Micrometeorites...

[Gabriel]

Except this time it could actually be it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comme ... 60_flight/

[3WE]

A low, but not_zero probability…

…and dangerous aircraft incidents generally have low, but not_zero probability.

Then again, it’s a 737, so if the window frame was out of whack…

/bold pontification…

[3WE]

IMG_4084.jpeg (210.13 KiB) Viewed 271 times

[Gabriel]

IMG_4084.jpeg

Wow, that's so similar to one of the 4 photos in the link I provided in the original post. As if it was the same photo.

[3WE]

I am saving our fellow forumites clicks and showing the more critical highlights.

Bloody arms do add to the story, but maybe THE impact point is more important.

Our would you like to hear how the involved individuals felt about the incident?

[Gabriel]

I am saving our fellow forumites clicks and showing the more critical highlights.

Thank you for your service.

Bloody arms do add to the story, but maybe THE impact point is more important.

Actually, for me it was quite interesting. Something hits the outer pane and smashes it. The force is enough that the inner pane also smashes (the the debris in the cockpit and the bloody arm must be the result of the inner pane smashing). Yet, the windshield structurally resisted the impact and the pressurization at 36,000 ft. That's quite a few ft and quite a feat.

Our would you like to hear how the involved individuals felt about the incident?

They seemed pretty calm. But I'd love to hear what it felt like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRM5zgE13_s

[3WE]

…maybe. So says the news…

In looking at the handy picture above, it SEEMS not_quite right for a meteor. I’d ASSUME there’s some fragments of stuff, and if it’s not dirty iron and/or contains plastic and copper and battery chemicals…

[elaw]

https://abc13.com/post/object-hit-unite ... /18049731/

[elaw]

Similar to the above but a tiny bit more technical: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/t ... r-balloon/

[Gabriel]

“The quick answer is our constellation of Global Sounding Balloons (GSBs), which we call WindBorne Atlas, doesn’t pose a threat to airplanes or other objects in the sky"

A windshield and a pilot's arm disagree.

[elaw]

“The quick answer is our constellation of Global Sounding Balloons (GSBs), which we call WindBorne Atlas, doesn’t pose a threat to airplanes or other objects in the sky"

The real question is, do they pose a threat to micrometeorites?

[3WE]

If this is too small, please refer to the handy photograph I posted above. I have minimal credentials, but it seems consistent with a bag of sand.

However; have we determined if this is a 737-Max?

IMG_1341.jpeg (1.04 MiB) Viewed 57 times

[Gabriel]

I have minimal credentials,

it seems consistent with a bag of sand.

However; have we determined if this is a 737-Max?

Yes
Yes
Yes

[Gabriel]

Duplicated

[elaw]

I have a fair amount of respect for Mr. Manley, but I'm not sure dangling bags of sand in the middle of the air where aeroplanies might hit them is a "right thing".

Edited to add an important question: could that balloon carry a coconut?

[3WE]

*** I'm not sure dangling bags of sand in the middle of the air where aeroplanies might hit them is a "right thing".***

Meteorology is another interest of mine.

I have few credentials, but I think they get 1. Real time data and 2. The location of said data from balloons.

So, why aren’t WE taking said data and displaying it to aeroplanies and ATC?????

Yes, getting a computer from one branch of government to talk to another is a formidable challenge.

Gabrilian pontification: Interestingly, we would have to consider the altitude, but that actually might be simple. The airliner would be set to 29.92, so whatever the probe is indicating would be similarly “calibrated”.

Footnote: If you want to enjoy some popcorn, tell a weather forum that you are a CERTIFIED Storm Spotter. Citing said credentials will cause some meteorologists to become snippy.

[elaw]

So, why aren’t WE taking said data and displaying it to aeroplanies and ATC?????

I suspect it's a matter of the ratio of the number of cubic feet* of air present over a given area vs. the number of balloons available. Which leads to another issue... if we multiplied the number of balloons by 1000 (which still probably wouldn't be enough), the number of collisions would increase by a factor of 1000 too.

Of course we could also TCAS-enable the balloons and make some tweaks to the system, which could result in some interesting interactions:
"TRAFFIC! TRAFFIC! CLIMB! CLIMB! And by the way, the OAT is -11 degrees Celsius"


* Cubic Corgis south of the equator.

[Not_Karl]

Sand = Non-falling micro meteors.
Sand falling from a balloon = ?

[elaw]

An easy and convenient way to strip a little of the paint off your aircraft? The engine(s) might not be too happy though.