HIBAL 148, 149, 150 flying over California

[CoastGuardJon]

Hi all,
Has anyone else  noticed three A/C flying SE over California, only details are their signatures HIBAL 148/9/150 height and speed which currently are all under 100 knots - helios, one 1 then 12kts?
They're all showing as being Sri Lankan national flagged, which obviously ain't the case!

[RodBearden]

I wonder if they could be balloons - the leading one's now apparently at FL659 at 23KT

[Runway 31]

Yes, saw one earlier at FL570 and wondered at the slow speed.  They appear to have originated from Chico Municipal or thereabouts

Alan

[Runway 31]

I googled Hibal Balloon Projects and got a good number of hits.  HIBAL stands for High Altitude Balloon and they are used for a number of weather and scientific purposes.  Transponders attached for tracking purposes.

Alan

[RodBearden]

I wonder if it's a Google wifi test: http://photos.mercurynews.com/2013/07/26/google-tests-wifi-in-the-sky-using-high-altitude-balloons-to-beam-internet-connectivity

[CoastGuardJon]

Hi Rod and Alan, yes, that would make sense but earlier one was travelling at 87 knots, I think the height was 5,900' - must have winds like us down here in Kernow!

[SIGINT1]

Picked up the Mode S on all three here in Reno, NV - seem to be in area north of Grass Valley, California

[CoastGuardJon]

I've just opened RB and see HIBAL 149 up again, FL 613 - so is that 613', 6,130' or 61,300 at a speed of 24knots.  Yes, I do know the standard FL protocol, before anyone feels the need to explain it!!

[CoastGuardJon]

Time is GMT -1 hour (2239GMT) and I see HIBAL 150 at FL602 (my guess would be height in metres???) and speed 16knots.

[RodBearden]

If they are the Google-type balloons, then flight-level (hundreds of feet) would be within the realms of possibility