(18 Dec 1998) English/Nat The British tycoon Richard Branson has taken to the skies in a hot air balloon on his fifth attempt to fly around-the-world. Branson, U-S (m) millionaire Steve Fossett and team-mate Per Lindstrand lifted off on Friday morning. Their flight path will take them close to the Iraqi border where allied air strikes are being carried out. It was up, up and away for Branson, Fossett and Lindstrand who finally took to the skies on Friday morning - after a delay of nearly two