@knapjack: #NIBBB #PicoBalloon #K9YO #SidewinderShootdown

Seems to me the whole framing of this incident is backwards.

On Feb. 11, an NIBBB pico balloon destroyed an errantly-launched Sidewinder missile before it could lock-on to and potentially destroy any manned aircraft in the balloon's patrol area. The downed missile was the first such threat the pico balloon had encountered in its 100,000+ miles and 4+ months on patrol.

Four more, and NIBBB will rightly be entitled to claim the title "Ace". They are already entitled to display a sidewinder trophy silhouette on their launch facility.