Did you ever dream about getting some ice cold beer and sitting in your backyard in a lawnchair and then tying some helium balloons to the chair and floating above your neighborhood? That was California truck driver Larry Walters dream and on July 2, 1982 that's exactly what Larry did. Except the rope that was supposed to keep him suspended above his backyard slipped away and Larry Walters was off on the ride of his life.

Larry soon reached 10,000 feet in altitude and startled a passing jumbo jet pilot who radioded the flight tower that "There's some guy up here sitting in a lawnchair with a gun." The media got wind of Larry's ride and quickly dubbed him Lawnchair Larry. Even before he hit the ground he was a already gaining celebrity status. After hitting the ground he appeared on Letterman and the Tonight Show. He inspired copycats and gave many people a good laugh about his exploit.

In the end though things did not turn out well for Lawnchair Larry Walters but he did get to live his dream.

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