<p>This July 14, 2012 file photo shows gas station owner Kent Couch, right, conferring with Iraqi adventurer Fareed Lafta before taking off from Bend, Ore., in tandem lawn chairs suspended from helium-filled party balloons. The men said Tuesday after hitting thunderstorms about about 14,000 feet, they considered bailing out, but decided to land, coming down safely in a hay field about 40 miles from their starting point. (AP Photo/Jeff Barnard, File)</p>
July 18, 2012
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Chair balloonists recount wild, short ride
Two men flying matching lawn chairs suspended by helium-filled party balloons over Central Oregon last weekend said Tuesday they were floating along peacefully at 14,000 feet when thunderstorms grabbed control of their homemade craft like a giant hand.