Kent Couch is an American cluster balloonist

Cluster ballooning

Cluster ballooning is a form of ballooning where a harness attaches a balloonist to a cluster of helium-inflated rubber balloons.Unlike traditional hot-air balloons, where a single large balloon is equipped with vents enabling altitude control, cluster balloons are multiple, small, readily...

 who drew international interest for his flights across the state of Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

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First flight

Kent's first flight was in September 2006. The flight was cut short and Kent used his parachute to land safely on the ground below. The flight preparation and ground crew was filmed and edited by Sky Pinnick of Rage Films in Bend, Oregon. While this unsuccessful landing may discourage some, it sent Kent back to the drawing board to try again.

Second flight

Couch, a 48-year-old gas station owner, first flew 193 miles (311 km) in July 2007 riding a lawnchair elevated by 105 large helium balloons. Using amateur instruments to measure altitude and speed, a GPS

Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...

 device to track his location, and 5 gallons (19 litres) of water for ballast, he controlled his ascent by releasing water. The flight began in Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon

Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...

 and ended in Union

Union, Oregon

Union is a city in Union County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,926 at the 2000 census.- History :Union was platted on November 11, 1864 along the Oregon Trail. The name references the Union states, or Northern States, of the American Civil War....

, short of Couch's goal of reaching Idaho

Idaho

Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....

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Couch's flight resembled a flight by Larry Walters

Larry Walters

Lawrence Richard Walters, nicknamed "Lawnchair Larry" or the "Lawn Chair Pilot", was an American truck driver who took flight on July 2, 1982 in a homemade airship. Dubbed Inspiration I, the "flying machine" consisted of an ordinary patio chair with 45 helium-filled weather balloons attached to it...

, who, in 1982, sat in a lawnchair that unexpectedly rose 3 miles (5 km) off the ground after he cut the rope tethering his lawnchair to the ground.

Third flight

Couch began another flight at dawn on Saturday, July 5, 2008. That afternoon he successfully crossed the desert border, landing near Cambridge, Idaho

Cambridge, Idaho

Cambridge is a city in Washington County, Idaho, United States. The population was 360 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cambridge is located at ....

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Statistics:

Launch Time: 6:44 am (PDT)

Top Speed: 49 mi/h

Average Speed: 26 mi/h

Highest Altitude Reached: 16,625 feet (unofficial world record)

Touch Down: 3:56 pm (PDT)

Total Time: 9 hours 12min

Total Miles: 240

External links

• CNN Article - "Man flies 193 miles in lawn chair"
• AP Article - "Man flying lawn chair lifted by helium balloons"
• Official Kent Couch Website A 2003 Australian film with a similar storyline