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Man floats 193 miles using chair, balloons
MSNBC ^ | 07-10-07 | AP

Posted on 07/10/2007 3:21:39 PM PDT by SeafoodGumbo

BEND, Ore. - Last weekend, Kent Couch settled down in his lawn chair with some snacks — and a parachute. Attached to his lawn chair were 105 large helium balloons.

Destination: Idaho.

With instruments to measure his altitude and speed, a global positioning system device in his pocket, and about four plastic bags holding five gallons of water each to act as ballast — he could turn a spigot, release water and rise — Couch headed into the Oregon sky.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: UFO's
KEYWORDS: aviation; chatroom; duplicate

1 posted on 07/10/2007 3:21:40 PM PDT by SeafoodGumbo
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To: SeafoodGumbo

Sounds like a “Mythbusters” episode.


2 posted on 07/10/2007 3:23:30 PM PDT by KingSnorky
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To: SeafoodGumbo

COOOOL!


3 posted on 07/10/2007 3:24:18 PM PDT by SIDENET (RUH-ROH)
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To: SeafoodGumbo

4 posted on 07/10/2007 3:25:04 PM PDT by frithguild (The Freepers moved as a group, like a school of sharks sweeping toward an unaware and unarmed victim)
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To: SeafoodGumbo
Couch is the latest American to emulate Larry Walters — who in 1982 rose three miles above Los Angeles in a lawn chair lifted by balloons. Walters had surprised an airline pilot, who radioed the control tower that he had just passed a guy in a lawn chair. Walters paid a $1,500 penalty for violating air traffic rules.

Didn't somebody win a Darwin for a stunt like this?

5 posted on 07/10/2007 3:25:07 PM PDT by lesser_satan (FRED THOMPSON '08)
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To: SeafoodGumbo

6 posted on 07/10/2007 3:25:09 PM PDT by SIDENET (RUH-ROH)
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To: SeafoodGumbo

He took off at 6:06 a.m. Saturday after kissing his wife, Susan, goodbye and petting his Chihuahua, Isabella. As he made about 25 miles an hour, a three-car caravan filled with friends, family and the dog followed him from below.


7 posted on 07/10/2007 3:27:31 PM PDT by frithguild (The Freepers moved as a group, like a school of sharks sweeping toward an unaware and unarmed victim)
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To: Cailleach

Hope Papa doesn’t see this. He might get some ideas.


8 posted on 07/10/2007 3:29:59 PM PDT by kalee (The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we write in marble. JHuett)
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To: SeafoodGumbo

Hope he’s not flying over any skeet ranges.......


9 posted on 07/10/2007 3:34:28 PM PDT by umgud ("When illegals are banned, only greedy businesses and welfare providers will have them)
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To: SeafoodGumbo

.....he is going to check in a psycho ward in Idaho!


10 posted on 07/10/2007 3:34:59 PM PDT by Doctor Don
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To: Doctor Don

LOL! What a nutcase. At least he had a parachute.


11 posted on 07/10/2007 3:36:54 PM PDT by MCH
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To: Doctor Don

” Last weekend, Kent COUCH settled down in his lawn chair with some snacks — and a parachute “

Should have used a sofa .


12 posted on 07/10/2007 3:37:02 PM PDT by sushiman
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To: SeafoodGumbo

Not the first time ...

http://home.earthlink.net/~quade/lawnchair.html


13 posted on 07/10/2007 3:37:15 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: SeafoodGumbo

Pack a parachute (just in case) and a BB pistol to pop a balloon or two when you want to come back down.

Sounds like a good time was had by all.


14 posted on 07/10/2007 3:39:01 PM PDT by Lions Gate
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To: MCH
LOL! What a nutcase. At least he had a parachute.

I think it's sort of like when you jump a big ramp on a bike as a kid -- you're a hero if you make it, an idiot if you don't.

15 posted on 07/10/2007 3:44:14 PM PDT by SeafoodGumbo
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To: Lions Gate
and a BB pistol to pop a balloon or two when you want to come back down.

They did this on MythBusters(?) awhile back, just to see if it could be done. They kept it tied off though.

16 posted on 07/10/2007 3:48:54 PM PDT by scan59 (Let consumers dictate market policies. Government just gets in the way.)
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To: frithguild

Thanks for the pic! Made me homesick for those Cascade Mountains, and for Deschutes Brewery beer from Bend, as well!


17 posted on 07/10/2007 4:16:36 PM PDT by hunter112 (Change will happen when very good men are forced to do very bad things.)
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