Kent Couch
Kent Couch is an American cluster balloonist who drew international interest for his flights across the state of Oregon.Couch, a 47-year-old gas station owner, first flew 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 of water for ballast, he controlled his descent 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 the Lawnchair Larry flight. Larry Walters in 1982, sat in a lawnchair that unexpectedly rose off the ground after he cut the rope tethering the chair to the ground.
Couch began another flight at dawn on Saturday, July 5, 2008. That afternoon he successfully crossed the desert border, landing near Cambridge, Idaho.
