Messing around with new camera, checking out that Chinese Spy Balloon, couldn't believe what I saw!

[Peyton00]

Gravity has won.......again.

 

[Mossback]

I feel so much safer...

 

[_WW_]

I fear the danger has just begun. Be sure to report any odd brain eating behavior you might see!

 

[Wadin' Boot]

What the government didn't want you to see.

 

[Divad]

I feel so much safer...

My grandfather (navy) used to tell me about how they’d turn off all radar, go completely dark to enter “controversial” water during the cold war. They’d then flip everything back on and have fighter jets scrambled on them in minutes and claim they were having problems.

A gentle probe to check reactions where a response is expected, but not a friggin week later like this balloon. Cmon man

 

[Salmo_g]

Was watching Bill Maher (DVRed) and he noted that the balloon crossed over Montana and retorted, "Oh no! Now the Chinese know where we keep the cattle!" The Air Force shot down the balloon once it reached the ocean off S. Carolina. I suppose the Navy or Coast Guard is going to pick up the pieces. Won't they be surprised to pick up Bobo?

 

[flybill]

The problem with shooting down a Chinese balloon, is once you do it, you want to shoot down another one an hour later....

 

[Billy]

I think they put a LOL gotcha note in it

 

[TicTokCroc]

Why they used a multi million dollar missile when a quick tap on the 40mm Cannon would do it... Does the F22 even have a gun?

 

[Zak]

Why they used a multi million dollar missile when a quick tap on the 40mm Cannon would do it... Does the F22 even have a gun?

It was a Sidewinder missile. They cost about $400k, not multiple millions.

 

[PhilR]

Hang onto your hats. There’s another one on the way.

 

[flybill]

I'm waiting for the hot blonde Swedish balloons!

Or this one...

 

[TicTokCroc]

 

[Rob Allen]

Why they used a multi million dollar missile when a quick tap on the 40mm Cannon would do it... Does the F22 even have a gun?

20 mm A-61

 

[TicTokCroc]

20 mm A-61

"How much does a 20mm cannon round cost?


Once you have your cannon if you ever want to fire it it will cost around $180,000 a minute, each round costing 25–30 dollars (plus tax) at 6,000 rounds per minute. How can I buy and fly a decommissioned military jet?"

It probably cost less to fire the sidewinder, due to the very expensive stealth paint job on the jet. Some pics of the Vulcan cannon firing shows a lot of fire blowing back.

 

[_WW_]

Open canopy, throw dart, head for bar.

 

[_WW_]

In all seriousness, do they get to paint a little balloon on the side of the cockpit? Does it count towards their "Ace" rating?

 

[TicTokCroc]

In all seriousness, do they get to paint a little balloon on the side of the cockpit? Does it count towards their "Ace" rating?

I was wondering about the ace count too, I think I would be embarrassed to have it count towards being an ace. The flying simulation I used to play as a kid counted German balloons.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Why they used a multi million dollar missile when a quick tap on the 40mm Cannon would do it... Does the F22 even have a gun?

What I heard was the balloon, at 60,000+ feet, was at or above the limit of an F22 and the plane would have to be close for the cannon whereas the missile could be fired from a much lower altitude.

 

[Rob Allen]

"How much does a 20mm cannon round cost?


Once you have your cannon if you ever want to fire it it will cost around $180,000 a minute, each round costing 25–30 dollars (plus tax) at 6,000 rounds per minute. How can I buy and fly a decommissioned military jet?"

It probably cost less to fire the sidewinder, due to the very expensive stealth paint job on the jet. Some pics of the Vulcan cannon firing shows a lot of fire blowing back.

I haven't looked it up so I don't know but I'd guess the cannon has 600 rounds or less
18,000 dollars. Historically fighter planes have only had a few seconds worth of ammo.. if my memory is working right the Supermarine Spitfire carried like 10 or 15 seconds worth of ammo.

Had to go look it up. F-22 carries 480 rounds. Almost 5 seconds worth of firing time.