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Couch Went Lawn Chair Ballooning

By Alex in Sports on Jul 6, 2008 at 1:48 am


Just because earlier attempts of lawnchair ballooning went so well (the first one by Larry Walters, ended up with an arrest, fame, lost of fame, and then suicide; the second one by Brazilian priest Adelir Antonio de Carli ended up with him missing and presumed dead), Kent Couch decided to try it himself.

Couch (I know, I know) rode a green lawnchair with 150 helium-filled party balloons from central Oregon all the way to Idaho:

Couch kissed his wife and kids goodbye, and patted their shivering Chihuahua, Isabella, before his ground crew gave him a push so he could clear surrounding light poles and a coffee cart.

Then, clutching a big mug of coffee, Couch rose out of the parking lot of his gas station into the bright blue morning sky, cheered by a crowd of spectators. [...]

Said his wife, Susan: "He’s crazy. It’s never been a dull moment since I married him."

Link – Thanks Geekazoid!

Photo: Jeff Barnard/AP


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COMMENT
  1. BikerRay
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 4:46 am

    I'd love to add it to my bucket list. It's rare, but not unheard of - see http://www.clusterballoon.org/ for example.

  2. Miss Cellania
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 5:19 am

    Previously: http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/09/oregon-lawn-chair-pilot/

  3. Evilbeagle
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 9:59 am

    They finally found the Brazilian priest's body in the ocean somewhere.

    But really, I just don't get the appeal of doing something like this.

  4. Petestrash
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 10:13 am

    Just an update to your post, Brazilian priest Adelir Antonio de Carli was found deceased today in the see about 100km from where he started.

  5. Ali S.
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 11:46 am

    That's sad to hear about the priest being found dead. From what I've read so far he didn't know how to use the GPS unit he took with him so he was unable to direct rescuers to his location. :(

  6. gladeye
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    "Kissed his wife and kids goodbye." No one could accuse the guy of taking his marital and parental responsibilities lightly. But then, his wife didn't seem to mind him risking his life either.

  7. Thomas
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    So... he wasn't arrested or fined? Have they changed the rules on that one?

  8. AM
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

    Give me a shotgun quick.

  9. uncle tom's .cab /bin
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    "But really, I just don’t get the appeal of doing something like this."

    Probably more fun than a herd of dull people posting their vapid thoughts to blogs which will all end up being forgotten anyway with time.

  10. ted
    Jul 6th, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    Found deceased in the "see". Now that's a good Catholic pun.

  11. planettom
    Jul 7th, 2008 at 5:40 am

    In a similar story, a sentient red balloon saved a small French boy from bullies by gathering its brethren and airlifting the boy to safety...

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