Mystery objects/ Balloons over north America

[suffolkowner]

When a weather balloon went rogue almost 25 years ago, fighter jets fired 1,000 rounds at it and couldn't bring it down

"With something like this, which is stationary in the air when the CF-18s are flying very, very fast, it is difficult to shoot it," a lieutenant said.

www.businessinsider.com

apparently not so easy to do or we just need more practise?

 

[dimsum]

When a weather balloon went rogue almost 25 years ago, fighter jets fired 1,000 rounds at it and couldn't bring it down

"With something like this, which is stationary in the air when the CF-18s are flying very, very fast, it is difficult to shoot it," a lieutenant said.

www.businessinsider.com

apparently not so easy to do or we just need more practise?

The AP reported that the jets, Canadian variants of the American F/A-18 Hornet, hit the balloon, but rather than popping or exploding and crashing to the earth, it slowly began leaking helium. The big balloon was still in the air.

They could dump thousands of rounds into it, but it's not going to pop like a birthday balloon. All it will do is drift down slower than normal.

 

[brihard]

NOTAM is up for airspace off the Carolinas. A couple of tankers are circling, a Coast Guard herc’s been hanging out, an LSD is sailing down the coast, and I read that fighters are up. Might be piñata time.

 

[MARS]

 

[brihard]

As is tradition, the balloon’s trip to Myrtle Beach… did not go well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621956483859582977

 

[brihard]

Looks like a missile kill. F-22 has changed the face of aerial warfare.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621964097842470912

 

[dimsum]

Looks like a missile kill. F-22 has changed the face of aerial warfare.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621964097842470912

That logbook entry would be wild.

 

[brihard]

That logbook entry would be wild.

I’ve been waiting for this day since Grade 4.

 

[PMedMoe]

 

[brihard]

I just saw some wit make a crack about Biden acting decisively to fight inflation. I chuckled.

 

[dimsum]

C/S FRANK is pretty cool, historically-speaking, but I chuckled at "Gasman"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621957333310906368

 

[SeaKingTacco]

That logbook entry would be wild.

Not to mention the stencil on the side of the jet…

 

[dimsum]

Not to mention the stencil on the side of the jet…

 

[brihard]

Not to mention the stencil on the side of the jet…

I mean, it’s a legit kill.

 

[dapaterson]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621963179961057283

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Gold, Jerry, Gold!

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I mean, it’s a legit kill.

100%. The best kill is one that does not shoot back.

 

[Kat Stevens]

.

 

[dapaterson]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621922416586010626

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I hope the HUD camera tape makes the internet…