Tag Archives: US Air Force

Did Harris-Walz campaign use fake AI crowd photos?!

Did the Harris-Walz campaign use fake crowd photos created using generative AI technology?! Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Harris-Walz campaign used fake AI crowd photos!

Some people are sharing photos, which they claim prove that the Harris-Walz campaign got caught using fake crowd photos created using generative AI technology!

Donald Trump : Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she “A.l.’d” it, and showed a massive “crowd” of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST! She was turned in by a maintenance worker at the airport when he noticed the fake crowd picture, but there was nobody there, later confirmed by the reflection of the mirror like finish on the Vice Presidential Plane. She’s a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, and the “crowd” looked like 10,000 people! Same thing is happening with her fake “crowds” at her speeches. This is the way the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATING – And they’re even worse at the Ballot Box. She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE. Anyone who does that will cheat at ANYTHING!

Dinesh D’Souza : Check the reflection in the plane. Does this look like a real picture to you?

Catturd : LOL – it’s not even good AI.

Chuck Callesto : BREAKING REPORT: Harris campaign BUSTED using FAKE crowd photo at campaign rally stop..

Blaire White (screenshot) : Kamala Harris using AI to inflate crowds is so INSANE that it’s taken me seeing 5+ examples to believe it.

Laura Loomer : Kamala Harris’s campaign is using AI to manipulate her campaign photos and videos. And it’s all being orchestrated by @MikeNellis, a senior advisor to Kamala Harris who works with Loren Merchan, the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan as I have previously reported.

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Truth : Harris-Walz campaign did not use fake AI crowd photos!

This is yet another example of fake news about the 2024 US Presidential election, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Airport photo is genuine and was not created by AI

Many people, including former President Donald Trump, falsely claimed that the Harris-Walz campaign faked photos of the crowd that greeted Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The photo is genuine, and is one of the many taken and posted by people who attended the event, which was attended by thousands of people, as well as prominent politicians. It was also live streamed by dozens of news channel.

In addition, Shayan Sardarizadeh of BBC Verify checked the metadata of the original photo, and confirmed that it was taken using an iPhone 12 Pro Max on 7 August at 18:28 local time.

While it is possible that some photos might have been digitally manipulated to make them appear fake, or created by generative AI software, the size of the crowd is indisputable. According to the local news outlet MLive, “about about 15,000 people filled the hangar, the crowd spilling out onto the tarmac.”

Fact #2 : Telephoto lens make the crowd appear closer than it really is

People are pointing to the reflection of Air Force Two’s fuselage and engine cowling, which appear to show the hangar but no sign of any people. That does not mean the photo was created by AI.

For one thing – the photo appears to have been taken using a telephoto lens, which makes the crowd appear much closer to Air Force Two than it really is.

As this video below shows, the crowd was actually located close to the hangar, and a considerable distance away from Air Force Two. Hence, they would not be so obviously seen in the reflection of Air Force Two’s fuselage or engine cowling.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Harris-Walz-Michigan-airport-video-360p.mp4?_=1

Fact #3 : Reflections are “compressed” on curved surfaces

The second reason why you don’t see the large crowds visibly reflected on Air Force Two’s fuselage and engine cowling is because they are curved surfaces, on which reflections would appear compressed.

It may seem silly but let me just point out that the fuselage and engine cowling of Air Force Two are cylindrical. Like funhouse mirrors, shiny cylindrical surfaces distort reflections, and will not reflect an image like a flat mirror.

If you look closely, you can see how the hangar appears compressed vertically – it appears to be very long, but squashed flat, like someone sat on it. You can actually see the crowd in that photo – it just appears as a dark line because its reflection was compressed vertically by the curved surface.

This video, which was created by someone else (sorry, I don’t know who, but will update this article with the correct credit when I identify the creator) recreated the scene using Blender, to show and explain why the crowd’s reflection can be seen in the photo – they just appear compressed.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kamala-Harris-fake-crowd-video-360p.mp4?_=2

Fact #4 : Air Force Two no longer has tail number

Some conspiracists pointed out that the aircraft in the photo lacks a tail number, with some pointing out that Air Force Two should have the tail number 80002.

While generative AI can and do create images with distorted or even missing text, that is no the case with the viral photo of Air Force Two at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The truth is – the US Air Force started removing tail numbers and other individually-identifying markings from its C-32A and C-32B executive and personnel transport jets for operational security reasons.

In fact, when JD Vance – the Republican candidate for Vice President recently walked up to Air Force Two in Wisconsin on 7 August 2024, photos and videos clearly show that it lacked any tail number.

Fact #5 : AI stadium crowd photo was not created by Harris-Walz campaign

The viral stadium photo, which purportedly shows supporters of the Harris-Walz campaign, was created using generative AI software. There are many obvious signs of generative AI in that viral photo, as many people have pointed out.

However, it was not created or shared by the Harris-Walz campaign. It was created and posted (archive) by a parody account on X (formerly Twitter) called Dr. Literaleigh A Pheline 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@Sarcasmcat24).

When American YouTuber and political commentator, Blair White, shared that photo, @Sarcasmcat24 pointed out to her that it was AI-generated:

That’s a photo that I generated with AI

Zoom in a bit, you’ll see that the faces aren’t even well developed.

Yeah, I run a parody account, glad you enjoyed the post! 😜

White has since deleted her post, but many continue to post this fake photo (on the right) and falsely claim that it was posted or created by the Harris-Walz campaign. That’s simply not true.

Fact #6 : This is just political fake news

Ultimately, this is yet another example of political fake news surrounding the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election. Here are some other examples I fact checked recently:

As the 2024 US Presidential election draws close, you can expect more of such fake news to appear, so be wary and skeptical!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Russia Just Shoot Down US Drone Over Black Sea?!

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Did Russia just shoot down a US drone flying over the Black Sea?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Russia Just Shot Down US Drone Over Black Sea!

People are claiming that Russia just shot down a US drone flying over the Black Sea!

US Civil Defense News : 🚨We reported it first! Before it happened!! Now Russia just shot down a US Drone over the Black Sea!!

US Civil Defense News : 🚨🚨🚨Update: Russian revenge!! Reports are coming out that Russian air defense forces shot down an American RQ-4 Global Hawk, a $100 million dollar drone over the Black Sea!!! 🔥🔥🔥

US Civil Defense News : 🚨Update: Report that a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet shot down the US RQ-4B Global Hawk over the Black Sea near Crimea where the US surveillance drone was providing targeting information to NATO missiles in Ukraine!!

SilencedSirs : ⚡️BREAKING: An American drone has been shot down over the Black Sea by Russia – Fighterbomber (linked to Russian Air Force). 🇷🇺 🇺🇸

Russia said there will be consequences for the US after ATACMS hit Crimea. #Russia #USA #BlackSea #Drone #Crimea #ATACMS #Geopolitics

Russian Market : #BREAKING US DRONE SHOT DOWN IN THE BLACK SEA – UNCONFIRMED

⚡️Waiting for confirmation ⚠️

❗️Military bloggers hint at the destruction of an American drone over the Black Sea by the Russian Aerospace Forces

A start. Congratulations to everyone involved. Handsome guys! We are expecting OK from the Pindos about “unprofessional actions.” There is now increased turbulence in the Black Sea. Let’s see whether it’s on an ongoing basis or whether it was a one-time event.

There have been no official statements at this time. It could probably be an RQ-4 Global Hawk.

No Evidence Russia Just Shot Down US Drone Over Black Sea!

This appears to be just more misinformation / Russian propaganda circulating online, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : No Evidence Russia Shot Down US Drone

Let me start by pointing out that there is no evidence that Russia just shot down a US drone flying over the Black Sea.

These claims appear to be made by pro-Russian social media accounts. There has not been any official confirmation from the Russian Ministry of Defense, or even official Russian media outlets.

Needless to say – none of those people making these claims actually provided any evidence that a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet shot down a US drone over the Black Sea.

Fact #2 : US Military Said There Was No Incident Over Black Sea

A US military official told Idress Ali of Reuters, that no incident had been reported over the Black Sea.

Idrees Ali : A U.S. military official says no incident has been reported over the Black Sea.

Fact #3 : US Drone Apparently Landed Safely

In addition, WarZone – News (Telegram) and other analysts (example) pointed out the US drone which Russia allegedly shot down apparently landed safely at around 2 AM Moscow time, on 24 June 24, 2024 at the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy.

The RQ-4B Global Hawk strategic reconnaissance drone with callsign Forte 10, operating yesterday off the coast of Crimea, which the Russians said they had shot down, returned “safely” to the Sigonella base in Italy on or around June 24, 2024 to 2:00 Moscow time.

Fact #4 : US Drones Are Flying In International Airspace

The US Air Force has been conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions using RQ-4B Global Hawk and MQ-4C Triton drones in the Black Sea to monitor Russian military movements in Crimea.

Russia has threatened to take stronger actions against US and NATO drones flying in the Black Sea. However, those drones are flying in international airspace, and Russia cannot simply shoot them down. That would have been considered a “casus belli“.

While Russia sometimes intercepts and monitors such drone flights, it has rarely attacked them, because it would have caused an international incident. That was what happened in March 2023, when a Russian Su-27 fighter jet damaged an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.

On 14 March 2023, two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted a USAF MQ-9 Reaper drone on the way to a reconnaissance mission over the Black Sea. The Russian planes repeatedly flew past the drone to dump fuel on it. It was likely one of these attempts that damaged the drone’s propeller, forcing it to ditch in the Black Sea.

That incident was strongly condemned by the White House and the Pentagon. The Russian Defense Ministry made it a point to state that its fighter jets did not fire any weapons or make contact with the drone.

The Russian fighters did not use their airborne weapons, did not make contact with the drone, and returned safely to their home airfield.

Regardless of what Russia thinks of these drone flights, it would not dare to shoot down any US drone, especially if it’s flying in international airspace.

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Joe Biden Just Walk Away From Air Force Falcons?!

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Did US President Joe Biden bizarrely walk away from the Air Force Falcons, before the football team could present him with a helmet and signed ball?!

Claim : Joe Biden Bizarrely Walks Away From Air Force Falcons!

People are sharing a Twitter video and post that appears to show US President Joe Biden suddenly walking away from the Air Force Falcons, before the football team could present him with a helmet and signed ball.

Sinnaig : 🇷🇺😂🤨 This guy “runs” the world…
Biden hosted the US Air Force Academy football team “Falcons” at the White House.
He was supposed to be presented with a ball signed by the team, a helmet and a football jersey. He only took the sweater and suddenly turned around and left…😂

In the video, a female officer gestures to President Biden, who pauses before turning around to walk away from the team with a football jersey, while two officers appear to be waiting to hand him a football and a helmet.

Did Joe Biden bizarrely walk AWAY from the Air Force Falcons BEFORE they presented him with a football and helmet?! 😳😜

Here is my fact check : https://t.co/6NWBzpOv8S #TechARP #JoeBiden #AirForce #USAF #Football #Sports #Politics #Politician #Propaganda #Facts #FactCheck pic.twitter.com/YAHrI2JeLs

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) April 30, 2023

Why Joe Biden Walked Away From Air Force Falcons!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by pro-Russia activists, and promoted / shared by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : President Joe Biden Presented CIC Trophy To Air Force Falcons

First, let me just give you some context on what’s going on.

The video was recorded at around 2:40 PM on Friday, April 28, 2023 at the White House where President Joe Biden presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Air Force Falcons.

Fact #2 : Air Force Falcons Presented Joe Biden With Ball + Helmet

Sinnaig falsely claimed that the President Joe Biden walked away before the Air Force Falcons presented him with a signed ball and a helmet, taking with him only a football jersey.

The truth is – the Air Force Falcons presented Joe Biden with all three items. This was specifically mentioned in the White House transcript of the event.

(The President is presented with an Air Force Falcons jersey, football, and helmet.)

Fact #3 : The Video Was Edited

The video is genuine, but edited to convey the impression that President Biden is a doddering old fool.

The fake news creator specifically cut out an earlier segment of the video so that it appears that Joe Biden walked away from the team before they presented him with the football and helmet.

In the original video (which I posted below), you can see Air Force Falcons coach Calhoun call on two Air Force captains to present the three items to President Biden.

Our two captains: Haaziq Daniels, quarterback, and — and running back Brad Roberts. And, sir, they have a couple of small items here for you.

Captain Haaziq Daniels first hands Biden the jersey, which he holds up for a photo, before he gives him the signed football. Biden then mocks an attempt to throw it, saying “Go down, out, and down” to laughter from the crowd.

After handing the football back to Captain Daniels, he says “Where I’m going tonight, I may need that helmet.“, and turns to take the helmet from Captain Brad Roberts.

Before walking off, he turns towards the team, and says something to them. It is inaudible, but according to the White House transcript, this was what he said:

Well, thank you very much. What a great, great honor. I appreciate it very much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

After that, he turns around and walks out of the room, carrying only the jersey. It wouldn’t be possible for him to hold onto all three items after all.

The two Air Force captains then places the football and helmet on the table, before taking a photo with General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This video shows Joe Biden receiving the helmet and football from the Air Force Falcons, which was edited OUT of the fake video!

What's going on : https://t.co/6NWBzpOv8S #TechARP #JoeBiden #AirForce #USAF #Football #Sports #Politics #Politician #Propaganda #Facts #FactCheck pic.twitter.com/mtcYFx0gZG

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) April 30, 2023

Fact #4 : This Is Just Fake News About Joe Biden

This is just another example of political fake news created to smear Joe Biden, and here are other examples you may have seen on social media:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Does Video Show F-22 Shooting China Spy Balloon?!

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Does a viral video show a close-up of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet shooting down the spy balloon from China?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Viral Video : Close-Up Of F-22 Shooting Spy Balloon From China!

This video is going viral on WhatsApp and social media platform, claiming to show a close-up of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet shooting down the spy balloon from China.

Screenshots of the video showing the F-22 fighter jet firing a missile at the spy balloon have also been used in some editorials in pro-CCP websites, and even a Falun Gong-affiliated website!

Truth : Viral Video Of F-22 Shooting Down Spy Balloon Is From Game!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : F-22 Shoot Down Audio Is Genuine

First, I should point out that the audio in the video is genuine, and accurately depicts the communication between the F-22 pilots and Huntress (NORAD’s Eastern Air Defense Sector Controller) on an open channel that anyone can listen to.

The audio clip was apparently recorded by Ken Harrell, a 68 year-old retiree and aviation hobbyist, who was listening in. This was confirmed by US Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek:

The audio is authentic and depicts communication from the 1st Fighter Wing pilot confirming the aerial target was destroyed. It’s important to clarify this audio is communication between the pilot and air traffic control that can be heard by anyone on the same frequency

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Fake-video-of-F-22-firing-missile-at-Chinese-spy-balloon.mp4?_=3

Fact #2 : Audio Subtitles Are Wrong

However, the subtitles are mangled and at least partly wrong. Here is an abridged transcript of the audio communication between the F-22 pilots and air traffic control (Huntress) during the spy balloon shoot-down.

HUNTRESS : Five miles offshore.

FRANK01 : Frank One is switches hot.

FRANK02 : Frank Two is switches hot.

…..

HUNTRESS : HUNTRESS. Six miles offshore.

FRANK01 : FRANK01. Splash one! TOI 1.

HUNTRESS : HUNTRESS copy. Splash.

EAGLE02 : That is a t-kill. The balloon is completely destroyed.

EAGLE01 : There appears to be metal chaff cloud. It’s definitely metal breaking apart. Screen for an altitude check.

Fact #3 : Viral Video Was Edited From Game Video!

I traced the viral video to a YouTube channel called Growling Sidewinder, which posted the original video on 6 February 2023.

It appears that someone edited Growling Sidewinder’s video to remove the title sequence at the beginning, and the credit at the end, before sharing it on WhatsApp and social media.

Growling Sidewinder clearly stated that the video used the real audio recording, but the video itself was recreated using Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) – a flight simulation game released in 2008 by Eagle Dynamics and The Fighter Collection.

Last year, I fact checked a viral video purportedly depicting Russian forces shooting down NATO jets and helicopters. In that example, the fake news creator used footage from the video game, ArmA 3 (Armed Assault 3).

Fact #4 : F-22 Fired At A Long Distance

When I watched the video, I immediately knew that it was fake, because it showed the F-22 engaging the Chinese spy balloon at about the same altitude, and at a very short distance.

What many people may not realise is that the F-22 fighter jet fired its AIM-9X Sidewinder missile at a considerable distance away from the spy balloon. This was confirmed by numerous videos recorded by the public from a distance.

In addition, we also know that the F-22 fighter jet was only able to attain an altitude of 58,000 feet, while the Chinese spy balloon was much higher – at about 65,000 feet. The Chinese spy balloon was floating approximately 7,000 feet (2.1 km) above the F-22 fighter jet!

Based on the audio transcript, it took about 7 seconds for the Sidewinder missile, which travels at over Mach 2.5, to hit the spy balloon, roughly placing the F-22 about 6 kilometres away from the balloon when it fired the missile.

Fact #5 : The Spy Balloon Did Not Explode

If you watch the publicly released videos of the AIM-9X missile hitting the spy balloon – and there are many, you would quickly realise that the viral video is fake, because it showed a large explosion.

The actual videos only show black and white smoke when the missile exploded next to the spy balloon’s payload.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did US Paint Chinese Balloon Kill On F-22 Fighter Jet?!

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Did the US Air Force paint a balloon kill on the F-22 fighter jet that shot down the Chinese spy balloon?!

Take a look at the viral photo, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : US Painted Chinese Balloon Kill On F-22 Fighter Jet!

Pro-CCP netizens are either mocking or criticising the US Air Force for painting a balloon kill on the F-22 fighter jet that shot down the Chinese spy balloon!

美军F-22战斗机创造了当今最高高度空中击杀记录：6万5千英尺。
据说回来后还给飞机纹了个图案纪念战功，你们说气人不？

The U.S. F-22 fighter jet has created the current record for the highest altitude air kill: 65,000 feet. It is said that after returning, he even tattooed a pattern on the plane to commemorate the military exploits. Don’t you think it is annoying?

Well here it is the #Balloon decal 😁

五毛：高射炮打蚊子‼️

北京时间2月5日03:39，从美国弗吉尼亚州兰利空军基地起飞的一架F-22战斗机，在近18000米（58000英尺）高度发射的一枚价值约40万美元的AIM-9X“响尾蛇”红外制导空空导弹，击落了一个在20000米左右（65000英尺）高度飞行的价值数百美元的中共高空气球，气球残骸随后坠落于南卡罗来纳州近海海域。

Fifty cents: anti-aircraft weapon hit mosquitoes‼ ️

At 03:39 on February 5, Beijing time, an F-22 fighter jet that took off from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, USA, launched an AIM-9X worth about 400,000 US dollars at an altitude of nearly 18,000 meters (58,000 feet). The “Sidewinder” infrared-guided air-to-air missile shot down a CCP high-altitude balloon worth hundreds of dollars flying at an altitude of about 20,000 meters (65,000 feet), and the balloon wreckage then fell in the waters off the coast of South Carolina.

Truth : US Did Not Paint Chinese Balloon Kill On F-22 Fighter Jet!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Was First Official F-22 Air-to-Air Kill

First, we need to acknowledge that the shooting down of the Chinese spy balloon was officially the first air-to-air kill for the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.

Although the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor entered US Air Force service in December 2005, it has not engaged in any air-to-air combat. Its combat sorties had so far consisted of very limited bombing missions in the Middle East.

So shooting down the Chinese spy balloon was the first time the F-22 was “blooded” in air combat, albeit against an easy target that could not manoeuvre to evade, or fire back.

I mention this point because it is entirely possible and legitimate for the pilot to paint a balloon kill on his F-22 fighter jet.

Fact #2 : Viral Photo Was Edited From 2020 Photo

While it is possible that the F-22 fighter jet that shot down the Chinese spy balloon may sport a kill marking of some sort, there was no official release of any photo of such a kill marking or decal.

What I can confirm is that the viral photo was edited, by painting a white balloon onto a photo originally posted by the Edwards Air Force Base on April 3, 2020.

Here is a photo comparison I created, showing the Edwards Air Force Base Facebook post, and the fake viral photo.

Fact #3 : FRANK01 Flew From Langley Air Force Base

The viral photo shows an F-22 Raptor flown by Major Brandon Burfeind from the 411th Flight Test Squadron, based out of Edwards Air Force Base in California. His F-22 fighter jet has a fuselage number 007, and the airframe number 91-4007.

The F-22 Raptor that shot down the Chinese spy balloon was flown by an unnamed pilot using the callsign FRANK01, from the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

While we do not know the name or rank of the FRANK01 pilot yet, his F-22 fighter jet is definitely not the same as the one shown in the viral photo, as he is based on a different USAF base in a different state.

Interesting note : The FRANK01 callsign is an apparent homage to World War I Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr., who is known as the “Arizona Balloon Buster” for shooting down 14 German balloons, as well as four planes.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Chinese Propaganda

This appears to be yet another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), or pro-CCP netizens.

All of the wumao articles and videos that I looked at so far have proven to be false… at every instance. So please watch out for such false claims.

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Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Can You Buy China Spy Balloon On Alibaba For $18?!

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Can you buy the infamous spy balloon from China on Alibaba for just RMB 118 / $18?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : You Can Buy China Spy Balloon On Alibaba For $18!

Pro-CCP netizens are trying to push the narrative that the infamous spy balloon from China is really a cheap weather balloon that anyone can buy from Alibaba!

They are sharing a screenshot of an Alibaba store on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that you can buy the same “spy balloon” for just RMB 118 / $18!

You can buy this balloon to scare the US for 118 RMB.. warning fighter jets might be sent to shoot it down..

Truth : You Cannot Buy China Spy Balloon On Alibaba For $18!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) or pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Chinese Balloon Was Not A Weather Balloon

First, let us start with a basic fact – the US Air Force shot down a spy balloon from China, not a weather balloon.

Weather balloons are common – thousands are launched daily across the world to collect information on the temperature, wind and moisture in the upper atmosphere.

Weather balloons are not very large – expanding from 6 feet (1.8 metres) to 20 feet (6 metres) in diameter as they rise in altitude. Their payloads are also small, consisting of a small box with a few sensors.

The Chinese spy balloon that the US Air Force shot down was not only much larger at around 90 feet (27.5 metres) wide, it also had a very large payload that included large solar panels, and even propellers to control its movement.

Real weather balloons also do not travel far – they generally go up to a high altitude and stay there. Spy balloons, on the other hand, need to travel long distances. This Chinese balloon travelled thousands of kilometres from China to Alaska to Canada, before reaching the continental United States.

Fact #2 : RMB 118 Weather Balloon Is Small

I traced the viral photo to this Alibaba store selling latex weather balloons. As expected, the RMB 118 / $18 balloon that pro-CCP netizens were promoting is small…

The store offered four sizes, with slightly elevated prices in US dollars (it’s cheaper in Chinese Yuan):

48 inches (4 feet) : $4.80
72 inches (6 feet) : $6.40
96 inches (8 feet) : $17.80
120 inches (10 feet) : $23.60

As I pointed above, the spy balloon that flew from China all the way to the United States was about 90 feet (27.5 metres) wide. It’s roughly 729X larger than the weather balloon sold on Alibaba!

Fact #3 : Viral Photo Was Edited

The viral photo appears to have been edited, by taking a screenshot of the Alibaba store using a mobile phone, and combining it with a photo of the actual spy balloon from China.

The intent appears to make it look like they are both the same balloon, and are being sold on Alibaba for just RMB 118 / $18.

The truth is – the actual Alibaba store does not show any photos of the spy balloon from China, which has a large payload platform and solar panels.

Instead, the Alibaba store only shows this photo of a latex weather balloon being held by a man – a good indication of just how small it is, compared to the real spy balloon. The other photos in the Alibaba store shows the available balloon sizes, and how much they weigh.

Fact #4 : This Is Just Chinese Propaganda

This is just another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), or pro-CCP netizens.

All of the wumao articles and videos that I looked at so far have proven to be false… at every instance. So please watch out for such false claims.

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Why US Shot Down Chinese Spy Balloon With Missile!

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Find out why the US Air Force shot down the Chinese spy balloon using an expensive $400,000 AIM-9X Sidewinder missile!

Claim : US Shot Down Spy Balloon Using Expensive Missile!

Pro-CCP netizens are mocking the US government for shooting down a cheap Chinese weather balloon using an expensive $400,000 AIM-9X Sidewinder missile!

US so panic of a balloon

they sent FOUR (4) fighter jets (2 x F-22s, 2 x F-15s) to “survey the situation”, before firing that $400k AIM-9x Sidewinder A2A missile to shoot the balloon down.

America used a $400,000 missile fired from a $216,000,000 fighter jet to shoot down…

… a weather balloon.

China can just send more balloons….

Why US Shot Down Chinese Spy Balloon With Missile!

This is yet another example of PROPAGANDA created and propagated by the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛), and pro-CCP netizens, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : There Were Two Chinese Balloons

On Friday, February 3, 2023, China admitted that the massive balloon hovering over the US state of Montana belonged to them, but claimed that it was a weather balloon and not a spy balloon.

Later that same Friday, a second balloon was spotted over Latin America. It took China another 3 days to admit that it was theirs, and another “weather balloon” that was “blown off course”.

Fact #2 : Chinese Balloon Was Not A Weather Balloon

Weather balloons are common – thousands are launched daily across the world to collect information on the temperature, wind and moisture in the upper atmosphere.

The Chinese weather balloon that the US Air Force just shot down is not only much larger at around 90 feet (27.5 metres) wide, it also has a very large payload that includes large solar panels, and even propellers to control its movement.

The kinds of weather balloons that are launched twice a day from Weather Service offices are typically just a little box that has a temperature sensor, relative humidity sensor, pressure sensor and then a little tiny transmitter. Based on the photos that have been going around, there’s obviously a lot more equipment on this one.
– Alexandra Anderson-Frey, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Washington

Real weather balloons also do not travel far – they generally go up to a high altitude and stay there. Spy balloons, on the other hand, need to travel long distances. This Chinese balloon has travelled all the way from China to Alaska to Canada, before reaching the continental United States.

The reported characteristics of this balloon don’t really match anything that we’re familiar with. This has been traveling at a much longer distance than what would be these standard weather balloons.

[Standard weather balloons] go up over one particular place and up to about 50,000 feet in the atmosphere, and then that’s it, they’re done. They don’t travel large distances, so I think that there’s pretty significant differences between typical weather balloons and this reported balloon.
– Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at Accuweather

Fact #3 : Chinese Balloon Was At Very High Altitude

The US Air Force sent two F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to take down the spy balloon, with two F-15 fighters to probably take videos and photos of the event.

While Chinese netizens may snigger at how the USAF has to use such an expensive fighter jet to shoot down a cheap Chinese balloon, they ignore the fact that the Chinese spy balloon was operating at a very high altitude of about 65,000 feet – that’s 20 km above ground level!

The F-22 Raptor was likely chosen for the task as it was most capable of flying to such a high altitude while loaded with missiles. Many jet fighters have “similar” maximum service ceilings, but their true service ceilings are often much lower, limited by the amount of armament and/or fuel they carry.

Fact #4 : Missile Was Necessary To Shoot Down Balloon

In the end, the F-22 Raptor with the callsign FRANK01 attained an altitude of 58,000 feet (17.7 km) before firing an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile at the balloon. It was the first air-to-air combat kill for the F-22.

While Chinese netizens mocked the use of such an expensive missile, the AIM-9X Sidewinder is the smallest and cheapest air-to-air missile in the USAF arsenal.

It would be impossible for the F-22 Raptor pilot to use its 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan rotary cannon to shoot down the balloon, which is still 7,000 feet (2.1 km) above it!

In case you are wondering – the M61A2 Vulcan has an effective range of only 2,000 feet (600 metres). So a missile was necessary to bring down the Chinese spy balloon, and the AIM-9X was the right tool for the job.

Interestingly, the FRANK callsign may be a reference to World War I Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr., who is known as the “Arizona Balloon Buster” for shooting down 14 German balloons, as well as four planes.

Fact #5 : China Breaks International Law With Spy Balloon Overflights

It is ludicrous for anyone to claim that China can keep sending “cheap” spy balloons to trigger the Americans, as every country has “complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory” under international law.

Such acts are therefore violations of international law, and infringements of the sovereignty of the countries that these spy balloons overfly.

That’s why Chinese government keeps claiming that these spy balloons are civilian craft. That is also why the US government has the right to shoot down the spy balloon without asking China for permission.

Fact #6 : Every Fallen Balloon Is An Intelligence Bonanza

In the United States, Republicans are complaining that President Joe Biden was weak in allowing the Chinese spy balloon to fly off the coast of South Carolina before shooting it down on Saturday afternoon, February 4, 2023.

What they don’t tell the people is that President Joe Biden asked the US Air Force to shoot down the spy balloon as soon as it was safe to do so.

On top of that, the US military wanted to retrieve the spy balloon to examine its payload, and the best way to keep the payload intact would be to bring down the balloon over shallow water, instead of land.

In accordance with the President’s direction, the military brought down the balloon within sovereign U.S. airspace and over U.S. territorial waters to protect civilians while maximizing our ability to recover the payload.

On Monday, February 6, 2023, the first parts of the Chinese spy balloon arrived at the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, for further analysis.

Depending on what they recover, it may be possible to determine what these spy balloons are capable of, what it recorded, and who manufactured its components. The Americans may possibly gain insights into hitherto unknown Chinese technologies.

Instead of mocking the Americans for shooting down a “cheap” spy balloon, perhaps the Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛) and pro-CCP netizens should worry about what the Americans might find….

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Hunter Brown : Cause Of Death Not Vaccine SADS!

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Did US Air Force Academy cadet Hunter Brown collapse and die suddenly from vaccine SADS, on the way to class?!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what Hunter Brown died from, and why it was not vaccine SADS!

Claim : Cadet Hunter Brown Collapsed From Vaccine SADS!

When news broke that US Air Force Academy cadet Hunter Brown suddenly collapsed and died on the way to class, anti-vaccination activists immediately claimed that he died from the COVID-19 vaccine!

We know he had the jab because he had to stay to in the Air Force. This is really getting out of hand…how many more people have to die before these woke pricks shut down this massive deadly vaccine scam?
Air Force football player Hunter Brown dead at 21

Air Force football player Hunter Brown dead at 21
Another healthy young person dies for no reason. Thousands have died this way. I have no proof, but and many, many scientists and doctors think it’s the vaccine.

BREAKING REPORT: Offensive Lineman From Air Force Academy Hunter Brown DIES SUDDENLY While Walking to Class…

When is it ok to ask questions about the vaccine?

Truth : Hunter Brown Did Not Die Suddenly From Vaccine SADS!

It’s now tradition for anti-vaccination activists to immediately blame all athlete deaths or illnesses on the COVID-19 vaccine.

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Cadet Hunter Brown Suffered A Medical Emergency

On Sunday, January 8, 2023, Candyce and Dustin Brown spoke on the phone with their son, cadet Hunter Brown, who was at his dorm, discussing his class schedule for his sophomore year at the the US Air Force Academy.

Hunter was recovering from a foot surgery he underwent two months earlier, to treat a torn ligament he suffered during football practice.

The next day, Hunter Brown experienced a “medical emergency” while leaving his dormitory for class that Monday morning. It was the USAFA cadets’ first day back from their winter break.

A 21 year-old sophomore (second year student) from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Hunter was also an offensive lineman on the US Air Force’s Falcon football team.

First responders attempted live saving measures, but were ultimately unsuccessful. The US Air Force Academy announced his death on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

With heavy hearts we share the loss of a cadet.

C3C [Cadet Third Class] Hunter Brown died Monday after suffering a medical emergency while on his way to class.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and fellow cadets. #NeverForgotten

Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent also issued a statement on Hunter Brown’s death:

Hunter was a standout offensive lineman on the Falcon football team and was well-respected in his squadron.

The entire U.S. Air Force Academy mourns his loss, and our hearts and condolences are with his family, his squadron, and all who were touched by this incredible young man.

Fact #2 : Hunter Brown’s Cause Of Death Was Pulmonary Embolism

Agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office secured the area where Hunter Brown collapsed and eventually died. They then conducted an investigation into his death – a standard protocol for any military member who dies on-base.

The El Paso County Coroner’s Office said that Hunter Brown’s autopsy was expected to take several weeks. At the end of January 2023, they told his parents of their preliminary results.

According to the preliminary report, the cause of death for Hunter Brown was pulmonary embolism – blood clots in his lungs. Officials said they found a blood clot in his uninjured leg that was likely to blame for his pulmonary embolism.

The final autopsy result for Hunter Brown has not been released, pending toxicology reports.

Fact #3 : Hunter Brown’s Parents Spoke Out Against Conspiracy Theories

Hunter Brown’s parents spoke up against the conspiracy theories about his death. His mother, Candyce said:

He had a surgery two months before, but we don’t want to feed into any conspiracies. We also still have our personal questions about why, but it wasn’t put out there that he had surgery. No one knew that.

They told Military.com that they didn’t appreciate members of the public speculating about the cause of his sudden death, when they did not know the official cause, and didn’t have the recent context of his recent foot surgery.

Fact #4 : Hunter Brown’s Sister Said He Didn’t Die From Vaccine

Hunter Brown’s sister, Hannah, recently said publicly that her brother’s death was not due to a “jab”, in response to yet another callous post about his death.

Please take this down now. It wasn’t due to a “jab”. This isn’t political and we are hurting.

Fact #5 : Hunter Brown Was Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Despite claims that he was “forced” to get vaccinated, it was initially unknown if Hunter Brown was ever vaccinated against COVID-19.

Hunter Brown was a sophomore (second year) student at the United States Air Force Academy, which does not have a vaccine mandate for students. The Department of Defense only had a vaccine mandate for service members, not cadets.

On August 30, 2021, the United States Air Force Academy held a vaccination point of distribution for cadets to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in line with the guidance from the Secretary of Defense. Department of Defense guidance is that only vaccines fully licensed by the FDA are mandated for service members.

Currently, no administrative or disciplinary actions will be taken against cadets who do not receive the vaccine. Service-level policies, when released, determine what, if any, actions will be taken.

It was only on January 27, 2023, that his family confirmed to Military.com that he was vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fact #6 : Claims Of Athletes Injured By COVID-19 Vaccine Proven False

This is yet another example of anti-vaccination activists abusing athlete deaths / injuries to create and propagate FAKE NEWS about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

So far, claims of athlete deaths / injuries due to the COVID-19 vaccine have been proven false at every instance. Here is the latest dozen cases I fact checked:

Will these anti-vaccination activists apologise for lying to you? Nope! They will just move on to the next athlete tragedy…

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Restricted F-16 + Missile Info Leaked In Game Forum!

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Restricted information on the F-16 fighter jet and its AIM-120 AMRAAM missile were just leaked in the War Thunder game forum!

Restricted F-16 Fighter + Missile Info Leaked In Game Forum!

Fans of War Thunder are always arguing about fighter jets and their weapons in that free-to-play combat vehicle simulator game, and those arguments can get pretty heated.

One F-16 fighter jet discussion that started in July 2022 became more heated after the F-16 Fighting Falcon was added in the Apex Predator’s update in December.

On Monday, 16 January 2023, a War Thunder gamer called spacenavy90 accidentally posted Restricted information on the F-16 and its AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, during a discussion on how accurately the War Thunder developers modelled the F-16’s flight and cockpit weapons control system, known as the Stores Control Panel (SCP).

Interesting thing I found during my research. During early AMRAAM testing you can see how F-16A would equip the AIM-120 and use TWS on the non-MFD stores control panel “SCP”:

He backed up his post by attaching four documents. Three appear to be research reports on the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, while the fourth was the F-16 Pilot’s Handbook for the AMRAAM missile.

(U) High-Performance Wingless Missile Research
(U) AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), Force Development Evaluation (FDE), Phase 3, Part B (3B)
(U) Weapons File, 2009
(U) Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Manned Air Combat Simulation (AMRAAM MACS). F-16 Pilot’s Handbook

Leaked F-16 Fighter + Missile Info : Old But Still Restricted!

Now, the documents were old and no longer classified. In fact, they were all marked “Unclassified”. So the offence wasn’t as egregious as the earlier leak of the Chinese DT10-125 tank ammunition!

The High-Performance Wingless Missile Research document, for example, was published in May 1999, while the F-16 pilot’s handbook on the AMRAAM missile was published in May 1982!

The AIM-120 AMRAAM Force Development Evaluation paper was newer, being published in August 2000, while the Weapons File was the newest document – published in July 2009.

However, they are all still considered Restricted information, as the documents were labelled “Export Controlled” and “DoD Only“, as well as “distribution authorised to US government agencies only“.

As another War Thunder gamer pointed out, “The penalty for conviction of unauthorised disclosure includes up to 10 years in prison, a large fine, or both.”

A moderator quickly removed the documents, and replied to the post saying that they contained export-restricted information, and posting them was not permitted “per U.S. Laws on restricted and export restricted data“.

War Thunders developer, Gaijin Entertainment, later issued a statement :

A user posted some information on AMRAAM missiles for F-16. As far as we know, these documents are considered export restricted and are not meant to be shared or used by unauthorised people. We always delete posts containing classified or restricted information from our forum as soon as possible. We forbid our users to share documents like this on our platforms. We remind our users again and again that it’s both illegal and pointless, so they should never do that. We never use documents like this in our work.

So, we deleted the posts. The documents themselves were in fact posted via links to a third-party Discord server, so they were never actually uploaded to our own servers. In any case, we made sure that those links are not available to the visitors of our forum or our employees.

F-16 Fighter + Missile : Just Latest Leaked Info On War Thunder Forum!

This is hardly the first time military personnel and enthusiasts accidentally leaked sensitive or classified information during heated arguments.

Just 3 days ago, another War Thunder forum user posted screenshots of a USAF Air Combat Command paper manual published in 2015, and an F-15 operating manual published by McDonnell Douglas in 1993.

Both manuals had a printed warning that they “contain technical data whose export is restricted”, with violations “subject to severe criminal penalties”.

In June 2022, a photo of the tungsten penetrator of the latest DTC10-125 tank ammunition used in China’s main battle tanks was posted together with its classified technical data!

In 2021, parts of the United Kingdom’s Challenger 2 tank user manual was leaked by someone who claimed to be a Challenger 2 tank commander, who was trying to convince the game developers to make their in-game model closer to the real tank!

Say what you will – War Thunder gamers are really passionate about the game, and how accurately it reflects real-life military equipment!

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Sister : Hunter Brown’s Sudden Death Not Due To Jab!

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USAF cadet Hunter Brown’s sister has spoken up about her brother’s sudden death, saying that it was not due to the COVID-19 vaccine jab!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : USAF Cadet Hunter Brown Collapsed From Vaccine SADS!

When news broke that US Air Force Academy cadet Hunter Brown suddenly collapsed and died on the way to class, anti-vaccination activists immediately claimed that he died from the COVID-19 vaccine!

Praying for the family of Hunter Brown as well as all Air Force families who have brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren who were forced to take the mRNA jabs. They didn’t need them, and sometimes there are real consequences. Let’s hope that wasn’t the case here. So sad.

Sister : Hunter Brown’s Sudden Death Not Due To Jab!

On January 9, 2023, US Air Force Academy cadet Hunter Brown experienced a “medical emergency” while leaving his dormitory for class that Monday morning. It was the USAFA cadets’ first day back from their winter break.

A 21 year-old sophomore (second year student) from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Hunter was also an offensive lineman on the US Air Force’s Falcon football team.

First responders attempted live saving measures, but were ultimately unsuccessful. The US Air Force Academy announced his death on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

With heavy hearts we share the loss of a cadet.

C3C [Cadet Third Class] Hunter Brown died Monday after suffering a medical emergency while on his way to class.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and fellow cadets. #NeverForgotten

Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent also issued a statement on Hunter Brown’s death:

Hunter was a standout offensive lineman on the Falcon football team and was well-respected in his squadron.

The entire U.S. Air Force Academy mourns his loss, and our hearts and condolences are with his family, his squadron, and all who were touched by this incredible young man.

Even though details about Hunter Brown’s death was extremely limited, anti-vaccination activists immediately blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his death.

Agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office secured the area where Hunter Brown collapsed and eventually died. They are now conducting an investigation into his death – a standard protocol for any military member who dies on-base.

According to the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, Hunter Brown’s autopsy is expected to take several weeks. Until they finish their investigations and reveal the cause of his death, anyone who tells you that cadet Hunter Brown died from this or that cause is most likely lying to you.

However, one person close to Hunter Brown – his sister, Hannah Brown, said that her brother’s death was not due to a “jab”, in response to yet another callous post about his death.

Please take this down now. It wasn’t due to a “jab”. This isn’t political and we are hurting.

Despite her plea on January 12, 2023, the OP did not remove his post suggesting that Hunter Brown may have been killed by the “mRNA jabs”.

Hannah appeared to have tried fending off questions about whether her brother died from the COVID-19 vaccine, with a post asking for privacy on January 11, 2023:

If you aren’t close to my family you have no business being nosey and asking what happened. It’s already hard enough.

Stop Hounding Hunter Brown’s Family Over His Sudden Death!

No one should be hounding the Brown family over the death of their brother and son. His sister has already publicly said that Hunter Brown did not die from the COVID-19 vaccine. What else do you need to know?

If you have such a morbid interest in Hunter Brown’s sudden death, can’t you wait for the autopsy? If you don’t trust the autopsy, then why keep claiming that the authorities are covering up vaccine deaths by not performing autopsies?

So lay off the Brown family, and wait for the autopsy results to be revealed publicly. Until that time, there is ZERO EVIDENCE that Hunter Brown died from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Heck, we don’t even know if Hunter Brown was ever vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first place!

On top of that, claims of athlete deaths / injuries due to the COVID-19 vaccine have been proven false at every instance.

Will these anti-vaccination activists apologise for lying to you? Nope! They will just move on to the next athlete tragedy…

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

Don’t forget to protect yourself, and your family, by vaccinating against COVID-19!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did US Navy Fleet Escort Nancy Pelosi To Taiwan?!

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Did a massive US Navy fleet of warships and fighters escort Nancy Pelosi safely to Taiwan?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Massive US Fleet Had To Escort Nancy Pelosi To Taiwan!

People are sharing a video which claims to show a massive fleet of warships and fighters that the United States used to escort Nancy Pelosi safety to Taiwan.

Here are some of the accompanying descriptions :

Pelosi gets more firepower escorting her flight to Asia than any US President flying anywhere ever had in history.

See, how Nancy Pelosi reached Taiwan, Escorted by fighter jets and the strength of US Blue Navy

Retired Pakistani Brigadier Ashfaq Hassan also shared the video, claiming that the US Air Force was authorised to shoot at Chinese aircraft or warships interfering with her flight.

👇Arrival of US Air Force One in Taiwan with US official Nancy Pelosi.
20 Warplanes were escorting Nancy Pelosi’s plane including US fighter jets. US air force authorized to open fire in case of any Chinese interference on the plane carrying Nancy Pelosi.

Truth : US Fleet Did Not Escort Nancy Pelosi To Taiwan

This is another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on social media and WhatsApp groups, and here are the reasons why….

Fact #1 : Nancy Pelosi’s Flight Had No US Escort

Nancy Pelosi flew from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Taipei, Taiwan aboard a Boeing C-40C – the military version of the Boeing 737 airliner, operated by the US Air Force.

Her flight with the callsign SPAR19 flew to Taipei without US fighter or warship escort, but was met by Taiwanese fighter escorts on entering Taiwanese airspace.

Fact #2 : Video Was Recorded At Valiant Shield 2020

The video was recorded on September 25, 2020 – just over two years ago, and had nothing to do with Nancy Pelosi, or Taiwan.

If you watch the official Valiant Shield 2020 video, you will see the same aircraft fly over the same ships at around 1:39. Here was the official description of the aircraft flyover :

PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 25, 2020) From left, USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Chicago (SSN 721), USS America (LHA 6), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), USS Antietam (CG 54), USS Germantown (LSD 42), and USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) steam in formation while E/A-18G Growlers and FA-18E Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, a P-8 Poseidon from Commander Task Force 72, and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and a B-1B Bomber fly over the formation in support of Valiant Shield 2020.

In this screenshot, you can see the same 3 flights of aircraft flying over the same warships in Valiant Shield 2020.

Fact #3 : US Air Force Won’t Send A Bomber As Escort

The lead aircraft in the flyover has a very distinctive shape. Any military buff will immediately identify it as a Rockwell B-1B Lancer.

The US Air Force would never send the B-1B, because it’s a supersonic heavy bomber, and useless as an escort aircraft.

Fact #4 : P-8 Poseidon Is An ASW Aircraft

The aircraft that looked like a Boeing 737 is actually a P-8 Poseidon, which is based on the 737-800ERX.

It is an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and is most certainly not a passenger transport aircraft like the Boeing C-40C.

Fact #5 : US Air Force Was Not Authorised To Open Fire

Retired Ashfaq Hassan falsely claimed that the US Air Force was authorised to open fire in case of Chinese interference with Nancy Pelosi’s flight.

It is such an absurd claim, because either party shooting at each other would have been considered an act of war.

In past confrontations, Chinese aircraft have only limited themselves to buzzing other aircraft and dumping chaff into their engines. No one ever fired a shot, because that would have led to an outbreak of war.

Fact #6 : China Sent 10 Observers To Valiant Shield 2020

Interestingly, the Chinese are well-aware that this video is from Valiant Shield 2020, because that was the first time they were invited to observe the exercise.

China sent a 10-person delegation, including one high-ranking officer each from its Navy, Army and Air Force to observe Valiant Shield 2020.

Chinese Rear Admiral Zhang Leiyu – the leader of this delegation, even called it “a positive step in China-US military ties”.

Fact #7 : This Is Just Chinese Propaganda

This is just another example of Chinese propaganda created by the infamous Chinese 50 Cent Army (wumao, 五毛).

All of the wumao articles and videos that I looked at so far have proven to be false… at every instance. So please watch out for such false claims.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

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