In article , "Mike Bandor"
wrote:

"Dave Holford" wrote in message
...


It was only a few years ago that concerted efforts failed to destroy a
large ballon which managed to drift clear across the Atlantic despite
numerous holes being shot in it. I wonder if they really are all that
vulnerable?

Dave

They've changed the aerostats so they now have burn wires built into the
main gas bag. If one escapes, rather than scrambling a plane they just
press a button and it quarters the main gas bag. No more chasing it
across
the gulf or countryside.



I wouldn't call it a military lighter-than-air vehicle, but I was
sufficiently shocked and awed while trying to get my rental car back to
the Colorado Springs airport, in the midst of a ballooning festival.
There is something especially surreal about having a 110-foot tall
Energizer Bunny fload gracefully over the road.