Interesting balloon over western Qld 17/05/18

[Rastus]

Project Loon balloon operating at 50+ thousand feet over western Qld this morning.

 

Seen on FlightRadar24 as callsign HBAL221.

 

Apparently, it carries technology to allow people in remote areas with the right equipment to access high speed internet where it is otherwise unavailable.

 

Robert

 

 

[xair1159]

Googles Project Loon, designed to give broadband access to out of the way places (like Australia?). Did some trials out of Wanaka in NZ South Island a couple of years ago.

 

Cheap disposable balloons with reusable electronics package, they reckon they can keep one in a relatively small area for up to 100 days by varying altitude to use the wind at different levels.

 

Typically fly at 60,000 ft and fairly low ground speed. At end of life they steer them to drop the payload where it can be recovered.Have a look over the north east of South America / Amazon area

 

As Rastus said, search on FlightRadar24 for HBAL, there's usually 10-20 in flight.

 

 

[johnm]

navigable  balloons !

 

https://x.company/loon/

 

 

[Birdseye]

All balloons are navigable if you can find wind blowing in the required direction.

 

 

[johnm]

your not saying balloons travel in the direction of the wind - shirley not

 

 

[Downunder]

I think I was watching that one a few days ago. Came in off the WA coast.....

 

Not sure if they are launching from ships or other countries..