Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Oregon Man Plans 300 Mile Flight in Lawn Chair

Posted by samzenpus on

Kent Couch plans on attaching 150 giant latex party balloons filled with helium to a lawn chair and flying from his home in Oregon to somewhere in Idaho, preferably Boise, this 4th of July weekend. This is actually Kent's third attempt. The first trip ended abruptly when he shot out too many balloons trying to descend and he had to use a parachute to land. This time Kent has corporate sponsorship, duct tape and zip ties for emergency repairs, extra clothes and a blanket to ward off the cold at higher altitudes. If all goes well, the lawn-chair pilot says he'd like to fly across the English Channel and even Australia. Assuming he can remember the lyrics to 'The Imagination Song,' Mr. Couch might even make it to Imaginationland one day.

7 comments

  1. expensive by NovaHorizon · · Score: 1

    $6,000 for the rig? You can buy and build a small personal helicopter for that much...

    --
    Defective Logic
    1. Re:expensive by nathan.fulton · · Score: 1

      It would take many more balloons to keep a helicopter up. Doh!

    2. Re:expensive by iamhigh · · Score: 1

      And they're bound to get all twisted up! Duh.

      --
      No comprende? Let me type that a little slower for you...
  2. Up, up and away! by Typingsux · · Score: 1

    In my beautiful, my beautiful balooooonnnn!

    --
    The above post is an editorial, the poster cannot and will not be held responsible for all or in part for it's contents
  3. I suggest by jd · · Score: 1

    ...that he try flying over Greece or Turkey. It's just as stupid as trying for Australia, but the ending will be quicker and less painful.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    1. Re:I suggest by Mistshadow2k4 · · Score: 1

      How about Germany? Let him try it will red balloons too.

      --
      I dream of a better world... one in which chickens can cross roads without their motives being questioned.
  4. Bloom County by KaizerttheBjorn · · Score: 1

    He actually plans to fly to Washington D.C. and flash the South African ambassador with the Electro-Photo Pigmentizer.

    --
    Boycott shampoo! Demand the REAL poo!