Lawn Chair Balloonist Set for Next Ride

[steve2470]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/06/lawn-chair-balloonist-set-for-next-ride/



A man who rode 235 miles in a lawn chair tethered to a bouquet of balloons has announced he will ride again, but this time he’ll be joined by a co-pilot.

Kent Couch and Iraqi adventurer Fareed Lafta plan to take off from Couch’s gas station in Bend, Ore., on July 14 . The daredevil pair say they hope to clear at least 400 miles, which would mean a landing somewhere near southwestern Montana.

The pair also plan to embark on another flight together in the fall, this time in Iraq.

The lawn chair balloonists are using the flight as an opportunity to raise awareness for Iraqi orphans, Couch said on his website.

[lunatica]

1. That's cool

I love people who use their imaginations for a cause.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. This is my favorite new extreme sport.

Not sure why.

[TheDebbieDee]

3. I thot the original Lawn Chair pilot, Larry What's-his-face, died years ago..........

I read that the original was nominated for a Darwin Award and everything!

I'll check Google: IBB!

I found several references on Google........

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=original+lawn+chair+pilot&oq=original+lawn+chair+pilot&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=hp.3...2547.8500.1.9953.25.16.0.0.0.0.1282.10237.3-4j0j6j4j2.16.0...0.0.6fcbziciCuI&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=e3778fbac2bbeb19&biw=1024&bih=565

[struggle4progress]

4. ... Larry hiked into the forest and shot himself on October 6, 1993 ...

http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid1998-11.html

[hunter]

6. My dad and I saw that guy...

We were at my grandmother's house and we couldn't decide what we were seeing. We didn't know until we saw the evening news.

[TheDebbieDee]

7. Kewl! You and your Dad were first-hand witnesses to oddball history...............

[struggle4progress]

5. Brazil priest flying party balloons lost at sea (2008)

BRASILIA | Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:35pm EDT

(Reuters) - A Brazilian priest is missing after he drifted out to sea while trying to set a record for a flight using helium-filled party balloons, authorities said on Tuesday.

Father Adelir Antonio de Carli began his flight suspended in a harness-like seat from 1,000 balloons of various colors on Sunday in the southern port of Paranagua. He had intended to fly 20 hours due west but unexpected winds carried the 42-year-old Roman Catholic priest out over the south Atlantic on a southeasterly course ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/22/us-brazil-priest-lost-idUSN2228192120080422

Body of Brazilian priest is found

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

SAO PAULO, Brazil - A body found off the coast of Brazil is that of a priest who disappeared while flying over the Atlantic buoyed by hundreds of brightly colored party balloons, authorities said Tuesday.

The Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli set off from the Brazilian port city of Paranagua on April 20 strapped to 1,000 helium-filled balloons in an attempt to raise money to build a rest stop and worship center for truckers.

But the 41-year-old Catholic priest soon lost contact with his ground team and the cluster of yellow, orange, pink and white balloons was found in the water a day later.

Tugboat workers discovered a body off Rio de Janeiro this month that authorities believed belonged to the cleric. DNA tests confirmed his identity Tuesday ...

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2008-07-29/news/17902121_1_rev-adelir-antonio-balloons-carli