Kent Couch

Kent Couch is an American cluster balloonist who drew international interest for his flights across the state of Oregon.

Cluster balloon flights

First flight

Couch, a 48-year-old gas station owner, first flew convert|193|mi|km|0 in July 2007 riding a lawnchair elevated by 105 large helium balloons. Using amateur instruments to measure altitude and speed, a GPS 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 and ended in Union, short of Couch's goal of reaching Idaho.

Couch's flight resembled a flight by Larry Walters, who, in 1982, sat in a lawnchair that unexpectedly rose convert|3|mi|km|0 off the ground after he cut the rope tethering his lawnchair to the ground. [http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/10/flying.lawn.chair.ap/index.html]

econd flight

Couch began another flight at dawn on Saturday, July 5 2008. That afternoon he successfully crossed the desert border, landing near Cambridge, Idaho. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/05/lawnchair.balloons.ap/index.html Lawn-chair balloonist flies from Oregon to Idaho - CNN.com ] ] [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/jul/07/balloon.flight.chair Video: Man uses party balloons to fly 200 miles | World news | guardian.co.uk ] ] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2258600/Kent-Couch-flys-to-Idaho-with-some-balloons,-a-garden-chair-and-a-'big-dream'.html Kent Couch flys to Idaho with some balloons, a garden chair and a 'big dream' - Telegraph ] ]

Statistics:

Launch Time: 6:44 am (PDT)
Top Speed: 49 MPH
Average Speed: 26 MPH
Highest Altitude Reached: 16,625 feet (unofficial world record)
Touch Down: 3:56 pm (PDT)
Total Time: 9 hours 12min
Total Miles: 240

ee also

*Cluster ballooning

References

External links

* [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/07/05/lawnchair.balloons.ap/index.html CNN Article - "Man flies 193 miles in lawn chair"]
* [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91NPF1G0&show_article=1 AP Article - "Man flying lawn chair lifted by helium balloons"]
* [http://www.couchballoons.com/default.aspx Official Kent Couch Website]
* [http://blog.palehorse.net/2007/07/13/unusual-balloon-ride/ Pale Musings - Unusual Balloon Ride]
* A 2003 Australian film with a similar storyline