Balloons aloft.

I have had some enquiries about balloons appearing on Flightradar24.

 

They are departing from the Air SafarisTekapo strip.

Have a look at this comprehensive AP site

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2342127/Now-Google-launches-BALLOONS-bid-bring-internet-remotest-places-Earth.html

Also check out the Air Safari facebook pages. Drill down a few days for some launch pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/airsafaris

 

These balloons are visible to the naked eye - even at 60,000+ feet.

AP photo taken at Air Safari's Tekapo airfield

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Also by pure chance NIWA/NASA have been running the Deep Wave project releasing balloons.

See:-

http://www.niwa.co.nz/news/deepwave-project-measures-gravity-waves-in-the-atmosphere

This project also uses the Gulfstream V N677F and the Falcon 20 D-CMET  based at Christchurch which also show up on Flightradar24

Pic shows Falcon 20 D-CMET arriving back at NZCH on Tuesday. Thanks to Bargeldo1

 

Hope that sheds some light on events.