CCP Baloon over the US

[akmtnhnt]

It seems like you are the expert in this area. I am not. I am a US citizen that finds it strange that China sent a spy balloon across the United States.
I feel much better now that you have explained international air space laws to us.
Thanks

I'm kind of curious if people have so little faith in out military that they'd knowingly let Chinese spy aircraft see secret things? It's not like they didn't know about it, it was should we shoot this down now or later. I'd be rather surprised if Biden made the call on this initially. It's a public spectacle now, but they don't have to go to the president for every single decision to be made. We're not idiots like the Russians in that regard.

 

[HockeyDad]

 

[birddog 68]

I'm kind of curious if people have so little faith in out military that they'd knowingly let Chinese spy aircraft see secret things? It's not like they didn't know about it, it was should we shoot this down now or later. I'd be rather surprised if Biden made the call on this initially. It's a public spectacle now, but they don't have to go to the president for every single decision to be made. We're not idiots like the Russians in that regard.

My faith in our military isn't what it used to be. After seeing General Milley on tv a couple years ago almost crying saying he wanted to be all inclusive and wanted everyone in the service to learn critical race theory. Can you imagine General Patton almost crying about some stupid stuff like this?
Yes you are right and the balloon was nothing but it wasn't handled well in my opinion. Someone needs to stand up to China but that's not going to happen with this president.

 

[Muddyboots]

At the end of the day, it was a military aircraft of a foreign adversarial power that we and Canada allowed to fly across our airspace. Its irrelevant what kind of aircraft it was, it accomplished the same effect as if it was a nuclear bomber. Psychological warfare is as dangerous if not more dangerous than real bombs.

Biological weapon deployment can be effective with this kind of aircraft.

 

[Hugnot]

We were denied an opportunity to check this stuff out. I saw a missile strike hit the good stuff suspended under the balloon, then fragments being blown away. We, the general public, were denied an opportunity to view an array of parts spread out on some hanger floor and then get to read some analysis report. Transponders? - I heard the device - spy balloon - had limited directional capabilities - GPS receive/transmit. Weather observations - cameras & other spy stuff. No sense in having weather observations if location could not be determined & then info transmitted.

International space laws - not applicable for a comparatively low level, like 11-mile-high device -no satellite. Remember 9-11 when G W Bush #43, was hustled off to Air Force #1.

Sadly, we will never see what this device was actually loaded with - no parts will be recovered & displayed.

The famed 8.8cm WWII anti-aircraft gun could get up to almost 1/2 the elevation of the spy balloon but todays weapons could have extinguished the threat over some open, unpopulated area & allowed recovery of parts. This deserves a congressional inquiry.

 

[30378wbymag]

We were denied an opportunity to check this stuff out. I saw a missile strike hit the good stuff suspended under the balloon, then fragments being blown away. We, the general public, were denied an opportunity to view an array of parts spread out on some hanger floor and then get to read some analysis report. Transponders? - I heard the device - spy balloon - had limited directional capabilities - GPS receive/transmit. Weather observations - cameras & other spy stuff. No sense in having weather observations if location could not be determined & then info transmitted.

International space laws - not applicable for a comparatively low level, like 11-mile-high device -no satellite. Remember 9-11 when G W Bush #43, was hustled off to Air Force #1.

Sadly, we will never see what this device was actually loaded with - no parts will be recovered & displayed.

The famed 8.8cm WWII anti-aircraft gun could get up to almost 1/2 the elevation of the spy balloon but todays weapons could have extinguished the threat over some open, unpopulated area & allowed recovery of parts. This deserves a congressional inquiry.

EVERYTHING this administration does deserves congressional inquiry!!!

 

[3chester]

Just another Daily Mail story, in a slow news week, between NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. That blue sky photo op of the busted balloon, priceless! Grandpa in those Aviators, he's gonna be out there like an old Banty Rooster with 5 hens, strutting and crowing, like he's running the whole ranch again, it's hilarious.

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

I cannot recall any other incident in my 70+ years that has me so embarrassed of our country's ability to defend our sovereignty.

What ? The border is a daily reminder. Has been for decades. And Billions in tax dollars.

 

[Justice1327]

I agree with the comments regarding info that can be gathered from satellites. However, if you want to use FLIR or LIDAR you need a lower altitude. Also, they can be testing directional EMP, our response to the situation, psychological impact/ resolve, lots of tactics can be learned from a level 2 wargaming event.

 

[30378wbymag]

I agree with the comments regarding info that can be gathered from satellites. However, if you want to use FLIR or LIDAR you need a lower altitude. Also, they can be testing directional EMP, our response to the situation, psychological impact/ resolve, lots of tactics can be learned from a level 2 wargaming event.

Newer LIDAR can be used with low orbit satellites but you're on the right track. They're testing our waters....

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

I have. So have thousands of other pilots. It's restricted at a few of them, but the vast majority it's not. This is all published if you know how to read a map.

Even groom lake you can get within about 12 miles of. Plenty close enough to see it. Doesn't much matter because you can see the same stuff on your couch looking at google maps.

Funny thing Google maps doesn't show a thing across the street from my home (black screen). After about 200 yards & what they do show is over 20 years old. Verified by neighbors Deuce N half sitting behind our property. So saying Google gives you live data is not quite right. And I would imagine it's the same on other military installations. And there's a private airport about a mile away. Flying over this installation would also be detrimental to your health. As I have been told by pilots from there. The president visits this place frequently.

 

[Hugnot]

No sky photo op for WWII Jap balloon(s), DOD (War Dept in 40's) did not want info out -thousands of these of these were released with incendiary & TNT explosive devices intended start forest fires on west coast & kill Americans. Five or more people were killed in Oregon when they approached the Jap device. Altitude was controlled by aneroid barometer directed system that dropped sandbag ballast. After fatal Oregon blast USA permitted info released but too late for Oregon event. Last Jap balloon was discovered in Canada about 10 years ago.

All sorts of nasty things like electromagnetic pulse stuff, chemical & bioweapons & olde thermite could be carried by CCP balloon in addition to hi-tech spy gear.

Jap paper & silk, hydrogen filled, balloons demonstrated abilities to carry weapons - TNT & thermite/magnesium incendiary.

The CCP devices are "trial balloons". Our response to CCP balloon - no big deal, let if float by for days. Recovery of CCP balloon debris would be much easier on land vs ocean & DOD does not want people to know more about contents of CCP balloon.

More info:

Fu-Go balloon bomb - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Fu-Go balloon bomb - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Lee7588]

What happened to the second one?

 

[lancetkenyon]

Breaking news:
Pentagon officials caught off guard, could not hit the balloon flying at 60,000 feet as they were not equipped with the correct long range munitions. Although offers from locals to loan their rifles to the military, the government officials declined due to the risk of the 6.5 Creedmore ammunition is highly capable of landing on the moon causing an interstellar incident, possibly endangering "Moontion" populations in school there. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau declined to comment except he "was waiting to see what Joe would do" which of course is nothing, again.
Pentagon had no further comment.

Notice they didn't send that balloon over AZ?