Fisherman found AIM-9 Sidewinder

This takes some real brains. Ya find a missile in a known weapons testing area in the Gulf of Mexico. Strap it to your boat and take in to shore! Smart!!!
http://news-press.com/article/20090609/NEWS01/90609017

 

Not too many gray cells up in the ole noggin':

 

I was just reading this story pretty crazy

 

With the Eastern Gulf of Mexico set up with instrumented towers for fighter training and live shots is amazing there isn't a whole lot more found.

 

what a friggin dipsquat. Guess he's got too much time in the sun and baked his noggin.

 

This is an AIM-9M.


And a AIM-9X for comparison

 

The last thing I'd want to do if I saw a modern missile would be bring it to my house let along touch it. My Dad was digging post holes back when I was a kid and actually dug up an unexploded civil war cannon ball. Even so, it sat outside for years before we dared put the thing out in the garage.

 

Even things like 20mm ammunition shouldn't be played with if found. It is electrically primed. All it needs is 28 volts. Ummm, kinda like static electricity.

 

"I had it strapped to the roof of my boat as we road through lightning storms," said Rodney, noting missiles are usually activated by electrical charge.

You gotta be f-n kidding me. What a dumbass.

 

hahaha! to bad he doesn't get a keepsake..

 

Hell yeah he had to bring it back to show his buddies. It would be a awesome beer opener!!!

That sucks he does all the work and he can't keep it. LMFAO

 

the comments are pretty funny too

 

hmmm i wouldve put that next to my fireplace. or on some hooks right above my bed...ohh and dont worry it will be earthquake proof

 

whats all the fuss about.

 

I would have saved it for the 4th of july...free fireworks!!! haha

 

It reminds me of the scene in band of brothers when the dud artillery round lands next to the guys in bastogne

 

They didn't say whether or not it had a live warhead. You can have inert missiles. Take for example of the two pics shown above, the first Aim-9 has the yellow band indicating high explosives and the brown band for a live rocket motor. The second Aim-9(X) has the blue, inert band on it indicating it's just a training missile with a live seeker head.

But, I'm guessing it was a full up deal that missed it's target for some reason.

I've got a 20mm round and a 30mm round, but they've been deprimed and emptied of any powder. The look cool next to the 20mm gun barrel.

 

Missiles fired from Eglin AFB and Tyndall AFB will of course have a live rocket motor but some of the shoots the warhead will be removed and a telemetry pack will be put in its place. Drones are expensive so they remove the warheads. Other times the warheads are in place so the missile will function as designed.

 

They said is was infact live and they had to bring a bomb squad to disarm it.

 

that is great...