« previous next »
Pages: 1 ... 8 9 [10]

Author Topic: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US  (Read 10630 times)

WLJ

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 31,817
  • On Patrol In The Epsilon Eridani System
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #225 on: February 23, 2024, 08:02:32 PM »
And here we go again

Military tracks high-altitude balloon over western US
The origin of the balloon and its purpose are not yet known, 2 officials said
https://www.foxnews.com/us/military-tracking-high-altitude-balloon-western-us


U.S. military tracking ANOTHER balloon: Pentagon scrambles jets to investigate high-altitude object of 'unknown origin' over Colorado
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13119491/U-S-military-tracking-balloon-Pentagon-following-high-altitude-object-unknown-origin-Colorado.html
Report to moderator   Logged
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us".
- Calvin and Hobbes

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
― George Orwell, 1984

“Those who believe without reason cannot be convinced by reason.”
― James Randi

Hawkmoon

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27,726
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #226 on: February 24, 2024, 12:39:46 AM »
My immediate thought is to take a Navy carrier-based fighter and replace the tailhook with a sharp blade. Make a couple/few close passes and that should bring the sucker down without firing a shot.
Report to moderator   Logged
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
100% Politically Incorrect by Design

HankB

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16,965
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #227 on: February 25, 2024, 01:18:02 PM »
Quote from: Hawkmoon on February 24, 2024, 12:39:46 AM
My immediate thought is to take a Navy carrier-based fighter and replace the tailhook with a sharp blade. Make a couple/few close passes and that should bring the sucker down without firing a shot.
How about updating the bucket catchers so we could recover the spy balloons largely intact?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdsn4snbzjo
Report to moderator   Logged
Trump won in 2016. Democrats haven't been so offended since Republicans came along and freed their slaves.
Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain
Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction in stolen goods. - H.L. Mencken
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

RocketMan

  • Mad Rocket Scientist
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13,898
  • Semper Fidelis
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #228 on: February 25, 2024, 02:35:22 PM »
Quote from: HankB on February 25, 2024, 01:18:02 PM
How about updating the bucket catchers so we could recover the spy balloons largely intact?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdsn4snbzjo

I think that would upset Biden's Chinese masters.
Report to moderator   Logged
If there really was intelligent life on other planets, we'd be sending them foreign aid.

Conservatives see George Orwell's "1984" as a cautionary tale.  Progressives view it as a "how to" manual.

My wife often says to me, "You are evil and must be destroyed." She may be right.

Liberals believe one should never let reason, logic and facts get in the way of a good emotional argument.

BobR

  • Just a pup compared to a few old dogs here!
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7,535
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #229 on: February 25, 2024, 02:40:38 PM »
I just wish they would put transponders on the things so that they would show up on the tracking sites. ;) I would like to see how fast they go once in the jet stream, especially right now.

bob
Report to moderator   Logged

Ben

  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 47,446
  • I'm an Extremist!
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #230 on: February 25, 2024, 03:01:27 PM »
Quote from: BobR on February 25, 2024, 02:40:38 PM
I just wish they would put transponders on the things so that they would show up on the tracking sites. ;) I would like to see how fast they go once in the jet stream, especially right now.

bob

They're claiming it was some amateur's balloon, though I don't know how they would confirm that. One report said there was some cube of around a meter as the payload.
Report to moderator   Logged
"I'm a foolish old man that has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop."

bedlamite

  • Hold my beer and watch this!
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 9,895
  • Ack! PLBTTPHBT!
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #231 on: February 25, 2024, 05:06:55 PM »
Report to moderator   Logged
A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.
Is defenestration possible through the overton window?

HankB

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16,965
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #232 on: February 25, 2024, 08:39:31 PM »
Quote from: Ben on February 25, 2024, 03:01:27 PM
They're claiming it was some amateur's balloon, though I don't know how they would confirm that. One report said there was some cube of around a meter as the payload.
If I were sending up a nuisance balloon, a very light 1 meter cube corner aluminum foil reflector payload could be attached to enhance the radar cross section. Could even hang it below the balloon with a couple of hundred yards of fishing line. Then . . . sit back and wait for UFO reports!
Report to moderator   Logged
Trump won in 2016. Democrats haven't been so offended since Republicans came along and freed their slaves.
Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain
Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction in stolen goods. - H.L. Mencken
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

Angel Eyes

  • Lying dog-faced pony soldier
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13,016
  • You're not diggin'
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #233 on: February 26, 2024, 01:39:18 PM »
An oldie but a goodie:


Report to moderator   Logged
"... and now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine who has as much courage as he has determination.  Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin."
                          - Joe Biden, July 11, 2024

MechAg94

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 34,436
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #234 on: September 26, 2024, 10:41:20 PM »
Image released of mysterious object shot down over Yukon in 2023
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/image-released-of-mysterious-object-shot-down-over-yukon-in-2023-1.7049241

Supposedly the image was meant to be released soon after, but never was. 
Report to moderator   Logged
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

WLJ

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 31,817
  • On Patrol In The Epsilon Eridani System
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #235 on: September 27, 2024, 07:51:01 AM »
Looks like a photo of a balloon taken from almost directly underneath it. The dark area is the equipment package hanging under it.
Report to moderator   Logged
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us".
- Calvin and Hobbes

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
― George Orwell, 1984

“Those who believe without reason cannot be convinced by reason.”
― James Randi

cordex

  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8,949
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #236 on: September 27, 2024, 08:13:43 AM »
I'm glad they declassified both of those pixels.
Report to moderator   Logged

RocketMan

  • Mad Rocket Scientist
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13,898
  • Semper Fidelis
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #237 on: September 27, 2024, 09:29:33 AM »
Quote from: WLJ on September 27, 2024, 07:51:01 AM
Looks like a photo of a balloon taken from almost directly underneath it. The dark area is the equipment package hanging under it.

That's what I thought.  Of course, the UFO crowd is predictably going nuts over the photo.
Report to moderator   Logged
If there really was intelligent life on other planets, we'd be sending them foreign aid.

Conservatives see George Orwell's "1984" as a cautionary tale.  Progressives view it as a "how to" manual.

My wife often says to me, "You are evil and must be destroyed." She may be right.

Liberals believe one should never let reason, logic and facts get in the way of a good emotional argument.

WLJ

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 31,817
  • On Patrol In The Epsilon Eridani System
Re: Pentagon decides not to shoot down Chinese spy balloon over US
« Reply #238 on: September 27, 2024, 09:58:34 AM »
Alien(s)

Report to moderator   Logged
"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us".
- Calvin and Hobbes

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
― George Orwell, 1984

“Those who believe without reason cannot be convinced by reason.”
― James Randi
Pages: 1 ... 8 9 [10]
« previous next »