"Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder missile may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just $12"

"One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a hobby group, a report said.

The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation Week that one of its balloons had gone missing, and that it may have been among the objects shot down by the US Air Force using a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile."

""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and just got the runaround — to try to enlighten them on what a lot of these things probably are. And they're going to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron Meadows, whose California company designs pico balloons told Aviation Week."

https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2

TB

On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:55:42 AM UTC-5, Technobarbarian wrote:
> "Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder missile may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just $12"
>
> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a hobby group, a report said.
>
> The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation Week that one of its balloons had gone missing, and that it may have been among the objects shot down by the US Air Force using a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile.."
>
> ""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and just got the runaround — to try to enlighten them on what a lot of these things probably are. And they're going to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron Meadows, whose California company designs pico balloons told Aviation Week."
>
> https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2
>
> TB

"One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a hobby group, a report said.
Having the word "may" in your post tells me you're passing on fake news. Typical Liberal

Hunk

On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:00:44 PM UTC-8, Hank wrote:
> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:55:42 AM UTC-5, Technobarbarian wrote:
> > "Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder missile may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just $12"
> >
> > "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a hobby group, a report said.
> >
> > The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation Week that one of its balloons had gone missing, and that it may have been among the objects shot down by the US Air Force using a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile."
> >
> > ""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and just got the runaround — to try to enlighten them on what a lot of these things probably are. And they're going to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron Meadows, whose California company designs pico balloons told Aviation Week."
> >
> > https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2
> >
> > TB
>
> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a hobby group, a report said.
> Having the word "may" in your post tells me you're passing on fake news. Typical Liberal
>
> Hunk

lol I'm sure the government will deny it, but I have photographic proof that a Chinese spy balloon was shot down as it tried to enter the United States at Newport Oregon.

https://imgbox.com/EXVULUfg

I am starting the bidding for this one of a kind coffee mug at $10,000.

TB

Technobarbarian wrote:
> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:00:44 PM UTC-8, Hank wrote:
>> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:55:42 AM UTC-5,
>> Technobarbarian wrote:
>>> "Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder missile
>>> may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just $12"
>>>
>>> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000
>>> missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a
>>> hobby group, a report said.
>>>
>>> The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation
>>> Week that one of its balloons had gone missing, and that it may
>>> have been among the objects shot down by the US Air Force using
>>> a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile."
>>>
>>> ""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and just got
>>> the runaround — to try to enlighten them on what a lot of
>>> these things probably are. And they're going to look not too
>>> intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron Meadows, whose
>>> California company designs pico balloons told Aviation Week."
>>>
>>> https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2
>>>
>>>
>>>
TB
>>
>> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000
>> missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a
>> hobby group, a report said. Having the word "may" in your post
>> tells me you're passing on fake news. Typical Liberal
>>
>> Hunk
>
> lol I'm sure the government will deny it, but I have photographic
> proof that a Chinese spy balloon was shot down as it tried to enter
> the United States at Newport Oregon.
>
> https://imgbox.com/EXVULUfg

First, I'll concede that the photo is probably literally Not fake,
because the important part is poorly focused, and fuzziness is the
primary metric that makes such photos credible - the fuzzier it is,
the more credible it is.

Second, I disagree that it's a balloon - it looks to me more like an
alien spacecraft experiencing RUD.

Third, because of Second, I see no clear evidence that the alien
spacecraft was "shot down" - it's uniquely possible that the explosion
could be the result of the lack of competent periodic maintenance
during its long journey to here, and it was just not ready for the
stresses of atmospheric flight.

> I am starting the bidding for this one of a kind coffee mug at
> $10,000.

Fourth, in light of the facts I stated above, I'm going to refrain
from bidding until more efficacious information is forthcoming.

--
bill
Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.

On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 9:41:39 AM UTC-8, bfh wrote:
> Technobarbarian wrote:
> > On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:00:44 PM UTC-8, Hank wrote:
> >> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:55:42 AM UTC-5,
> >> Technobarbarian wrote:
> >>> "Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder missile
> >>> may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just $12"
> >>>
> >>> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000
> >>> missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a
> >>> hobby group, a report said.
> >>>
> >>> The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation
> >>> Week that one of its balloons had gone missing, and that it may
> >>> have been among the objects shot down by the US Air Force using
> >>> a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile."
> >>>
> >>> ""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and just got
> >>> the runaround — to try to enlighten them on what a lot of
> >>> these things probably are. And they're going to look not too
> >>> intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron Meadows, whose
> >>> California company designs pico balloons told Aviation Week."
> >>>
> >>> https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> TB
> >>
> >> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000
> >> missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a
> >> hobby group, a report said. Having the word "may" in your post
> >> tells me you're passing on fake news. Typical Liberal
> >>
> >> Hunk
> >
> > lol I'm sure the government will deny it, but I have photographic
> > proof that a Chinese spy balloon was shot down as it tried to enter
> > the United States at Newport Oregon.
> >
> > https://imgbox.com/EXVULUfg
> First, I'll concede that the photo is probably literally Not fake,
> because the important part is poorly focused, and fuzziness is the
> primary metric that makes such photos credible - the fuzzier it is,
> the more credible it is.
>
> Second, I disagree that it's a balloon - it looks to me more like an
> alien spacecraft experiencing RUD.
>
> Third, because of Second, I see no clear evidence that the alien
> spacecraft was "shot down" - it's uniquely possible that the explosion
> could be the result of the lack of competent periodic maintenance
> during its long journey to here, and it was just not ready for the
> stresses of atmospheric flight.
> > I am starting the bidding for this one of a kind coffee mug at
> > $10,000.
> Fourth, in light of the facts I stated above, I'm going to refrain
> from bidding until more efficacious information is forthcoming.
>
> --
> bill
> Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.

heh, You're just trying to drive the price down. I'd put it on eBay, but I'm afraid that will get all sorts of government agencies spying on me..

But, hey, I have some great news out of all of this. You too can have your own spy balloon and it won't cost you $10,000, or maybe not. I'm sure there will soon be a lot of people who are spending more than that on this hobby. Remember, our space program was started by crazy hobbyists.

"BUILDING FUTURE ATMOSPHERIC OBSERVATION SOLUTIONS"

"Current weather prediction and climatology relies on atmospheric observations performed by ground stations, balloons, aircraft, or satellites. These systems have significant gaps and limitations. We’re working on the next big leap in atmospheric observation."

https://www.picoballoon.org/

"A special note about current events
Pico Balloons are safe. They don't and can't spy on anyone. We let them go and track where they go, for fun.

Pico Balloons are tiny (that's what pico means). They can't hurt aircraft, and can't hurt people even if they fall on you.

The communities of people who launch the balloons are well aware of FAA regulations (link) about what is safe to fly (basically 4lbs and less), and pico balloons are well within safety guidelines (they weigh 0.02 lbs). The folks who launched the balloon in the news (NIBBB) have a post explaining all about it (link).

It's a fun hobby for those who enjoy electronics, circuit design, engineering, and amateur radio. Maybe you'd enjoy it too!"

https://www.picoballoons.net/

Those guys are wonderfully naive. I'm sure *their* balloons can't spy on anyone, but technology seems to move forward rather rapidly.

I would have given you a link to the club that thinks the government probably shot down their balloon, but it looks like both the club and their website have been overwhelmed after all that free publicity. After the boost our government has given it I expect that the hobby will also experience rapid growth. Their balloon went around the earth 3 times before they lost track of it. So they had already gotten their money's worth out of it before the government found it. LQTM

I don't think we should forget one of the greatest pioneers of the hobby

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawnchair_Larry_flight

"On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters (April 19, 1949 – October 6, 1993) made a 45-minute flight in a homemade aerostat made of an ordinary patio chair and 45 helium-filled weather balloons. The aircraft rose to an altitude of about 16,000 feet (4,900 m), drifted from the point of liftoff in San Pedro, California, and entered controlled airspace near Long Beach Airport. During the landing, the aircraft became entangled in power lines, but Walters was able to climb down safely. The flight attracted worldwide media attention and inspired a movie and imitators."

TB

Technobarbarian wrote:
> On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 9:41:39 AM UTC-8, bfh wrote:
>> Technobarbarian wrote:
>>> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:00:44 PM UTC-8, Hank wrote:
>>>> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:55:42 AM UTC-5,
>>>> Technobarbarian wrote:
>>>>> "Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder
>>>>> missile may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just
>>>>> $12"
>>>>>
>>>>> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a
>>>>> $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon
>>>>> released by a hobby group, a report said.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told
>>>>> Aviation Week that one of its balloons had gone missing,
>>>>> and that it may have been among the objects shot down by
>>>>> the US Air Force using a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile."
>>>>>
>>>>> ""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and
>>>>> just got the runaround — to try to enlighten them on
>>>>> what a lot of these things probably are. And they're going
>>>>> to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron
>>>>> Meadows, whose California company designs pico balloons
>>>>> told Aviation Week."
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>
>>>>>
TB
>>>>
>>>> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a
>>>> $400,000 missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon
>>>> released by a hobby group, a report said. Having the word
>>>> "may" in your post tells me you're passing on fake news.
>>>> Typical Liberal
>>>>
>>>> Hunk
>>>
>>> lol I'm sure the government will deny it, but I have
>>> photographic proof that a Chinese spy balloon was shot down as
>>> it tried to enter the United States at Newport Oregon.
>>>
>>> https://imgbox.com/EXVULUfg
>> First, I'll concede that the photo is probably literally Not
>> fake, because the important part is poorly focused, and fuzziness
>> is the primary metric that makes such photos credible - the
>> fuzzier it is, the more credible it is.
>>
>> Second, I disagree that it's a balloon - it looks to me more like
>> an alien spacecraft experiencing RUD.
>>
>> Third, because of Second, I see no clear evidence that the alien
>> spacecraft was "shot down" - it's uniquely possible that the
>> explosion could be the result of the lack of competent periodic
>> maintenance during its long journey to here, and it was just not
>> ready for the stresses of atmospheric flight.
>>> I am starting the bidding for this one of a kind coffee mug at
>>> $10,000.
>> Fourth, in light of the facts I stated above, I'm going to
>> refrain from bidding until more efficacious information is
>> forthcoming.
>>
>> -- bill Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.
>
> heh, You're just trying to drive the price down.

Down? When the government accidentally gets transparent and finally
admits it was an alien spacecraft, the demand will go up. If I were
you, I'd make a bunch of duplicates (secretly) and dribble them into
the market over the passage of time, because I have it on good
authority that there is significance in the passage of time.

> I'd put it on
> eBay, but I'm afraid that will get all sorts of government agencies
> spying on me.

Nah. As long as you don't give them a reason to suspect you're
illegally dealing in rare Starbucks coffee, they won't care.

> But, hey, I have some great news out of all of this. You too can
> have your own spy balloon and it won't cost you $10,000, or maybe
> not. I'm sure there will soon be a lot of people who are spending
> more than that on this hobby. Remember, our space program was
> started by crazy hobbyists.

damn. I thought it was really started when the Russians kicked us in
the face.

> "BUILDING FUTURE ATMOSPHERIC OBSERVATION SOLUTIONS"
>
> "Current weather prediction and climatology relies on atmospheric
> observations performed by ground stations, balloons, aircraft, or
> satellites. These systems have significant gaps and limitations.
> We’re working on the next big leap in atmospheric observation."
>
> https://www.picoballoon.org/
>
> "A special note about current events Pico Balloons are safe. They
> don't and can't spy on anyone. We let them go and track where they
> go, for fun.
>
> Pico Balloons are tiny (that's what pico means). They can't hurt
> aircraft, and can't hurt people even if they fall on you.
>
> The communities of people who launch the balloons are well aware of
> FAA regulations (link) about what is safe to fly (basically 4lbs
> and less), and pico balloons are well within safety guidelines
> (they weigh 0.02 lbs). The folks who launched the balloon in the
> news (NIBBB) have a post explaining all about it (link).
>
> It's a fun hobby for those who enjoy electronics, circuit design,
> engineering, and amateur radio. Maybe you'd enjoy it too!"
>
> https://www.picoballoons.net/
>
> Those guys are wonderfully naive. I'm sure *their* balloons can't
> spy on anyone, but technology seems to move forward rather
> rapidly.
>
> I would have given you a link to the club that thinks the
> government probably shot down their balloon, but it looks like both
> the club and their website have been overwhelmed after all that
> free publicity. After the boost our government has given it I
> expect that the hobby will also experience rapid growth. Their
> balloon went around the earth 3 times before they lost track of it.
> So they had already gotten their money's worth out of it before the
> government found it. LQTM
>
> I don't think we should forget one of the greatest pioneers of the
> hobby
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawnchair_Larry_flight
>
> "On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters (April 19, 1949 – October 6,
> 1993) made a 45-minute flight in a homemade aerostat made of an
> ordinary patio chair and 45 helium-filled weather balloons. The
> aircraft rose to an altitude of about 16,000 feet (4,900 m),
> drifted from the point of liftoff in San Pedro, California, and
> entered controlled airspace near Long Beach Airport. During the
> landing, the aircraft became entangled in power lines, but Walters
> was able to climb down safely. The flight attracted worldwide media
> attention and inspired a movie and imitators."

Ole Larry is lucky he didn't get a Sidewinder up the exit end of his
pie hole.

--
bill
Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.

On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 12:00:56 PM UTC-8, Technobarbarian wrote:
> On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 9:41:39 AM UTC-8, bfh wrote:
> > Technobarbarian wrote:
> > > On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:00:44 PM UTC-8, Hank wrote:
> > >> On Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11:55:42 AM UTC-5,
> > >> Technobarbarian wrote:
> > >>> "Mysterious object destroyed by a $400,000 Sidewinder missile
> > >>> may have been a hobby group balloon that cost just $12"
> > >>>
> > >>> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000
> > >>> missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a
> > >>> hobby group, a report said.
> > >>>
> > >>> The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade told Aviation
> > >>> Week that one of its balloons had gone missing, and that it may
> > >>> have been among the objects shot down by the US Air Force using
> > >>> a Sidewinder heat-seeking missile."
> > >>>
> > >>> ""I tried contacting our military and the FBI — and just got
> > >>> the runaround — to try to enlighten them on what a lot of
> > >>> these things probably are. And they're going to look not too
> > >>> intelligent to be shooting them down," Ron Meadows, whose
> > >>> California company designs pico balloons told Aviation Week."
> > >>>
> > >>> https://www.businessinsider.com/ufo-downed-400000-missile-air-force-sidewinder-f22-hobby-balloon-2023-2
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > TB
> > >>
> > >> "One of the objects downed by the US Air Force using a $400,000
> > >> missile last weekend may have been a $12 balloon released by a
> > >> hobby group, a report said. Having the word "may" in your post
> > >> tells me you're passing on fake news. Typical Liberal
> > >>
> > >> Hunk
> > >
> > > lol I'm sure the government will deny it, but I have photographic
> > > proof that a Chinese spy balloon was shot down as it tried to enter
> > > the United States at Newport Oregon.
> > >
> > > https://imgbox.com/EXVULUfg
> > First, I'll concede that the photo is probably literally Not fake,
> > because the important part is poorly focused, and fuzziness is the
> > primary metric that makes such photos credible - the fuzzier it is,
> > the more credible it is.
> >
> > Second, I disagree that it's a balloon - it looks to me more like an
> > alien spacecraft experiencing RUD.
> >
> > Third, because of Second, I see no clear evidence that the alien
> > spacecraft was "shot down" - it's uniquely possible that the explosion
> > could be the result of the lack of competent periodic maintenance
> > during its long journey to here, and it was just not ready for the
> > stresses of atmospheric flight.
> > > I am starting the bidding for this one of a kind coffee mug at
> > > $10,000.
> > Fourth, in light of the facts I stated above, I'm going to refrain
> > from bidding until more efficacious information is forthcoming.
> >
> > --
> > bill
> > Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.
> heh, You're just trying to drive the price down. I'd put it on eBay, but I'm afraid that will get all sorts of government agencies spying on me.
>
> But, hey, I have some great news out of all of this. You too can have your own spy balloon and it won't cost you $10,000, or maybe not. I'm sure there will soon be a lot of people who are spending more than that on this hobby. Remember, our space program was started by crazy hobbyists.
>
> "BUILDING FUTURE ATMOSPHERIC OBSERVATION SOLUTIONS"
>
> "Current weather prediction and climatology relies on atmospheric observations performed by ground stations, balloons, aircraft, or satellites. These systems have significant gaps and limitations. We’re working on the next big leap in atmospheric observation."
>
> https://www.picoballoon.org/
>
> "A special note about current events
> Pico Balloons are safe. They don't and can't spy on anyone. We let them go and track where they go, for fun.
>
> Pico Balloons are tiny (that's what pico means). They can't hurt aircraft, and can't hurt people even if they fall on you.
>
> The communities of people who launch the balloons are well aware of FAA regulations (link) about what is safe to fly (basically 4lbs and less), and pico balloons are well within safety guidelines (they weigh 0.02 lbs). The folks who launched the balloon in the news (NIBBB) have a post explaining all about it (link).
>
> It's a fun hobby for those who enjoy electronics, circuit design, engineering, and amateur radio. Maybe you'd enjoy it too!"
>
> https://www.picoballoons.net/
>
> Those guys are wonderfully naive. I'm sure *their* balloons can't spy on anyone, but technology seems to move forward rather rapidly.
>
> I would have given you a link to the club that thinks the government probably shot down their balloon, but it looks like both the club and their website have been overwhelmed after all that free publicity. After the boost our government has given it I expect that the hobby will also experience rapid growth. Their balloon went around the earth 3 times before they lost track of it. So they had already gotten their money's worth out of it before the government found it. LQTM
>
> I don't think we should forget one of the greatest pioneers of the hobby
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawnchair_Larry_flight
>
> "On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters (April 19, 1949 – October 6, 1993) made a 45-minute flight in a homemade aerostat made of an ordinary patio chair and 45 helium-filled weather balloons. The aircraft rose to an altitude of about 16,000 feet (4,900 m), drifted from the point of liftoff in San Pedro, California, and entered controlled airspace near Long Beach Airport.. During the landing, the aircraft became entangled in power lines, but Walters was able to climb down safely. The flight attracted worldwide media attention and inspired a movie and imitators."
>
> TB

Mr Walters used a pellet pistol to puncture the balloons, and descend down into his high line landing zone.... I'm not surprised he only lived to be 44......

Daredevil Don