# HBAL balloons

**URL:** <https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786>\
**Category:** Notable Activity\
**Created:** [May 17, 2021, 11:13am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786 "2021-05-17T11:13:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![diefldrmas](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/diefldrmas/32/82999_2.png) [@diefldrmas](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/diefldrmas)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 11:13am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786/1 "2021-05-17T11:13:40Z")

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I have seven HBAL targets HBAL532 N259th, HBAL534 N254th, etc flying down around Wilmington NC. It seems they belong to Loon internet services. The website says they are shutting down. They also seem to have tie in to Alphabet (Google)

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**Author:** ![jepolch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/jepolch/32/114457_2.png) [@jepolch](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/jepolch)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 11:59pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786/2 "2021-05-17T23:59:25Z")

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I saw them, too. I’m near Hillsborough, NC.

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**Author:** ![PhilDoggo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/phildoggo/32/92592_2.png) [@PhilDoggo](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/PhilDoggo)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786/3 "2021-05-18T14:59:58Z")

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I heard it was a Google project they were trying to pass on, but no one wants to take them on, due to the cost of maintenance etc.

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**Author:** ![davidpc13](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/davidpc13/32/125878_2.png) [@davidpc13](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/davidpc13)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786/4 "2021-06-13T16:41:22Z")

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I see HBAL527 flew over Montana and is currently close to Casper WY at about 55,000 ft. Hadn’t seen balloons before.

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**Author:** ![chuybregts](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/chuybregts/32/116297_2.png) [@chuybregts](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/chuybregts)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786/5 "2021-08-06T16:52:56Z")

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Some more Loon balloons today. My tracker caught the one over [Kelso, WA](https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HBAL546/history/20210806/1459Z), but it looks like there’s another one in [IA](https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HBAL556). Seems odd for a project that shut down in January…

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**Author:** ![jepolch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/jepolch/32/114457_2.png) [@jepolch](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/jepolch)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/hbal-balloons/76786/6 "2021-08-06T19:45:49Z")

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> [@chuybregts](#):
>
> Seems odd for a project that shut down in January

Maybe they have to be over a certain location before they drop them. So they wait and let them drift?