Kent Couch

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Kent Couch is a 48-year-old gas station owner who in July of 2007 flew 193 miles (311 km) in a lawnchair elevated by 105 large helium balloons. Using amateur instruments to measure altitude and speed, a GPS device to track his location, and five gallons 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 resembles a flight by Larry Walters, who in 1982 sat in a lawnchair that unexpectedly rose 3 miles off the ground after he cut the rope tethering his lawnchair to the ground.^[1]

Kent has announced that he is scheduled to fly again on Saturday, July 5th, 2008.