Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 775; Flight Crew Type 450
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
While taxiing to Runway 23 on Taxiway E; I noticed a small white object floating approximately 1-2 miles north/northeast of the airport at approximately 2;000 AGL. It was moving very slowly; approximately 15 knots on about a 130-degree track. It appeared to be a few feet in diameter with an elliptical shape.I queried the tower controller to ask if the facility was aware of what the object was. The controller was unaware of the object's presence. Upon further investigation; the controller informed me that it appeared to be a balloon with some sort of device tethered and freely swinging from the bottom of the balloon.This was consistent with my observation. A bright light or perhaps the sun's reflection would illuminate off of the metallic object at the bottom of the balloon. I have seen this object once before about 4 months ago on the final approach course to Runway 10 at this airport. The controller in that situation was also unaware of what it was.
A C172 pilot reports sighting an object in the sky while taxiing to Runway 23 at LAF. The Tower is also able to see the object which appears to be a balloon with a metallic object swinging below. The Tower Controller was initially unaware of the object and it appeared to be in the Class D airspace.