Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!zehntel!dual!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-erlang!whalen 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 Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 21 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 UUCP: ...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-erlang!whalen ...decvax!deccra!whalen MCI Mail: Richard V. Whalen