This is a post from an Instagram account that frequently reports on smokejumpers and other wildland firefighters in Russia. Dropping glass spheres filled with water to slow down a fire is new to me. I can understand why they shelved the idea in 1953.
Russia tested water-filled glass spheres dropped from aircraft
- Bill Gabbert
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High-strength polymer tech (slow-drop molding shapes, RC guidance and fluid-fill) has improved exponentially since the 40-50’s, like plastics providers. Early warning (satcom) & airborne vehicle load-carrying capability and maneuverability has increased by an order of magnitude (UAV’s). Chemical suppressants likewise. A combination of these techs could reopen that gateway. Primitive “ping-pong ball” igniters are used for backfires, and such (guided) ‘smart-drop’ capabilities could combine to provide safe-escape pathways (and trapped-crew zones) as well as prevention/suppression. God’s ‘Baseball Hail’ is another method formed as “string-drops” (hard/slush melts) and/or controlled “carpet-nets”. “Bangalore Torpedo”-style (fluid + compressed-nitrogen vs O2 explosive)–delayed or remote-controlled activated possibly could be strung in series. Old ideas with new tech often show up in the “Miracles of Evolution”.
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