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Discuss any potential problems.

b Read the article and match the questions (a-d) to the paragraphs (1-4).
a How did the actual flight differ from the one that was planned? .
b What incidents occurred just before and just after the landing? .
c What is said about the modern equivalent of this type of activity? .
d What components were used to assemble the flying machine? .

CRAZY BUT TRUE: LARRY WALTERS AND THE FLYING GARDEN CHAIR
1 On July 2,1982, a Californian truck driver named Larry Walters sat outside his house on a
garden chair. To say that he was out to get some air is an understatement, for projecting above
him a cluster of ropes was tied to 42 helium-filled weatherballoons. Anchor ropes, situated
underneath the chair, were fastened around the bumper of his car, which was positioned just
below the makeshift flying machine.
2 Mr Walters intended to climb gendy to an altitude of a few hundred feet, before drifting
slowly out of town and across country. He then planned to use an airgun to shoot some balloons
and descend
gradually to earth. But as the helium gas contained within the balloons warmed up in the summer
sun, it progressively generated more lift. When the anchor ropes were released, the self-assembly
airship shot up like a rocket. Too shocked to reach for the pistol inserted in his pocket, the first-
time pilot held on for life. In just a few minutes, Larry Walters was 16,000 feet above the
ground, floating over the city of Long Beach. A short time later, there were further
complications; he suddenly foundhimselfinsidecontrolled airspace, adjacent to Long Beach
Airport. The occupants of passing Delta Airlines and TWA aircraft looked on at the
curious spectacle outside, as wide-eyed as the garden chair pilot hovering beside them.
3 Eventually, after managing to shoot some balloons, Mr Walters descended safely to earth
despite an anchor rope, which was still suspended beneath the chair, getting tangled with a power
line located alongside the landing site (in someone’s garden). He was immediately arrested by
waiting police officers, and was later fined for breaking Federal aviation laws.
4 Today, cluster ballooning, while still a fairly marginal sport, is steadily starting to gain in
popularity.

c Answer the questions in Exercise 13b.

14a Label the diagrams using the prepositions in the box.
above adjacent to alongside around below beneath beside inside
outside over underneath within

a ____above_______ ,
b , ,
c , ,
d
e
f ,
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