Google Loon on flightradar24

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eracode

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#148985 7-Jul-2014 16:51

Odd lookng hits of planes heading east out of Canterbury?? Some flying at 65,000 feet? Showing on flightradar24 and on planefinder HD. Any ideas what on earth this is all about ...?

Edit: Some flying at 72 kph. Obviously a glitch of some sort or the aliens have finally arrived to mess with our heads.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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#1082558 7-Jul-2014 17:00

Google Loon most likely - http://www.google.com/loon/
HBAL = Hot Air Balloon maybe

eracode

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#1082561 7-Jul-2014 17:06

GregV: Google Loon most likely - http://www.google.com/loon/
HBAL = Hot Air Balloon maybe

Very good thinking!

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

nigelj

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#1082563 7-Jul-2014 17:07

GregV: Google Loon most likely - http://www.google.com/loon/
HBAL = Hot Air Balloon maybe

Yeah, the Loon Balloon's have the Transponders for ATC and also the on-board Collision avoidance systems on aircraft, obviously ADS-B is included in the set of transponders.

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#1082565 7-Jul-2014 17:10

No idea. Secret USA flights to antarctic base? This thread will be deleted due to national security letter in 3.. 2.. 1.. ; ).

Edit: Posted late lol. For once the truth is more interesting than the fiction.

johnr

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#1082569 7-Jul-2014 17:18

I say aliens

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#1082625 7-Jul-2014 18:56

MH370?

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#1082631 7-Jul-2014 19:01

nigelj:
GregV: Google Loon most likely - http://www.google.com/loon/
HBAL = Hot Air Balloon maybe

Yeah, the Loon Balloon's have the Transponders for ATC and also the on-board Collision avoidance systems on aircraft, obviously ADS-B is included in the set of transponders.

Looks like they were launched near the Tekapo Military Camp.

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#1082634 7-Jul-2014 19:02

Taken a while for someone to spot them :)

Yes, continuation of the 2013 winter testing of the LOON balloon internet system

The non circled lines are yesterdays ballons. The circle current ones. (top ones ended up 270nm from me before I lost it)

Some launched last monday were seen over south america on thursday

You'll see their alt vary greatly due to some sort of ignore-this-alt error on the site. Current as of 7pm:
New Contact - HBAL249 65700 ft 700103
New Contact - 65800 ft 700105
New Contact - HBAL250 65800 ft 700104
New Contact - HBAL248 65800 ft 700102
New Contact - HBAL253 65600 ft 700107
New Contact - HBAL254 65600 ft 700108
New Contact - HBAL256 65700 ft 700110
New Contact - HBAL255 65700 ft 700109
New Contact - HBAL252 65900 ft 700106

Oblivian

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#1082644 7-Jul-2014 19:05

ZollyMonsta:
nigelj:
GregV: Google Loon most likely - http://www.google.com/loon/
HBAL = Hot Air Balloon maybe

Yeah, the Loon Balloon's have the Transponders for ATC and also the on-board Collision avoidance systems on aircraft, obviously ADS-B is included in the set of transponders.

Looks like they were launched near the Tekapo Military Camp.

Tekapo strip on the edge of the lake township

Oblivian

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#1082659 7-Jul-2014 19:11

If you want some techo BTS stuff..

http://www.idealog.co.nz/blog/2013/06/photos-google-project-loon-balloons-take-new-zealand
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2013/06/14/google-internet-balloons/

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#1082716 7-Jul-2014 20:00

Great. Now the USAF will have all the reasons in the world to deny UFOs, saying "baloons".

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eracode

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#1083831 8-Jul-2014 03:02

eracode:
GregV: Google Loon most likely - http://www.google.com/loon/
HBAL = Hot Air Balloon maybe

Very good thinking!

TBH when I saw the 74 kph airspeeds, balloons did cross my mind briefly but dammit I did not make the connection to Project Loon even though I am aware of it running out of the SI.

Now clear HBAL = Helium Balloon I'm sure.

Edit: Still showing at 3.15 am - now halfway from launch point to the Chathams. I see the individual aircraft pop-up info boxes have now been edited to show aircraft type as "Helium Balloon" and airline as "Google Project Loon" - neither of those were there when I first saw the hits.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

hairy1

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#1083835 8-Jul-2014 07:26

Yep. The balloons launched yesterday have Mode S transponders on them and were launched from Tekapo. There was a NOTAM about it. It might have been something to do with the US atmospheric testing flights in the Gulfstream V based out of CHC at the moment rather than Google Loon. Not sure.

B2856/14 NZZO FROM: 04JUL14 17:02 TO: 15JUL14 23:00
E)HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOON FLIGHT OPERATIONS BEING CONDUCTED WI AN AREA
BOUNDED BY:
S 30 00 00, E 163 00 00,
S 57 00 00, E 163 00 00,
S 57 00 00, W 131 00 00,
S 30 00 00, W 131 00 00.
DIRECTION EASTBOUND
CONTACT AUTHORITY
AUCKLAND OCEANIC CONTROL TEL +64 9 275 9817
F)FL600 G)UNL)
DECODE - QWLLW - ASCENT OF FREE BALLOON - TAKING PLACE

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Oblivian

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#1085767 9-Jul-2014 14:52

The keen eyed would have spotted the clump of balloons released here the last week of June are nearly back, making their way past Tasmania now. Almost out of range to the east heading back toward us. Expect them by the weekend :)

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#1085777 9-Jul-2014 15:03

Why is it still urgent

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