Chinese spy balloon hovering over Montana

[Weezy]

The government line on this one makes sense. I'd still shoot it down just to make a point.

 

[RavinDave]

Call in Elon

 

[ETV]

It was an EP-3. The hotshot Chinese fighter pilot was trying to dust off the spy plane and it got too close and they collided. The Chinese pilot rightfully died for his stupidity but the EP-3 sustained too much damage and had to make an emergency landing. The pilot in command set down on a Chinese airfield. It was an intelligence nightmare. They should have ditched the aircraft and destroyed it.

Not the best choice to land on a Chinese airfield, but I'm assuming the pilot was thinking about the other 20+ personnel onboard his aircraft as well.

 

[GroverCleveland]

Yes but using a balloon wouldn’t work. I’m pretty sure our sensors would pick up the nuclear signal well before it was in position to detonate for effect. The .gov probably detected this one several days before it hit the news.

Yep, a balloon is probably impossible. Knew it was upper atmosphere, but it appears to be at around 250 miles (1.3M ft) up after looking it up. Do not know the limits on balloons but I believe they cannot reach a fraction of that can they?

 

[NorthDallas40]

Not the best choice to land on a Chinese airfield, but I'm assuming the pilot was thinking about the other 20+ personnel onboard his aircraft as well.

He was. He had an impossible choice. I was told by a couple of mil people he was not a popular person. I am not sure but I think it basically took his career off the rails. I can’t judge him I wasn’t in his shoes. But the guys I talked to made it clear to me what was expected of him and the crew.

 

[GroverCleveland]

That‘s not in the book.

Well, why I did not recall it then.

 

[hog88]

Yep, a balloon is probably impossible. Knew it was upper atmosphere, but it appears to be at around 250 miles (1.3M ft) up after looking it up. Do not know the limits on balloons but I believe they cannot reach a fraction of that can they?

I haven’t a clue.

 

[robbymoore94]

I get the knee jerk reaction to shoot it down, and in prior times that might have been the correct response. However, if we have the technology to determine what it is doing, and block what it is trying to transmit if it is, then let it float by. There is no telling what could be in it, nothing or something terrible. Monitor it, once it’s a safe distance away from the population, take it down and research it. No way they should get it back.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

What ever happened in Montana has been scrubbed if it happened at all.

 

[hog88]

Well, why I did not recall it then.

It was a “why the hell not” shot. And ”holy ****”.

 

[robbymoore94]

On a side note, the Germans are probably incredibly happy. They love them some dirigibles.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Good point. I have, just to deride them. On second thought, I guess adoration of grifters is a trigger.

I guess, good thing I have no adoration for grifters.

 

[evillawyer]

 

[clarksvol00]

You think that thing floats forever? It will come down one way or another and Montana was the perfect op.
Stop defending stupid.

Where did I say it floats forever?

 

[clarksvol00]

I highly doubt this thing is radioactive, but wouldn't an encasement of lead block the ability to detect any?

Do the Chinese have the technology to builld a balloon that will carry something heavy enough to carry a lead lined cased that we can't suspect it's radioactive?

 

[clarksvol00]

I get that there are reasons not to shoot it down right away, but it can’t be allowed to leave our airspace. It either needs to be shot down or hacked and brought down. It should never be in Chinese hands ever again.

I don't dispute that.

 

[clarksvol00]

Why not?

So we agree?

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

You're up next knox. Balloon is headed your way, and probably wind up over the N carolina area tomorrow.

 

[Weezer]

Do the Chinese have the technology to builld a balloon that will carry something heavy enough to carry a lead lined cased that we can't suspect it's radioactive?

It's a large balloon, and I have no idea. But Like I said, I don't think it's radioactive.

 

[clarksvol00]

LOL

We can't detect radioactive material?

 

[hog88]

So we agree?

never

 

[hog88]

So we agree?

My LOL was in response to your edit

 

[0nelilreb]

I sure would like to know where that gas station is reg.. $2.21 a gallon .

 

[clarksvol00]

My LOL was in response to your edit

Which edit?

 

[UT_VOLS13]

I sure would like to know where that gas station is reg.. $2.21 a gallon .

Jasper, Alabama