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

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 47-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 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 3 miles (5 km) off the ground after he cut the rope tethering his lawnchair to the ground.^[1]

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.^[2][3][4]

Statistics:

Launch Time: 6:44 am (PDT)
Top Speed: 49 mph (79 km/h)
Average Speed: 26 mph (42 km/h)
Highest Altitude Reached: 16,625 feet (unofficial world record)
Touch Down: 3:56 pm (PDT)
Total Time: 9 hours 12min
Total Miles: 240

See also

• Cluster ballooning

References

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
• Danny Deckchair at the Internet Movie Database A 2003 Australian film with a similar storyline