World Surveillance Group Inc (fka WSGI)

[Astronomer]

Suggesting that a Sanswire stratellite can't be shot down is along the lines of what I've been talking about - the over-eagerness to shoot down potential criticisms of Globetel without allowing that Globetel or Sanswire might not be perfect.

I don't think Stratellites should have to be indestructible for the idea to be profitable. Just for fairness, I would like to include some even older articles on airplanes shooting down balloons and blimps. I don't see this as a problem for Sanswire - I'm simply trying to illustrate what I picture as a healthy, ballanced discussion. Am I nuts?
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"Hot-air balloons were widely used in World War 1. Many were placed on the Western Front as observers because they were cheaper than planes. The development of fighter planes made it more dangerous to be in an air balloon. Balloon crew members were given parachutes. They were also given a powered wrench that helped them bring the balloon down quickly."

http://techcenter.davidson.k12.nc.us/Group9/airwar.htm
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"However, the airships never became effective offensive weapons. Several were lost because of bad weather and 17 were shot down because they could not climb as fast as fighters."

http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/balloon5.htm
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"The FUGO or "Windship Weapon" pictured above was shot down over Alturas, California on January 10th, 1945."

http://www.virtuallystrange.net/ufo/updates/2005/jul/m01-009.shtml