Lawrence Richard Walters , nicknamed `` Lawnchair Larry '' or the `` Lawn Chair Pilot '' , ( April 19 , 1949 â `` October 6 , 1993 ) was an American truck driver . On 2 July 1982 he flew very high in the sky in a homemade aircraft . Lawrence Richard Walters , nicknamed `` Lawnchair Larry '' or the `` Lawn Chair Pilot '' , ( April 19 , 1949 â `` October 6 , 1993 ) was an American truck driver who took flight on July 2 , 1982 in a homemade airship .