly across restricted areas in the Middle East and northern Asia, Smith said.

Mr Konyukhov has also climbed Mt Everest twice and travelled to the North and South poles.

With AAP.