One of the three unidentified flying objects shot down by the United States Air Force (USAF) last week may have been a research project belonging to an Illinois hobbyist club, according to a report.
UFO shot down by Air Force could be hobby club's missing research balloon, report says
by ZACHARY ROGERS | The National Desk
Friday, February 17th 2023
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FILE - A fighter jet flies past the remnants of a large balloon after it was shot down above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, Feb. 4, 2023. The missile fired by a U.S. F-22 ended the days-long flight of what the Biden administration says was a surveillance operation that took the Chinese balloon near U.S. military sites. It was an unprecedented incursion across U.S. territory for recent decades, and raised concerns among Americans about a possible escalation in spying and other challenges from rival China. (Chad Fish via AP, File)
WASHINGTON (TND) — One of the three unidentified flying objects shot down by the United States Air Force (USAF) last week may have been a research project belonging to an Illinois hobbyist club, according to a report.
While the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade (NIBBB) is "is not pointing fingers yet," according to a report from AviationWeek.com, it seems that "circumstantial evidence" provides a possible explanation for what one of the three mystery objects shot down by the USAF was.
The club's silver-coated "pico balloon" had been in the air for 123 days, having just marked its sixth circumnavigation around the world, when it was declared missing on Feb. 14, according to a blog post from the hobby club.
Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade
We Build and Launch Pico Balloons
Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade
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How I cleaned my mold infested shower and bathtub in seconds..... Without any scrubbing!SplashFoam Spray
Last known coordinates place the pico balloon near Alaska's uninhabited Hagemeister Island. This possibly aligns with one of the unidentified flying objects shown down by the USAF over Canada's Yukon on Feb. 11.
The NIBBB cites an NOAA Hysplit Trajectory map that places the club's balloon over the Yukon on the same date an F-22 shot down an object.
Ron Meadows, the founder of Scientific Balloon Solutions (SBS), reportedly told AviationWeek.com that he's already attempted to contact the U.S. military and FBI to explain what the mystery flying objects possibly were, adding that "they’re going to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down."
This means that the USAF possibly used $400,000 sidewinder missiles to shoot down research pico balloons that cost about $12-$180.
Hobby Club’s Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF | Aviation Week Network
Although the club is not pointing fingers, there are suspicions among other prominent members of the small, pico-ballooning enthusiasts community.
aviationweek.com
President Joe Biden said in his Thursday address on the unidentified flying objects that they were all "most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions studying weather" and "nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from any other country."
However, Biden also vowed to shoot down any foreign objects that present a threat to the U.S.
'I will be taking it down': Biden vows to shoot foreign objects that present threat to US
For more than a week, politicians from both parties were calling for President Joe Biden to explain his decision to shoot down several foreign objects.
The National Desk·SCOTT THUMAN·Feb 16
The hobbyist club says on its website that it was formed in 2021 and is made up of members ranging in age from 11 years old and up.
China has reportedly denied the balloon was used for spying and instead claimed the flying contraption was a weather craft that had blown off course.
UFO shot down by Air Force could be hobby club's missing research balloon, report says
by ZACHARY ROGERS | The National Desk
Friday, February 17th 2023
3
VIEW ALL PHOTOS
FILE - A fighter jet flies past the remnants of a large balloon after it was shot down above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, Feb. 4, 2023. The missile fired by a U.S. F-22 ended the days-long flight of what the Biden administration says was a surveillance operation that took the Chinese balloon near U.S. military sites. It was an unprecedented incursion across U.S. territory for recent decades, and raised concerns among Americans about a possible escalation in spying and other challenges from rival China. (Chad Fish via AP, File)
WASHINGTON (TND) — One of the three unidentified flying objects shot down by the United States Air Force (USAF) last week may have been a research project belonging to an Illinois hobbyist club, according to a report.
While the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade (NIBBB) is "is not pointing fingers yet," according to a report from AviationWeek.com, it seems that "circumstantial evidence" provides a possible explanation for what one of the three mystery objects shot down by the USAF was.
The club's silver-coated "pico balloon" had been in the air for 123 days, having just marked its sixth circumnavigation around the world, when it was declared missing on Feb. 14, according to a blog post from the hobby club.
Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade
We Build and Launch Pico Balloons
Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade
Promoted Links
How I cleaned my mold infested shower and bathtub in seconds..... Without any scrubbing!SplashFoam Spray
Last known coordinates place the pico balloon near Alaska's uninhabited Hagemeister Island. This possibly aligns with one of the unidentified flying objects shown down by the USAF over Canada's Yukon on Feb. 11.
The NIBBB cites an NOAA Hysplit Trajectory map that places the club's balloon over the Yukon on the same date an F-22 shot down an object.
Ron Meadows, the founder of Scientific Balloon Solutions (SBS), reportedly told AviationWeek.com that he's already attempted to contact the U.S. military and FBI to explain what the mystery flying objects possibly were, adding that "they’re going to look not too intelligent to be shooting them down."
Another expert, retired FedEx engineer and co-host of the Amateur Radio Roundtable show Tom Medlin, told AviationWeek.com that he agreed the unidentified flying objects shot down by the USAF in early February "probably... were pico balloons."
This means that the USAF possibly used $400,000 sidewinder missiles to shoot down research pico balloons that cost about $12-$180.
Hobby Club’s Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF | Aviation Week Network
Although the club is not pointing fingers, there are suspicions among other prominent members of the small, pico-ballooning enthusiasts community.
aviationweek.com
President Joe Biden said in his Thursday address on the unidentified flying objects that they were all "most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions studying weather" and "nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from any other country."
However, Biden also vowed to shoot down any foreign objects that present a threat to the U.S.
'I will be taking it down': Biden vows to shoot foreign objects that present threat to US
For more than a week, politicians from both parties were calling for President Joe Biden to explain his decision to shoot down several foreign objects.
The National Desk·SCOTT THUMAN·Feb 16
The hobbyist club says on its website that it was formed in 2021 and is made up of members ranging in age from 11 years old and up.
The three unidentified flying objects were shot down by the USAF after America also shot down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the country's skies. The Chinese spy balloon was shot down while it was above the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where it landed safely in the water.
China has reportedly denied the balloon was used for spying and instead claimed the flying contraption was a weather craft that had blown off course.
