Up in the air: People who used balloons to give wings to their fantasy

Aviation professionals flying over Los Angeles International Airport have in the past few weeks reported at least two sightings of jetpack-strapped fliers. Planes probably aren't enough for these people.
Here is a look at some people who used balloons to give wings to their fantasy:

Larry Walters, 1982

Agencies

The 33-year-old military veteran decided to use 45 helium-filled balloons to float his way from Los Angeles to the Mojave Desert in a lawn chair. As he drifted over LAX at 16,000 ft or so on June 2, pilots flying into the airport reported the unusual sight. His 45-minute flight ended safely.

Daniel Boria, 2015

Agencies

To advertise his cleaning business, this Calgary, Canada, resident tied about 100 helium balloons to a lawn chair and took to the skies. He landed in jail and was ordered to pay $26,500 in fines. "I'd estimate I was going up about 500 to 1,000 feet in a minute," he told CNN at the time. "I was looking down on the city and watching 747s and planes approaching the local airport."

Kevin Walsh, 1984

Agencies

Inspired by Walters, this 24-year-old aviation enthusiast fastened himself to 57 balloons to fly from Minuteman Airport near Boston. "I estimate I made it to 9,000 feet … when I got down to 3,000 I disengaged and parachuted away," Walsh said. The aviation authority fined him $4,000 for flying too close to Boston's Logan Airport airspace.