This is for getting OUT of battle. Quicker than waiting for a heli to land.
I thought the whole point of why we stopped using it was because it was slower to setup and less versatile? Like to me, SPIE is much faster and with less of a target signature. Plus it looks funny with everyone tethered together and just dangling around. lol
I thought the whole point of why we stopped using it was because it was slower to setup and less versatile?
I thought it was due to the fact it was only developed to be equipped to transport planes and the extreme sideways acceleration of being latched wasn't feasible. I don't think the helicopter version MGS came up with was ever a reality; seems like rotors would bounce the balloon all over the place.
I thought it was due to the fact it was only developed to be equipped to transport planes and the extreme sideways acceleration of being latched wasn't feasible. I don't think the helicopter version MGS came up with was ever a reality; seems like rotors would bounce the balloon all over the place.
I didn't look at the copyright tags. Didn't realize this was a video game reference, I thought M4 was hanging directly off the balloon for comedic effect.
IRL, guys have been successfully pulled around via the Fulton STAR (I never saw it in person, but I watched a training overview video on it once) and supposedly it was effective and safe, but helicopters made the technique outdated since helicopters are far more versatile and can take advantage of terrain as cover from threats more effectively. From the video though (and refreshing my memory with youtube), it seemed to be a very slow process compared to modern methods. People and cargo weren't attached to the weather balloon, but the balloon was linked to a dynamic line where the cargo would remain static on unobstructed ground. This let a low flying aircraft scoop up the balloon and the cargo would drag off with the plane which would be pulled up progressively with a winch. As crazy as it sounds, it apparently was a very safe technique (or they wanted those who may have to use it to believe it was safe). I don't think I ever saw what happens to the balloon. I assume it gets deflated immediately once the line is hooked.
