Posted on 07/05/2008 12:18:12 PM PDT by Babu
A year ago, Justin revealed his fear of heights and told us about Kent Couch who has a thing for tying helium balloons to a lawn chair so he can float across the sky. Last year, he made it 193 miles before landing in sagebrush in eastern Oregon.
Couch will be at it again tomorrow. This time he wants to fly from Oregon to Boise, Idaho. That's 300 miles. To do this feat, he's attaching 150 latex party balloons to his new lawn chair. This feat is not easy on lawn chairs, so both times Couch has done this, he's had to start fresh.
One thing that's clear about Couch's endeavor is that he must know what he's doing since he hasn't gotten hurt yet. The three times is a charm adage must work. This time he has sponsorship and no one seems to think he's a nut case like the first time he sat in his chair in 2006 and floated up and away.
Still, I don't think this is something most folks should try. He doesn't even wear a seat belt. I think I'm with Justin on this one. [via AP]
Thanks to Shward for this photo posted on Flickr of Kent Couch in a lawn chair in a parade in Eugene, Oregon. It is true that there are many ways to become a celebrity.
A loon and a balloon.
This is considered crazy but riding a skateboard down a rail and crushing your jewels is ok. I think its pretty cool that people will do something like this now days.
Its probably safer not to wear a seat belt. To me the major risk is getting tangled up and not being able to deploy his parachute.
And some people just wanna cure cancer.
Maybe he’ll find that Fosset guy. Or maybe the people searching for ballon guy will find Fosset.
Does he have to get FAA approval for his test aircraft? Also, does he use some kind of radar reflector so they know where he’s at and can divert traffic.
Did they ever find the priest who did this a few weeks ago as a fundraiser??
Yes they found a body about 60 miles out in the ocean. They said they need to do a DNA test to confirm the identity.
I had the same question as An American Mother. Thanks for answering it.
Yes, also, Associated Press is just another way to say balloon.
Maybe he ran into this guy.
Winds aloft . . . friend of mine was gliding and used to follow the seagulls. But one day one went well out to sea, then turned around and started flapping his wings. Fortunately friend made it back safely . . . barely.
I saw the video of that guy flying around the swiss alps (or wherever he’s from in europe). He was taking the turns on the sides of those mountains and hills pretty close.
Not to worry, the FAA won't be outsmarted this time. Mobile deployed FAA anti-balloon law enforcement is on-call!
I think this guy is awesome. Go, balloon guy!
Are the balloons environmentally friendly....what kind of damage to the ecosystem does he cause when he lands?. Sigh..
years ago a guy in southern cal did this.
He was IN THE GLIDE SLOPE AT LAX
duh!
Just what purpose would a seat belt serve?
Hope he has some beer with him
Used to get similar comments, but boy did I have fun!
“Does he have to get FAA approval for his test aircraft? Also, does he use some kind of radar reflector so they know where he’s at and can divert traffic.”
Just what purpose would a seat belt serve?
Well I guess technically his craft is lighter than air, so no approval required. :)
He made it and will be on fox this morning.
There is a legal, regulated sport these days called cluster ballooning. Larry was a pioneer.
I personally have never fallen out of a chair, nor do I know anyone who has ever fallen out of a chair (not while sober anyway).
The only way to fall out a lawn chair with arms would be to tip it over, and you can’t tip this one over, it’s suspended from above.
Do you really think he needs a belt to hold him in the chair?
It’s like saying you need a seat belt to keep you on the toilet - and toilets don’t have arms to help keep you in place.
Lawnchair Larry was an incredible story. When they cut the rope he flew up like a rocket.
Oh, man. I want to see someone go up in a toilet. If it scared the crap out of him, no problem.
Sadly, he took his own life a few years later.
He had a brief bout of celebrity, but he was more of a curiousity than a personality.
One of the neighborhood kids (now grown) had his lawnchair. I’m not sure what became of it.
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