More flights of fancy

By Libby

What a weekend. Hot on the heels of the floating city and the airborne hotel, here's another one of my favorite fantasies come to life. Oregon gas station owner Kent Couch successfully completed a cross state journey in a lawn chair powered by helium balloons. Inspired by the orginal Lawnchair Guy, Larry Walters, this was Kent's third flight. Watch the video here. It's much better than the AP version.

Unfortunately, Couch's triumph comes on the heels of another's failed attempt that ended tragically. A Brazilian priest who had taken off two months ago, only to disappear, was found dead in the ocean yesterday. Sadly, he made the flight for the most charitable of reasons but appears to have been woefully unprepared for the endeavor. May he rest in peace.