Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Forty-two helium-filled weather balloons lifted Larry Walters in this aluminum lawn chair from San Pedro, California, on July 2, 1982. Walters reached 16,000 feet (4,880 meters), drifting into the controlled airspace surrounding Los Angeles International Airport. Commercial pilots reported sighting him to the tower.

Facing freezing temperatures and lower oxygen levels, Walters popped balloons with a BB gun to establish a controlled descent. The Federal Aviation Aministration charged him with violating controlled airspace, flying without a balloon license, and operating a non-airworthy craft.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Thomas W. Haas We All Fly at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Thomas W. Haas We All Fly
Object Details
Type CRAFT-Balloon Parts Physical Description Lawn chair with 13 plastic gallon water jugs and four ropes attached to frame Dimensions 3-D (with water jugs): 90.2 × 69.8 × 79.4cm, 7.7kg (2 ft. 11 1/2 in. wide × 2 ft. 3 1/2 in. deep × 2 ft. 7 1/4 in. tall, 17lb.)
 Materials Plastic
Paint
Non-Magnetic Metal
Adhesive Tape
Copper Alloy
Nylon
Paper
Ink
 Inventory Number A20181388000 Credit Line Gift of Jerry Fleck, the "neighborhood kid" Larry Walters gave his lawnchair to after landing. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.