4 ms·
Bullets fired still land somewhere and are difficult to stop once they leave the gun. The F16 and F22 are somewhere in the 110 to 160 knot range for stall spee
by shagie 4y ago
Bullets fired still land somewhere and are difficult to stop once they leave the gun.
The F16 and F22 are somewhere in the 110 to 160 knot range for stall speed. The balloon, for all practical purposes, is 0 knots. Shooting at something straight ahead that isn't moving while you're moving at 160 knots may pose some more challenges than locking into it with a missile.
A zero pressure balloon ( https://www.nasa.gov/scientific-balloons/types-of-balloons https://www.nasa.gov/scientific-balloons/types-of-balloons ) is roughly equal pressure on the inside and outside. These balloons do not "pop" as such when punctured and may cause additional hazards as they descend uncontrolled.
- rootusrootus 4y agoHobby balloons, though, are not zero pressure balloons. It's part of how they control their own flight time, by intentionally bursting when they reach a high enough altitude. So a 20mm cannon would probably have a reasonable chance of success, though it would be spreading a lot of lead downrange that would eventually hit the ground, and could annoy people in the path.