Laser Injures Pilot's Eye

[ShawnC]

This is kind of a weird story.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040928-111356-3924r.htm

 

[AcroChik]

Not Easy To Do.

I do not doubt the pilots' observations at all. But something about this story doesn't sit entirely right with me, and these are my reasons:

I am thinking that with all factors considered: altitude, velocity, trajectory, appeture size (cockpit window), it would be challenging to accomplish this.

Expert targeting solutions would be required to keep the beam focused inside the cockpit as the plane followed its course (which would have to be known in advance or solved for in real time if it deviated).

The mathematics of this are not overwhelming, but the application of them to the engineering and then mechanical devices required are pretty daunting. Building this sort of gear is expensive and hard. Buying this sort of gear is, I imagine, expensive and hard.

Where does this lead me? Well, as Sherlock Holmes teaches, when the impossible is eliminated, you are left with the obvious: the laser originated in the airplane.

(stands back in case of incoming flames)

 

[Lord Wakefield]

Laser warfare

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