A reader writes concerning the Loon balloons:
Maybe they should use hydrogen instead of helium. They’re unmanned, after all.
I suppose it depends which element is more likely to leak from the Loon balloons as biased by the costs of refilling using each element.
Source: Airships.net
Although there is the option of painting the balloons in rocket fuel, as was done by the Germans to the Hindenberg, and when a balloon is to be retired, just hitting it with a flare. In fact, an enterprising outfit might sell the opportunities to blow up such balloons, generating a minor stream of income. “You, too, can pretend to be the finger of the Internet God, destroying a malfunctioning unit just like your own body does with its cells.”
Ahem. That may be a little over the top.
