# Flying Objects that are not identified **URL:** \ **Category:** Scuttlebutt\ **Created:** [February 13, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405 "2023-02-13T12:10:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Urs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/958977/32.png) [@Urs](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Urs)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/21 "2023-02-15T21:28:04Z")
High altitude balloons, really working above a certain point on the earth’s surface with just small deviations, were the balloons of Google’s Project Loon. They could provide internet access in remote aeras. The balloons transmitted their positions as aircrafts do; on [Flightradar24.com](http://Flightradar24.com) (the ‘MarineTraffic’ for aircrafts) they could be seen starting on Puerto Rico and then lingering over South America or equatorial Africa. I had always seen them around 60000 feet ASL. In 2021, the Project Loon was shut down; Google could not find a viable business model. More here \>\>\> > **[Loon LLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loon_LLC)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Loon LLC was an Alphabet Inc. subsidiary working on providing Internet access to rural and remote areas. The company used high-altitude balloons in the stratosphere at an altitude of 18 km (11 mi) to 25 km (16 mi) to create an aerial wireless network with up to 1 Mbit/s speeds. A reference to the balloons used, Project Loon began as a research and development project by X (formerly Google X) in 2011, but later spun out into a separate company in J... ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 11:08am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/22 "2023-02-16T11:08:37Z")
The three other objects most likely were not weather balloons as they have no way to control altitude. Weather balloons just keep raising until they burst and drop back to earth. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/23 "2023-02-16T11:13:49Z")
I would have thought you could control the balloon pressure differential so you could control altitude? ---
**Author:** ![Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Steamer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steamer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/24 "2023-02-16T13:22:24Z")
Bouyancy is not dependent on pressure, it is a matter of volume. That is why ballonets were invented. Any pressure change related to volume change is incidental and irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/25 "2023-02-16T13:37:23Z")
Evidently weather balloons do sometimes wander off. > Mr. Fetkowitz said the weather balloons lofted by National Weather Service were designed to burst at their highest point and break into fine debris that cannot endanger wildlife down below. He added that some, however, were underinflated and never flew high enough to burst, and thus could wander about aimlessly with the winds. > > “A balloon launched in Denver,” he said, “might land in New Jersey.” ---
**Author:** ![neutralobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@neutralobserver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/neutralobserver)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/26 "2023-02-16T16:11:51Z")
Think you have Biden and his predecessor the Russian stooge confused. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/27 "2023-02-17T00:15:12Z")
sure but your saying those huge balloons dont change shape with pressure changes ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/28 "2023-02-17T00:17:27Z")
your dreaming, have you been out to sea for the last couple of years? Ever heard of Hunter Bidens laptop or 150 payments from overseas to the bidens accounts There was no evidence that Trump and Putin did anything You really are on the DNC kool aid Perhaps a change of your name is required? ---
**Author:** ![MAK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MAK](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/MAK)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/29 "2023-02-17T01:42:30Z")
> **[Hobby Club’s Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF | Aviation Week Network](https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/hobby-clubs-missing-balloon-feared-shot-down-usaf)** > > Although the club is not pointing fingers, there are suspicions among other prominent members of the small, pico-ballooning enthusiasts community. Well shucks. I was hyped for intergalactic war and Raytheon dividends. ---
**Author:** ![MAK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MAK](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/MAK)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:45am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/30 "2023-02-17T01:45:29Z")
Yeah I remember when Russia invaded another country during his predecess…oh, right. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 12:07pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/31 "2023-02-17T12:07:08Z")
> **[The US Airforce may have shot down an Amateur Radio “Pico Balloon” over Canada](https://blog.adafruit.com/2023/02/16/the-us-airforce-may-have-shot-down-an-amateur-radio-pico-balloon-over-canada/)** > > The US Airforce may have shot down an Amateur Radio “Pico Balloon” over Canada – While termed ‘pico’, the party balloons used can still be roughly a meter in diameter … Full article here: [THE US AIRFORCE MAY HAVE SHOT DOWN AN AMATEUR RADIO PICO BALLOON OVER CANADA](https://www.rtl-sdr.com/the-us-airforce-may-have-shot-down-an-amateur-radio-pico-balloon-over-canada/) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/32 "2023-02-17T13:30:26Z")
> **[Biden says objects shot down over North America last week appear to not be...](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/16/politics/president-biden-downed-objects/index.html)** > > President Joe Biden on Thursday said that the United States has no indication that the three objects shot down in North American air space are tied to China's spy balloon program and are likely from private entities. Will Lawyers, aka “Ambulance Chasers” have a field day with this one? This should be worth $$$ millions. Imagine how stressfull this must have been for the owners of these balloons and their families, friends and followers on social media. India Today is not impressed though: > **[Fact Check: Not Chinese spy balloons — here’s how we deflated these false claims](https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check/story/not-chinese-spy-balloons-unidentified-flying-objects-united-states-2334297-2023-02-13)** > > The video is a simulation made using a video game. It does not show actual US forces shooting down a surveillance balloon. ---
**Author:** ![neutralobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c0e974/32.png) [@neutralobserver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/neutralobserver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/33 "2023-02-17T14:45:05Z")
BUT WHATTABOUT HILLARY’S EMAILS? Maybe quit drinking the Newsmax Koolaid? ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/34 "2023-02-17T15:06:07Z")
> [@ombugge](#): > > Will Lawyers, aka “Ambulance Chasers” have a field day with this one? [Not as likely as it appears thorough your xenophobic goggles](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title28/pdf/USCODE-2021-title28-partVI-chap171.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/35 "2023-02-17T15:32:21Z")
Sorry, I did not read through that in it’s entirety. Yes, betting against the US Government and DOD MAY be a deterrent? Time will tell where this one goes. Greedy lawyers finding willing clients to gamble on a large payout is not unheard of. Just need to find a friendly Judge with a grudge. At least you should be happy to know how your tax money gets used: > **[Oops! US pilot misses first missile shot while knocking down aerial object](https://www.livemint.com/news/world/oops-us-pilot-misses-first-missile-shot-while-knocking-down-aerial-object-11676397720492.html)** > > The US has been in a state of alarm since a huge white balloon from China was spotted tracking over a series of top-secret nuclear weapons sites.Currently, officials from US and Canada are scouring the remote areas for remnants of the destroyed... > [@](#): > > US officials admit the would-be ace needed a second shot with one of the air-to-air missiles, which cost at least $400,000 a pop when engaging the unidentified [aerial object](https://www.livemint.com/news/world/no-evidence-found-on-3-downed-aerial-objects-were-chinese-or-spying-white-house-11676390709190.html) from an F-16 fighter. PS\> Heat seeking missiles works better against hot air balloons. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/36 "2023-02-17T16:58:30Z")
> [@ombugge](#): > > lawyers finding willing clients to gamble on a large payout is not unheard of. Just need to find a friendly Judge with a grudge. Clients may be willing to gamble, but lawyers usually aren’t, they are not going to take a contingent fee case with little likelihood of prevailing, one third of the cost of a “pico” balloon isn’t much. You can’t select judges. You might have a choice of what jurisdiction to file in, but you get a randomly selected Judge from that jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/37 "2023-02-17T17:08:03Z")
The whole package is about $80 apparently. They are all eventually lost so when launched there is no expectation they will be recovered ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/38 "2023-02-17T19:54:20Z")
Its not so much the cost of the balloon and it’s payload as the agony suffered from having your balloon shot out of the sky prematurely, which is priceless. Knowing that $1 million or more were spent to shoot it down may cause agony to taxpayers, but they can hardly expect to get any compensation. PS\> I know, Sidewinders only cost $400K a pop, but scrambling fighter jets are not free. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/39 "2023-02-17T22:56:27Z")
From the Aviation Week link that Mac posted. **“I tried contacting our military and the FBI—and just got the runaround—to try to enlighten them on what a lot of these things probably are. And they’re going to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down,” says Ron Meadows, the founder of Scientific Balloon Solutions (SBS), a Silicon Valley company that makes purpose-built pico balloons for hobbyists, educators and scientists.** ---
**Author:** ![freighterman1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/freighterman1/32/11176_2.png) [@freighterman1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/freighterman1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405/40 "2023-02-17T23:41:49Z")
Latest Chinese spy balloon spotted over Manhattan: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/d/4/d44ec88987dd82af03e41a05181c2e705022bd52.jpeg) USAF scrambling sharpened sticks armed with Hershey bars and graham crackers. [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/flying-objects-that-are-not-identified/65405.md?page=3)