Remember that time an Army blimp broke free of its tethers and went on the lam? Remember how its cords dragged across the ground, hit homes, took out power lines and caused general mayhem?
The Army certainly does.
The service has received more than $300,000 in damage claims from citizens who suffered property damage when the surveillance blimp went AWOL.
When the Army blimp floated away from its moorings on Oct. 28, the military scrambled its F-16s in order to track and ultimately bring down the dirigible. However, the balloon dragged 6,700 feet of cable for 160 miles at roughly 40 miles per hour. A cord at that length and moving at that speed was enough to snap power cables and cause widespread power outages. When it finally descended, fragments of the balloon became stuck on telephone lines and trees.
People affected by the runaway blimp have two years to file a claim with the Army, so it’s likely that the total cost is even higher than $300,000.
Shortly after the balloon was recaptured, the Army suspended the blimp program indefinitely.