Page 19 - Cluster Balloon News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> once everything checks out, couch kisses his wife and with cameras rolling, begins the assent. >> i can't steer myself. that's what i like about this little cluster ballooning thing. you just go where the winds take you. >> the thing you wouldn't realize is how peaceful it's up there. he's traveling at the same speed of the wind. even when he was moving at 50 miles an hour, he could set a napkin on his knee, and it wouldn't go anywhere. >> you start living a moment of what you have dreamed as a child. >> nearly nine hours later, couch crosses the state line into idaho. but he's not going to...

Just learning from the previous flight. >> i started using a pilot's parachute, which is nice and comfortable. we got more security and safety. better communication between the ground crew. >> july 5, 2008. kent couch attempts to fly from bend, oregon, to boise, idaho, and break his record of 193 miles traveled in a cluster balloon. >> on launch day, we had to be up at 3:30 in the morning. >> it's usually about 50 to 70 volunteers that make this thing work. we'd normally have four or six helium stations. each station had four people on it. with a different role. >> probably takes a minute or t...

So me and miles were really hyped up. >> the kids give this really great countdown. >> ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, blast-off! >> we cut off the balloon. >> it started rocking wildly like crazy. it was pretty fast. after about two minutes, it disappeared into the clouds. >> they tracked the craft's coordinates. but that's no guarantee they will be able to retrieve it. >> the batteries in the phone could freeze. it could just not give out signal and it will never find it. if it falls into anything that would block the transmission, it falls into very dense trees to...

A lawn chair because it's comfortable and i can lean back. it's red neck and i'm kind of red neck. >> there are some federal aviation rules to follow. but remarkably, as long as couch's aircraft stays under 254 pounds, he doesn't have to register with the faa. but couch does need some technical assistance. >> my friend has done a great job of making everything work. he's a techie guy. >> it might look unsafe, but a lot of care and attention has gone to make it very safe. >> cluster ballooning has come a long way since it was first attempted in the early 1930s. kent's lawn chair is outfitted wi...

Comfortable and i can lean back. it's kind of red neck and i'm kind of red neck. >> there are some federal aviation rules to follow. but remarkably, as long as couch's aircraft stays under 254 pounds, he doesn't have to register with the faa. or have a fliers pilot. but couch does need some technical assistance. >> my friend has done a great job of making everything work. he's a techie guy. he thinks about all those things i don't think about. >> it might look unsafe, but a lot of care and attention has gone to make it very safe. >> cluster ballooning has come a long way since it was first att...