In 1982, a Los Angeles truck driver named Larry Walters decided it was finally time to chase a lifelong dream — using nothing but a lawn chair, helium balloons, and a lot of confidence.
He tied 45 weather balloons to his patio chair, packed a BB gun and a sandwich, and cut the tether.
He tied 45 weather balloons to his patio chair, packed a BB gun and a sandwich, and cut the tether.
The plan was simple: float gently about 30 feet into the air.
That’s not what happened.
Walters rocketed upward, climbing nearly 16,000 feet in minutes.
The air turned thin and freezing.
Breathing became difficult.
And without realizing it, he drifted straight into LAX airspace.
Moments later, an airline pilot radioed air traffic control with a line that became legendary:
“I’ve just passed a guy in a lawn chair… with a gun.”
I'm pretty sure this is from a movie!
Against all odds, Walters survived.
Using his BB gun, he slowly shot down balloons and descended back to Earth.
No serious injuries.
Plenty of consequences.
And one of the strangest true stories ever told.
Sometimes, reality doesn’t just beat fiction — it laughs at it.
• Danny Deckchair (2003): An Australian romantic-comedy film loosely based on the story, starring Rhys Ifans as a man who floats away in a chair tied to helium balloons.
• Pixar's Up (2009): The famous house-flying concept and the real-life stunt were heavily inspired by Larry Walters' adventure.
• Larry in Relation to the Ground (2002): A short documentary film about Larry Walters and his 1982 flight.
• Larry's Lawnchair (not yet released): A documentary project directed by Nirvan Mullick utilizing archival 35mm footage and flight journals.
• 42 Balloons: A stage musical based on his story.
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