Man on Kite

May 10, 1965 - It was on this day that Dick McInnes, a 34-year-old carpet salesman from Kentucky, went for one of the strangest endurance rides in history.

McInnes was strapped to a giant kite that was towed behind a speedboat along the Ohio River. For the next 12 hours he skimmed through the air above the water, covering an astonishing 390 miles.

The stunt became known as the world record for “kite hanging” — a bizarre mid-century endurance feat that sounds more like a dare than an organized sport. Imagine spending half a day dangling from a kite while being yanked downriver by a speeding boat.

Needless to say, this is not a record many people have attempted to break.