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From: whalen@erlang.DEC (An Italian at heart)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: True story or whopper?
Message-ID: <3246@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Aug-84 08:09:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.3246
Posted: Fri Aug 10 08:09:24 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 13-Aug-84 00:35:15 EDT
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Organization: DEC Engineering Network
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The story is true.  It happened a little more than a year ago, I think it
took place in California.  From what I heard/read it was a Sears lawn
chair, and the balloons were designed for taking weather insturments aloft
(i.e heavy duty).  He also was wearing an emergency parachute, which he
didn't use.  He started popping the balloons with the BB gun when he got
cold, at this point he was quite high and causing all sorts of trouble for
General and Commercial Aviation.  He came down a little fast than he
expected and landed in some power lines.  He didn't get hurt, but did take
out the power for a few towns.  I remember reading that the FAA was going
to prosecute him, but the only thing they could charge him with was flying
without a license!  Some papers even had pictures with the story.

The story is still a rather popular one at my home drop zone, which is
where I first heard it, if I recall correctly it happened on a weekend.

Rich Whalen
Digital Equipment Corporation
Hudson, MA
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