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FBI Investigates Laser Beam Directed At Plane Near Cleveland
newsnet5.com ^

Posted on 12/29/2004 1:24:44 PM PST by esryle

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To: blau993
I don't think a laser pointer has the range or the intensity to interfere with a pilot's vision.

You're presuming that members of Congress use logic when drafting laws and actually read the laws that they pass.

Have you seen the Code of Federal Regulations lately?

61 posted on 12/29/2004 2:16:26 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: Sgt_Schultze; Brig_Gen_George_P_Harrison_CSA; Recovering Hermit; EUPHORIC; blau993
I don't think a laser pointer has the range or the intensity to interfere with a pilot's vision.

How about a 193 mW green laser? The ones at Office Depot are less than 1 mW. This one is strong enough to burn a hole through a plastic cup [video link]. It will burn your retina out faster than you can blink. Here's a picture of a beam hitting a tree a quarter of a mile away.

Laser safety FAQ.

62 posted on 12/29/2004 2:19:48 PM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: Sgt_Schultze

Here is how I do it, and it works:

I have one of the old laser pens that is roughly 1/2" in diameter and seven or eight inches long. I also have a pair of 10X50 manual focus binaculars. I discovered that by holding the pen firmly against the bracing between the two sides of the binoculars, I was able to point it at a reflective road sign a half mile away and got a very bright reflection back in the center of my field of view. BTW, the reflection was about 6" in diameter if memory serves. Also, a friend was there at the sign and, via cell phone, said it was incredibly bright to his eyes. He looked at my position and saw a very, very bright point of light.

If I was serious about it, I could repeat the experiment and simply "look at " airplanes with my binoculars (with the laser attached) and asume that they would see the light.

It's pretty darned simple - and effective - really. I never thought about actually doing it, however. I don't see the point.


63 posted on 12/29/2004 2:24:07 PM PST by RobRoy (Science is about "how." Christianity is about "why.")
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To: Magnum44

My laser is just to sight the scope in. It fits in the bore so it can't be used with a live round.

Tracking an object that far away at that speed is unlikey to have been done by hand held device.


64 posted on 12/29/2004 2:24:33 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (Pray for the millions of lives disrupted by tsunami.)
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To: konaice
So what kind of lazer makes a green beam? That would seem less than ordinary. OTOH, cheap laser pointers can be had at any office supply store (most are red) and this could become more common.

Nothing cheap. There is a helium neon laser that is doubled for green but they are NOT that common, nor cheap. Cadmium Ion Argon lasers are green. But these are NOT the usual cat toys!

65 posted on 12/29/2004 2:33:44 PM PST by Gorzaloon
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Laser pointers will soon be outlawed.

Ooooooh, that will really p*ss of my cat if she wouldn't be able to chase the red dot ;-)

66 posted on 12/29/2004 2:43:47 PM PST by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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To: mewzilla
Targeting and guidance. . .however, what likely happened was some guy with a laser-pointer was horsing around and wasn't thinking and "zapped" the jet.
67 posted on 12/29/2004 2:46:05 PM PST by Gunrunner2
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To: Pondman88

People only try
to tackle someone if they
see he's got the ball . . .


They are talking about military grade lasers. The green ones, some how damage (temporarily and sometimes permanantly) eye sight.


68 posted on 12/29/2004 2:49:32 PM PST by loboinok (GUN CONTROL IS HITTING WHAT YOU AIM AT.)
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To: thegreatbeast

Clinton State. . .NOT Pentagon.


69 posted on 12/29/2004 2:49:56 PM PST by Gunrunner2
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To: esryle
Some kid playing with his $80 Christmas present, and some overly nervous pilots, no doubt.

http://www.greenlaserbeam.com/


70 posted on 12/29/2004 2:50:05 PM PST by Atlas Sneezed (Your Friendly Freeper Patent Attorney)
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To: brooklin

Speed limit is 250kts except when firing 20mm rounds.


71 posted on 12/29/2004 2:50:29 PM PST by Gunrunner2
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To: esryle

A laser certainly was used on a Naval Pilot by a Russian "fishing" trawler.


72 posted on 12/29/2004 2:51:31 PM PST by zerosix
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To: dfwgator

73 posted on 12/29/2004 2:53:28 PM PST by beezdotcom (I'm usually either right or wrong...)
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To: Sgt_Schultze

I really don't know how a person could shine a laser pointer at an object several miles away moving at 300+ mph. I have a small laser pointer and when I shine it only a couple hundred yards onto a tree in my backyard, it is darn near impossible to keep the target steady. Yeah I have a couple of laser pointers. Mine farthest ranged one has a range of 1500 feet but even at 500 feet even the slightest movement puts the beam way off. You would need the same type of lasers that the military uses to guide bombs and those are neither cheap nor easy to get.

74 posted on 12/29/2004 3:22:41 PM PST by Paul_Denton
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To: midnightson

Apparently a green beam works better than red or orange during daylight.

The human eye is most sensitive to green. This is why light amplification goggles display green.

75 posted on 12/29/2004 3:28:18 PM PST by Paul_Denton
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To: jpl
It's not going to be nearly as much fun playing with the cat when this happens.

LOL!!! Many years ago, when I built my first HeNe laser, the first thing I did with it was ...play with the cats!

Thanks for the memories!

76 posted on 12/29/2004 3:34:36 PM PST by TXnMA (Attention, ACLU: There is no constitutionally protected right to NOT be offended -- Shove It!)
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To: konaice

"So what kind of lazer makes a green beam?"

A green laser! They come in different wavelengths but the green ones are the best for zapping those pesky traffic cameras.


77 posted on 12/29/2004 3:36:36 PM PST by dljordan
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To: hoosierboy
A laser?

A loser!

78 posted on 12/29/2004 3:37:25 PM PST by TXnMA (Attention, ACLU: There is no constitutionally protected right to NOT be offended -- Shove It!)
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To: Conspiracy Guy

I thought it was 200 mph. Where's MY book.


79 posted on 12/29/2004 3:38:37 PM PST by dljordan
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To: Conspiracy Guy
Same here. I think 123 statute miles per hour was the highest I ever saw indicated.

The 5 mw lasers aren't going to hurt anyone in a cockpit but they sure will annoy the crew and the FAA!

Like others have said, a transport on a long straight-in approach on a calm day would not be difficult to track from near the end of the runway. But don't anyone try it with a laser unless you want to get to know the new Attorney General!

EBay green lasers starting with the more expensive and higher-power ones:

http://search.ebay.com/green-laser_W0QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ300QQsorecordsperpageZ50QQsosortorderZ2QQsosortpropertyZ3
80 posted on 12/29/2004 3:51:00 PM PST by steve86
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