tag:www.thedonovan.com,2012://1/tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757- 2012-03-24T14:58:19Z We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 Movable Type 4.12 tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757 2010-08-30T10:25:44Z 2010-08-30T10:58:12Z

Because I couldn't possibly give you another clue without *everybody* getting it.So, here it is, and, quite obviously -- it's an aerostat.Yup -- we have a gasbag with a sensor suite riding herd on the bad guys. Not a dirigible, 'cuz it doesn't have a rigid internal structure, and not a blimp, 'cuz it's tethered, rather than powered. For an idea of how big it is, that darker line with the teensy-weensy ladder on the north end is the work platform, and somebody six-foot-six could walk around on it and not bump his head on the radome on the belly.This...

Bill http://www.thedonovan.com
So, here it is, and, quite obviously -- it's an aerostat.





Yup -- we have a gasbag with a sensor suite riding herd on the bad guys. Not a dirigible, 'cuz it doesn't have a rigid internal structure, and not a blimp, 'cuz it's tethered, rather than powered. For an idea of how big it is, that darker line with the teensy-weensy ladder on the north end is the work platform, and somebody six-foot-six could walk around on it and not bump his head on the radome on the belly.

This is what it looks like in its normal habitat:





Makes perfect sense to stick a balloon tied to a steel cable on an airfield where you're teaching student pilots,

*koff*

but nobody's even come close to it -- yet. Of course, they'd have to be about 200 meters on the wrong side of the runway to do that in the first place.

Oh, yeah -- I mentioned a radome and sensor suite, huh? Well, just so you don't have to strain your eyes looking for them in the pic above -- ta-daaaaah!





No, that's *not* Carborundum hanging on trying to spot where I went after I took the pic...
]]> tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112504 Justthisguy http://enemiesofthelibrary.blogspot.com ]]> 2010-09-03T04:57:53Z 2010-09-03T04:57:53Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112061 bad cat robot http://snarkpatrol.blogspot.com Jello. Wall. Nail.

Piffle.  Mad Science has covered this *extensively*.  No, I am not one of the contributing researchers.
]]> 2010-08-30T21:49:34Z 2010-08-30T21:49:34Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112059 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com Which, I would add, features Bill's face on the dustjacket as an example entry...

For the benefit of those who might be browsing your local bookseller's. Ease of recognition, and all that.

Jello. Wall. Nail.

]]> 2010-08-30T21:26:10Z 2010-08-30T21:26:10Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112047 Justthisguy http://enemiesofthelibrary.blogspot.com OMG, I am so dumb! And impercipient! I failed to notice that the thing did not have a squarely planar butt, but that our view of its butt was cut off by that building! Call me butt-head! Looks like an old-fashioned barrage balloon, except for prolly having been inflated with precious irreplacible helium. Hydrogen is plenty good enough for unmanned aerostats. 2010-08-30T20:32:48Z 2010-08-30T20:32:48Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112042 J.M. Heinrichs www.amazon.com/Airship-Design-Charles-P-Burgess/dp/1410211738/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

Cheers
]]> 2010-08-30T19:59:29Z 2010-08-30T19:59:29Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112041 J.M. Heinrichs Needs battledore ...

Cheers
]]> 2010-08-30T19:56:55Z 2010-08-30T19:56:55Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112036 John of Argghhh! http://www.thedonovan.com Says he, as he puts his bid on eBay for a copy of Jane's All the World's Gasbags...

Which, I would add, features Bill's face on the dustjacket as an example entry...]]> 2010-08-30T19:25:23Z 2010-08-30T19:25:23Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112035 bad cat robot http://snarkpatrol.blogspot.com
(snarksnarksnark!)
]]> 2010-08-30T19:19:21Z 2010-08-30T19:19:21Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112034 Spiff Spiff
]]> 2010-08-30T19:18:15Z 2010-08-30T19:18:15Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112033 Heartless Libertarian http://heartlesslibertarian.blogspot.com
It wasn't the cost or support manpower requirements that nixed the idea; it was that the Paks weren't too keen on us being able to see that much inside their country.]]> 2010-08-30T19:17:54Z 2010-08-30T19:17:54Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:112031 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com I ignore you all.

Says he, as he puts his bid on eBay for a copy of Jane's All the World's Gasbags...

]]> 2010-08-30T19:02:52Z 2010-08-30T19:02:52Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111970 gunnerMk42 ]]> 2010-08-30T15:33:49Z 2010-08-30T15:33:49Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111969 John of Argghhh! http://www.thedonovan.com 2010-08-30T15:33:01Z 2010-08-30T15:33:01Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111960 MIke L http://oinoinbo ]]> 2010-08-30T15:09:53Z 2010-08-30T15:09:53Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111957 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com Something about ballast cancelled the opportunity.

A weight and balance issue with the center of gravity, most likely -- the balloon would probably have folded in half, like a grilled brat with a trapped air bubble...


]]> 2010-08-30T15:02:11Z 2010-08-30T15:02:11Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111953 Mike L http://bibi
ML
]]> 2010-08-30T14:50:53Z 2010-08-30T14:50:53Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111934 John of Argghhh! http://www.thedonovan.com 2010-08-30T13:16:39Z 2010-08-30T13:16:39Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111932 Pogue http://airpogue.blogspot.com ]]> 2010-08-30T12:59:30Z 2010-08-30T12:59:30Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111931 Boquisucio ]]> 2010-08-30T12:41:03Z 2010-08-30T12:41:03Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111929 BillT http://www.thedonovan.com
And "rear sight for a Vetterli 1870/87 carbine" is exactly what Annabelle had in mind when she said, "It's for a gun."
]]> 2010-08-30T12:20:18Z 2010-08-30T12:20:18Z tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1.12757-comment:111927 John of Argghhh! http://www.thedonovan.com
I give myself constructive credit, and go to my room to sulk and suck my thumb.

Not that you could actually split any hairs, not having provided any for scale.]]> 2010-08-30T12:05:06Z 2010-08-30T12:05:06Z