Suitability of Proven Technologies for Defending Against Airborne Terrorism

In article ,
(Yossarian) wrote:

Balloons and artillery have amazing loiter times where they are
needed most. Substantive responses appreciated.

To cover downtown Washington alone (let's say a six mile radius) with
barrage balloons, spaced 200 feet apart (closely enough to prevent 747s
from getting in unscathed), you'd need about 500 balloons. And you'd
still have a decent chance they balloon wouldn't take the plane down
quickly enough. You'd also need *large* balloons, with extremely heavy
cables, to even damage a modern jet, much less stop one.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

Chad Irby wrote in message .com...
In article ,
(Yossarian) wrote:

Balloons and artillery have amazing loiter times where they are
needed most. Substantive responses appreciated.

To cover downtown Washington alone (let's say a six mile radius) with
barrage balloons, spaced 200 feet apart (closely enough to prevent 747s
from getting in unscathed), you'd need about 500 balloons. And you'd
still have a decent chance they balloon wouldn't take the plane down
quickly enough. You'd also need *large* balloons, with extremely heavy
cables, to even damage a modern jet, much less stop one.

And it'd look absolutely absurd. I'd rather see a pair of Arleigh
Burke destroyers moored in the Potomac offshore from National than a
sky that looked like the balloonists' convention had just flown in.

(Jeb Hoge) wrote:

Chad Irby wrote:

To cover downtown Washington alone (let's say a six mile radius) with
barrage balloons, spaced 200 feet apart (closely enough to prevent 747s
from getting in unscathed), you'd need about 500 balloons.

And it'd look absolutely absurd.

Okay - so it has *one* really good point.

Maybe we could sell ad space on them.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

In article , Chad Irby
writes
In article ,
(Yossarian) wrote:

Balloons and artillery have amazing loiter times where they are
needed most. Substantive responses appreciated.

To cover downtown Washington alone (let's say a six mile radius) with
barrage balloons, spaced 200 feet apart (closely enough to prevent 747s
from getting in unscathed), you'd need about 500 balloons.

And to deter a steeply turning aircraft you'd have to space the balloons
a lot closer.

And you'd
still have a decent chance they balloon wouldn't take the plane down
quickly enough. You'd also need *large* balloons, with extremely heavy
cables, to even damage a modern jet, much less stop one.

But in any case, a balloon barrage is ultimately ineffective against an
aircraft entering a near vertical dive from above the balloon flying
height as it would avoid all those cables. And I assume the perp would
not be worried about over-stressing the airframe during his final
'approach and landing', would he?

(That notwithstanding, has anyone seen a Martin-Baker leading-edge cable
cutting device on Ebay recently? Note name of winning bidder...)

Cheers,

Dave

--
Dave Eadsforth