Man crosses English Channel with helium balloons

[FLPanhandle]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BRITAIN_BALLOON_MAN?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=ENTERTAINMENT

LONDON (AP) -- In a goofy yet mesmerizing stunt, an American adventurer crossed the English Channel on Friday carried by a bundle of helium balloons, ending a quiet and serene flight by touching down in a French cabbage patch.

Jonathan Trappe, 36, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was strapped in a specially equipped chair below a bright cluster of balloons when he lifted off early Friday from Kent, in southeast England.

About five hours later, he lowered himself into a French field by cutting some of the balloons away.

"It was just an exceptional, quiet, peaceful experience," Trappe told Sky News television, which covered the adventure.

Asked why he went, Trappe replied: "Didn't you have this dream, grabbing on to a bunch of toy balloons and floating off? I think it's something that's shared across cultures and across borders - just this wonderful fantasy of grabbing on to toy balloons and floating into open space."




I like his attitude and I'm surprised this hasn't been done before.

[izquierdista]

1. It has

http://www.snopes.com/travel/airline/walters.asp

[Scuba]

2. Question from Jose in Mexico: How many balloons does that take?