- What
it's all about: In 1982, the late Larry Walters drifted into the
skies over Los Angeles in a lawn chair. He and his chair were suspended
under numerous gas-filled balloons. It was a simple and startling design
for human flight. A few hours later, though, Walters crash-landed on some
high-tension electrical wires. His attempt to prove that an ordinary man
with ordinary equipment could fly nearly cost him his life.
- Since then, no one has
been daring --- or nutty --- enough to try it again.
Until now!
Harvey Madison, professional photographer, skydiver, licensed pilot and celebrant of the human spirit, has meticulously planned a world-record attempt at riding hydrogen-filled balloons to an altitude of about 20,000 feet!
And, in the spirit of Larry Walters and all madcap adventurers before him, Madison plans make the flight in ordinary lawn chair.
Madison's ingenious design, already tested in a low-altitude flight with a dummy, involves gas balloons in combination with a parachute to vault his "skychair" into the heavens.
Friends have jokingly nicknamed it "The Kevorkian."
But Madison is dead serious. He not only wants to set the world record before the end of this year, but to do it in a way that will allow him to enjoy, unencumbered by a gondola, the beauty of the skies over the Southwestern United States.
However, Madison will not do it for himself alone. In setting this world-record for a solo balloon flight, he'll be giving the whole world a vicarious experience of soaring into the skies, through a planned video documentary and webcast. In addition, it is anticipated that considerable media attention will be focused on the event in live or near-live coverage.
What's it going to take for this to come off?
The Skychair Mission is budgeted at just over $17,000. Most of the equipment needed has been bought and tested. However, substantial expenses remain ahead, including costs for a ground crew, chase team, communications equipment, travel expenses, etc. Madison will be glad to emblazon his flight suit, parachute canopy, etc. with the names of sponsors. If you or your company would like to take advantage of the opportunity for exposure during this historic human adventure, please click on the "Sponsorship" tag above.
Also,a farmer, rancher or other landowner in West Texas or New Mexico is being sought to give permission for a launch from his or her property. A flat area, preferably positioned downwind from any mountains, is required. The Skylaunch Mission will draw up and sign an absolute release from liability for the landowner. If interested, please click on "Launch Site" above.
The Skychair Mission currently needs a volunteer professional videographer to help make the video documentary of this project. If sponsorship is forthcoming, this will be a paid position, and purchase by some such as the Discovery Channel is anticipated. In any event, accommodation expenses in West Texas or New Mexico will be paid over the one to three days required for the mission. If interested, please click on "Volunteers" above.
Also, a volunteer chase pilot with plane, able to take part for one weekend in the vicinity of New Mexico or West Texas. The chase pilot's role would be primarily to enable a videographer to shoot aerial scenes of the mission.
As of now, the ground crew and chase team volunteers have been secured.
Any questions? Write us! 