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Couch Flies High in Chair

By NewsDude ,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 10, 2007 8:25 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Kent Couch of Bend, OR, floated 193 miles at an average height of 11,000 feet  to La Grande, OR, in a lawn chair attached to 105 balloons. It took him almost 9 hours. He equipped himself with all the essential high-tech equipment to make the flight—a cell phone for communications and a knife to cut the balloons.

Couch also carried a GPS device. This allowed his chase crew to track him and, eventually, pick him up. While Couch says enjoyed the flight he was disappointed to not reach his goal—Idaho. 

Kent Couch, of Bend, sailed with his cluster balloons on the way to Idaho early Saturday morning. He was climbing at roughly 800 feet per minute with the Three Sisters behind him to an expected cruising altitude that averaged 11,000 feet.
Kent Couch, of Bend, sailed with his cluster balloons on the way to Idaho early Saturday morning. He was climbing at roughly 800 feet per minute with the Three Sisters behind him to an expected cruising...   (Associated Press)
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publicity stunt • lawn chair • Oregon • Bend • hot air balloon

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