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China's spy balloons

Discussion in 'Alley of Dangerous Angles' started by SlickRCBD, Feb 18, 2023.

  1. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril

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    Remove all ads!
    I was thinking about the picture of the spy balloon that was shot down and had a thought.
    What if China had painted something like
    "Happy
    Birthday
    Timmy!"
    or
    "Will you
    Marry Me
    Beth?"
    or
    "Great Deals at Joe's Used Car Dealership"

    Nobody would give them a second glance or suspect them of spying.

    Another possibility would be to put something like "Google Maps survey balloon" or just some generic name like "Acme surveying & mapping".
    Again, nobody would think twice about it.
     
    SlickRCBD, Feb 18, 2023
    #1
  2. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    That's actually a pretty clever idea. :D I bet nobody there had the imagination to do it. :shake:

    Of course, they'll be sticking with their "weather balloon" story, so painting anything like that on it and having it traced back to China would actually make it impossible for them to claim that it was a weather balloon.
     
    Taluntain, Feb 19, 2023
    #2
  3. Sorvo

    Sorvo Where's the nearest pub? Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    I just found it odd that we let the first one go from coast to coast and now they're shooting them down as soon as they approach. It makes you wonder, new strain of covid anyone? :beer:
     
    Sorvo, Feb 19, 2023
    #3

  4. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
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    On that subject, I actually wonder why they are wasting $400,000 missiles on those balloons instead of using the M61 cannons.
    Quick Google search:
    AIM-9 Sidewinder
    In service 1956–present
    Production history
    Manufacturer Raytheon Company Ford Aerospace Loral Corp.
    Unit cost US$381,069.74 (Block II) US$399,500.00 (Block II Plus) US$209,492.75 (training missile) (All as in 2019)


    The M61 Vulcan, which is commonly found on F15, F16, F18, and F22 fighter jets, is a six-barrel rotary cannon that could burn a $180,000 per minute. How? Each round of the 20mm ammunition costs $27, so continuous firing for one second would cost $2,970. Ouch!Nov 18, 2018

    While there is the argument about them being hard to hit, I should note that balloons were used in WWI and were being shot down with machine guns on biplanes. The M61 with the AP/incendiary rounds would do a better job.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2023
    SlickRCBD, Feb 21, 2023
    #4
  5. Sorvo

    Sorvo Where's the nearest pub? Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Veteran

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    I cannot escape that #27, I hear it everyday! :beer:
     
    Sorvo, Feb 21, 2023
    #5
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