Lawnchair Larry flight

For persons of a similar name, see Lawrence Walters (disambiguation).

Cluster ballooning was inspired by Larry Walters's experience, although his was not the first.[1]

On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters (April 19, 1949 – October 6, 1993) made a 45-minute flight in a homemade aerostat made of an ordinary lawn chair and 42 helium-filled weather balloons.[2] The aircraft rose to an altitude of about 16,000 feet (4,900 m), drifted from the point of liftoff in San Pedro, California, and entered controlled airspace near Long Beach Airport. During the final descent, the aircraft became entangled in power lines, but Walters was able to climb down safely. The flight attracted worldwide media attention and inspired a movie, a musical and numerous imitators.

  1. ^ Faber, John (1960). Great News Photos. New York: Dover (re-publication - 1978). p. 76. ISBN 0486236676. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  2. ^ url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/chair-lawn-larry-walters/nasm_A20181388000%7Caccess-date=03 May 2024