Our very own AMERICA’S UNKNOWN DESTINATIONS hot air balloons were used to set a GUINNESS WORLD record. Featured balloons were LHS and WHALE BOY
° CATEGORY
No one has ever attempted to do this stunt at this altitude before.
A new category had to be created just for this death-defying stunt, and is called the “Balloon Skywalk”
° YEAR
This successful record achievement, set by Mike Howard, went down in the history books in the year 1998.
° WHERE
The location was Marshall, Michigan
° CREW
Balloon Expert: Mike Howard
Age: 32 (at time of record)
Born: Manchester, England
Occupation:
Aeronaut Pilot/Commander: Steve Davis
Age: 30 (at time of record)
Born: Kent, Ohio
Occupation: Part-owner/operator/pilot – America’s Unknown Destinations
Aeronaut Pilot/Commander: Doug Davis
Age: 29 (at time of record)
Born: Kent, Ohio
Occupation: Part-owner/operator/pilot – America’s Unknown Destinations
Crew: Rene’ Howard – Wife of Mike Howard
° THE RECORD
Two of America’s Unknown Destinations hot air balloons, Whale Boy” and LHS, ascend tethered to just shy of three miles above the earth. As the balloons approach the height of almost 19,000 feet, the air quickly becomes extremely thin and oxygen masks are needed – just to breathe.
The commander of Whale Boy, Steve Davis, along with Mike’s wife, Rene’, watch nervously as Mike Howard steps off LHS into the point of no return, with nothing but his rock-solid courage, and nothing but a 19-foot balancing pole. There is nothing to keep Mike from plummeting into a death tumble towards earth, except a narrow piece of three-inch-wide, nineteen-foot-long beam.
As commander of LHS, Doug Davis, fights to keep the balloons stable. As he watches Mike step off onto the slippery beam, he knows there is no turning back. He also knows, there is nowhere for Mike to turn around. Mike must fight to maintain balance and fight the bitter cold. Everyone, especially Rene’, watches in sheer terror as Mike inches towards Whale Boy. Mike is still steady, and reaches the balloon to give his wife a kiss, full well knowing it may be the last one he and wife Rene’ will ever share.
Fear grips again as Mike knows he must now reverse himself and walk backwards, on the beam. He begins to step away from Rene’ and slowly creeps backwards. Inch by inch he struggles to keep from plummeting to his death. At almost 3 miles above the earth, he knows he can’t quit now. It seems as though Mike is not getting enough oxygen. He is fighting to maintain balance, when he slips just four paces from his only chance to survive. Mike begins to fall. With a lot of nerve and shear guts, Doug immediately lets go of the burner and grabs for a piece of Mike’s clothing. He hoists Mike into the gondola. HE MAKES IT…A NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
As Mike realizes that he and his crew have just set a new world record, he instructs Steve and Doug to begin the process of separating the balloons. This is also a stunt that has never been accomplished before and certainly never at this height. Steve and Doug nervously begin the count down, and the balloons are successfully released. Mike Howard, Steve Davis, Doug Davis, and Rene’ Howard realize, they have all defied death together!