by Ron Erb

Created on: July 12, 2008   Last Updated: July 15, 2008

On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters answered a question the balloon lady at Disneyland inspired in him as a child. "How many balloons would it take to lift me?" Larry is one of three little boys who dreamed of flight - without wings. Their separate stories tell us about the very extreme sport of floating like a cloud.

Forty-two helium-filled weather balloons answered Larry's childhood question. Those gas bags tied to an aluminum, Sears lawn chair launched him into the great blue yonder. Like so many adventures, this one didn't turn out as planned. Larry's motto may have been, "go big or stay home," and he certainly didn't stay home. Walters went too big with the balloons and the tether broke as he soared off so fast he lost his glasses. At 16,000 feet airline pilots spotted Larry and the numbing cold forced him to shoot some balloons to begin his decent. A BB pistol he brought for this purpose worked out well until he dropped the gun. Our hero's balloons eventually snagged in some power lines and Larry dropped 5 feet to safety. Unamused, the FAA penalized Walters $1,500 for violating air traffic rules. "The Tonight Show" and "Late Night with David Letterman" gave Walters instant fame and though he had enjoyed his adventure, Walters flew no more.

Meet Kent Couch at http://www.couchballoons.com, a fellow who enjoys Larry's brand of flying, now called "cluster ballooning." This gent has made 3 flights, the latest, on July 5, 2008, going 235 miles in nine and a half hours with 150, 4-foot, giant party balloons. Each balloon lifts 4 pounds. Mr Couch, 48, based in Bend, Oregon, goes ballooning to satisfy his dreams and promote his convenience store. He recalled the puffy clouds, peace and quiet of his flights, (except for the gunshots from the ground, which concerned him!) Sky diving and hang gliding began Couch's piloting adventures but he is considering taking his balloons abroad if the right sponsors step up.

Couch has gone high tech. He and his craft each have a global positioning system, along with an altimeter, satellite phone and digital camera. Three 15-gallon barrels of cherry Kool-Aid (for visibility) replaced the one gallon water jugs that gave Larry control over his altitude. Larry never used the parachute he wore, but Kent went overboard after shooting too many balloons in a 2006 flight. He added a blow-gun with steel-tipped darts and a pole with a hook to herd or pop balloons. Couch feasted on boiled eggs, jerky and chocolate during the flight. Kent Couch enjoyed a trip around the talk show circuit, as Larry had. Couch's craft and parachute weighed in at about 600 pounds and required nearly $6000 of helium for the trip. Corporate sponsors picked up the tab.

John Ninomiya shares beautiful photographs of his more than 40 cluster balloon flights at http://www.clusterballoon.org. FAA-licensed hot-air balloon pilot Ninomiya's methods simplify and refine the equipment to an impressive degree. Paragliding harnesses replace lawn chairs and the latest electronics provide tracking and communications. John states that in 2008 there were about 6 cluster balloon pilots worldwide.

Web Sites now show the basics of cluster ballooning, complete with warnings. 2003 movie "Danny Deckchair" combines the flight of an Australian cluster balloonist with an engaging love story.

Is this bizarre sport becoming a fad? Why not? It's safer than eating sushi!

Sources:
New York Times
http://www.clusterballoon.org
http://www.msnbc.m sn.com
http://www.couchballoons.com
http://www.markber ry.com

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