X-Files???

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:59 am

That might be the one I was thinking of, it has been a few years. I would love to see an image of that thing, and know what it's story is.

RareBear · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:48 am

The tethered balloon story:

Quote:

The Air Force operates eight tethered balloons originally used by the U.S. Customs Service to detect drug smuggling aircraft flying below conventional radar coverage. It may reopen three sites closed in 1999, including one in North Florida.PURPOSE: Detect aircraft at low altitudes AIRSHIP SIZE: 208 feet long by 65 feet in diameter PAYLOAD: 1,200 pounds of radar ALTITUDE: 15,000 feet POWER: Helium balloon tethered to the ground LOCATIONS: Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Puerto Rico OPERATIONAL: Since 1984

Haven't yet found a picture.

Walt

RareBear · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:00 am

Here's a site on the system:

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/tars.htm

Photos at bottom.

Walt

RickH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:04 am

There is an aerostat ( ballon with a radar slung underneath it ) just outside of Bay City, Texas. Been there for over twenty years. The tether " cable " is actually braided Kevlar. A metal cable strong enough amd long enough to hold the ballon would be too heavy for the ballon to lift.

DaveG · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:46 am

FWIW, the one in Puerto Rico can be seen on Google Earth, tethered to the ground. Coordinates are: 17 58'41.56"N and 67 04'47.22"W

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:56 am

That is just wild stuff. Thanks for the cool info.

Nathan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:06 am

Is it me or is the runway narrower on the other end? :shock:

RickH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:50 am

It's not a runway. It IS a tapered strip of asphalt. It also has Xs down the middle of it .

famvburg · **Joined:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:41 am **Posts:** 540

Don't X's on a runway mean the spot to try to land on?

RickH wrote:

It's not a runway. It IS a tapered strip of asphalt. It also has Xs down the middle of it .

Michel C-GNCJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:08 pm

hehehe, no. It means the runway is closed and off-limits.

No legal landing there, unless in an "emergency" of course...

Chuck Gardner · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:51 pm

Did you see the trees all around that radar test thingie?
Trees bad, mile long aslphault with X's good!
I was just worried about radiation being shot through my body from the star trek equipment on the ground.

RickH · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:53 pm

Chuck please refer to the above post !

:crispy:

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