Thank you for these great calculations chickencoupe16! So it is potentially possible from a business jet to shoot it down. I hadn't thought about the pressure suit.... :-)chickencoupe16 said:Definitely out of range of civilian drones. Civilian rockets could hit it but without guidance, it would be a game of darts with a dart board the size of a pinhead.WolfCall said:Is the balloon out of range of un-armed-drones and rocketry that civilians could round up to take the MoFo down?2wealfth Man said:
3 pm CT and we are still f'ing around having press conferences and the like; is the media more important than our territorial integrity now?
Don't small business jets fly up to 40,000 - 45,000 feet? And, AR-15 bullets can travel 2+ miles......
Business jets can get into the 50s, I think. So let's call it 55,000. Now 2 miles is roughly 10,000, but let's say the thin air gives it a boost and just call it 15,000. So with very generous numbers, we can get to 70,000 feet. But who's volunteering to fly the plane with a depressurized cockpit and no pressure suit? Even worse, who's volunteering to open the door and shoot at the balloon without a pressure suit?
Chinese Spy Balloon
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Last: 3 mo ago by lb3
Forget that. It turned a sharp 90 heading due south towards… Whiteman….
I've seen our weather balloons on flight aware before. If we have been tracking it, where did it come to our attention? Launched from a ship in the North Pacific? Central China? Canada? Russia?
Let me guess. From here the CCP wants to know about the stratosphere above Barksdale, Elgin, maybe Homestead, then up to Bragg and Meade. Maybe finish up at Groton?
I've seen our weather balloons on flight aware before. If we have been tracking it, where did it come to our attention? Launched from a ship in the North Pacific? Central China? Canada? Russia?
Let me guess. From here the CCP wants to know about the stratosphere above Barksdale, Elgin, maybe Homestead, then up to Bragg and Meade. Maybe finish up at Groton?
RC-135 in the vicinity flying patterns. Maybe its jamming it?
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae01d4
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Quit worrying everyone, I just heard the White House is keeping all options on the table......
That has the ChiComs shaking in their boots.....
That has the ChiComs shaking in their boots.....
Stupe said:Why would we not shoot it down?Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:CDUB98 said:
Shoot it down and privately tell them that one more of those and they can say goodbye to Beijing.
Seems like a rational action.
And why would 50 posters agree with that comment?
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Broncos said:BREAKING: Chinese spy balloon flying over US was 'intentional,' US official says https://t.co/WcB7jGJjZ6
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 3, 2023
Well that certainly bursts some bubblez.
Person Not Capable of Pregnancy
With Milley part of the decision-making crew, surrendering has to be one of the things the White House is considering.WolfCall said:
Quit worrying everyone, I just heard the White House is keeping all options on the table......
JohnLA762 said:
Can't wait for the administrations comments on this:
Always enjoy seeing that gif of dumb ass Hillary, because she thought she had the presidential race won. Too funny.
Ellis Wyatt said:With Milley part of the decision-making crew, surrendering has to be one of the things the White House is considering.WolfCall said:
Quit worrying everyone, I just heard the White House is keeping all options on the table......
Milley is a disgrace.
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Bubblez said:
Apparently, its just a weather balloon that blew off course.
Person Not Capable of Pregnancy
I'm not sure why only 50 posters would agree with that comment?annie88 said:Stupe said:Why would we not shoot it down?Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:CDUB98 said:
Shoot it down and privately tell them that one more of those and they can say goodbye to Beijing.
Seems like a rational action.
And why would 50 posters agree with that comment?
Is this a second balloon?spadilly said:MORE PHOTOS: A possible Chinese balloon in the St. Louis area sky right now. #news #BreakingNews #BREAKING #China #ChinaSpyBalloon #ChinaBalloon pic.twitter.com/JF6awwca3i
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) February 3, 2023
Imagine getting punked with a balloon. Oh how we have fallen.
This is how adults handle international spying now?
Reports are it crossed the Aleutian Islands, entered Canada, across Washington State, reported over Missoula, then across the central US to Kansas City, MO.Ag In Ok said:
Forget that. It turned a sharp 90 heading due south towards… Whiteman….
I've seen our weather balloons on flight aware before. If we have been tracking it, where did it come to our attention? Launched from a ship in the North Pacific? Central China? Canada? Russia?
Let me guess. From here the CCP wants to know about the stratosphere above Barksdale, Elgin, maybe Homestead, then up to Bragg and Meade. Maybe finish up at Groton?
I just heard that it had crossed over 16 states and some areas that are restricted to US commercial flight paths
We're compromised the Chinese. Period. The politicians. The military. No good reason to allow this to go on.
Ya can’t shoot down the Chinese Spy Balloon because Eric Swalwell will just inflate it again.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) February 3, 2023
Just duct tape an AK-47 to the side of a U2 spy plane, tie a string on the trigger and run it into the cockpit. Problem solved.
Gator92 said:
RC-135 in the vicinity flying patterns. Maybe its jamming it?
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae01d4
It is possibly collecting its own sigint.
It's reached MISSOURI.
Dropped to 50k. We can grab it.
Given its ability to make 90 degree turns and maintain course for a "force majeur" weather balloon, someone may be directing it down.
Given its ability to make 90 degree turns and maintain course for a "force majeur" weather balloon, someone may be directing it down.
JUST IN: Pilots are now reporting the Chinese spy balloon floating a few thousand feet above them.
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) February 3, 2023
"DERELICT BALLOON ADRIFT" at 50,000 feet was just reported by the crew of a Cessna Citation private jet cruising at 43,000 feet near Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/xuOBY8xt7U
Most likely. There is lots of other traffic in the area. Jamming might not be an option...Not a Bot said:Gator92 said:
RC-135 in the vicinity flying patterns. Maybe its jamming it?
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae01d4
It is possibly collecting its own sigint.
Firing at a balloon with a fighter's gun, in this case the M61 Vulcan, is problematic as far as I understand it. 1.) you are poking small holes in a huge envelope, the round won't explode. 2.) If you are shooting from any lower or shallow aspect, then the rounds will fly...
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) February 3, 2023
Very good thread detailing why shooting it down is tricky.
Unforgivable that Biden has allowed this balloon to exist longer than 1 minute after it entered US airspace.
It should have been downed - intact if possible to study it, obliterated if not.
The president is a feeble, spineless imp. Same with his handlers.
If you were going to impeach a president for failure to ensure the safety of the nation, this would be a good reason.
It should have been downed - intact if possible to study it, obliterated if not.
The president is a feeble, spineless imp. Same with his handlers.
If you were going to impeach a president for failure to ensure the safety of the nation, this would be a good reason.
We may not always get what we want. We may not always get what we need. Just so we don't get what we deserve.
Central Committee said:
Unforgivable that Biden has allowed this balloon to exist longer than 1 minute after it entered US airspace.
It should have been downed - intact if possible to study it, obliterated if not.
The president is a feeble, spineless imp. Same with his handlers.
If you were going to impeach a president for failure to ensure the safety of the nation, this would be a good reason.
Agreed. But the spineless Republican leadership will do nothing.
Interesting.
Maybe that RC-135 hacked it...
Maybe that RC-135 hacked it...
In the arsenal of the US Military, I refuse to believe we do not have a capable device to bring this thing to the ground.
We can take a dude out on his balcony and not set the house on fire, But giant balloon has us stumped?
We can take a dude out on his balcony and not set the house on fire, But giant balloon has us stumped?
"The absence of the word accountability is not the same as wanting no accountability" -unknown
"You can never go wrong by staying silent if there is nothing apt to say" -Walter Isaacson
"You can never go wrong by staying silent if there is nothing apt to say" -Walter Isaacson
Nice job Pepaw.Quote:
During a get-to-know-you visit by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to China in 2011, Xi Jinping, then the vice president, complained that American spy planes were frequently intruding into Chinese airspace.
Mr. Biden defended the flights as legal under international law, and warned against risky shadowing maneuvers, known as intercepts, by Chinese pilots, according to American officials familiar with the conversation.
I don't think we are necessarily stumped. We likely have a range of options and they chose one for certain reasons.
Stat Monitor Repairman said:Nice job Pepaw.Quote:
During a get-to-know-you visit by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to China in 2011, Xi Jinping, then the vice president, complained that American spy planes were frequently intruding into Chinese airspace.
Mr. Biden defended the flights as legal under international law, and warned against risky shadowing maneuvers, known as intercepts, by Chinese pilots, according to American officials familiar with the conversation.
This thing is over Missouri, not hundreds of miles offshore.
#CertifiedSIP
Chinese have a less forgiving approach.
Let's not let facts get in the way of ripping papaw's ass.FratboyLegend said:This thing is over Missouri, not hundreds of miles offshore.Stat Monitor Repairman said:Nice job Pepaw.Quote:
During a get-to-know-you visit by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to China in 2011, Xi Jinping, then the vice president, complained that American spy planes were frequently intruding into Chinese airspace.
Mr. Biden defended the flights as legal under international law, and warned against risky shadowing maneuvers, known as intercepts, by Chinese pilots, according to American officials familiar with the conversation.
Stat Monitor Repairman said:Let's not let facts get in the way of ripping papaw's ass.FratboyLegend said:This thing is over Missouri, not hundreds of miles offshore.Stat Monitor Repairman said:Nice job Pepaw.Quote:
During a get-to-know-you visit by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to China in 2011, Xi Jinping, then the vice president, complained that American spy planes were frequently intruding into Chinese airspace.
Mr. Biden defended the flights as legal under international law, and warned against risky shadowing maneuvers, known as intercepts, by Chinese pilots, according to American officials familiar with the conversation.
Fair.
#CertifiedSIP
they chose wrong; can't have our national aerospace violated by China (or any foreign power) for a multitude of reasons. China is already responsible for the wave of fentanyl crossing our border as they supply the raw materials to the Mexican cartels.Not a Bot said:
I don't think we are necessarily stumped. We likely have a range of options and they chose one for certain reasons.
"Derelict Balloon" is the new "minor incursion"Ag In Ok said:
Dropped to 50k. We can grab it.
Given its ability to make 90 degree turns and maintain course for a "force majeur" weather balloon, someone may be directing it down.JUST IN: Pilots are now reporting the Chinese spy balloon floating a few thousand feet above them.
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) February 3, 2023
"DERELICT BALLOON ADRIFT" at 50,000 feet was just reported by the crew of a Cessna Citation private jet cruising at 43,000 feet near Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/xuOBY8xt7U
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