Cloud Seeding Operation Goes Awry

The owner of a suburban Moscow home feels like her government is dumping on her. Can't say we blame her... after all, we'd probably feel the same, too, if a government plane had dropped a sack of cement on our house.

Reuters reports a Russian air force aircraft accidentally dropped the 55-lb bag of cement on the home last week, during a seed-clouding exercise over the city.

"A pack of cement used in creating ... good weather in the capital region ... failed to pulverize completely at high altitude and fell on the roof of a house, making a hole about 80-100 cm (2.5-3 ft)," police in the suburb of Naro-Fominsk told RIA-Novosti on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Russian Air Force refused to comment on the incident. Such cloud-seeing exercises are common ahead of public holidays -- June 12 was Russia Day, commemorating the break-up of the Soviet Union and formation of the Russian Federation -- to literally prevent Mother Nature from raining on their parades.

Up to 12 aircraft are used for such operations, all carrying silver iodide, liquid nitrogen and cement powder to dry up moisture. Last week's incident was reportedly the first glitch in 20 years.

No one inside the home was injured. The homeowner refused an offer of 50,000 rubles from the air force -- that's only about $2,100 US -- and said she planned to instead sue for damages.

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_seeding