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Info-ParaNet Newsletters Volume 1 Number 593
Info-ParaNet Newsletters Volume I Number 593
Monday, September 21st 1992
(C) Copyright 1992 Paranet Information Service. All Rights Reserved.
Today's Topics:
Re: Ufo/alien Themes In Ads
U.n. May Offer Answers To Outer Space Messages
Welcome
Alien Substance From Space
Re: Alien Substance From Space
Ufo Abductions: A Lucrative Game
Fireballs
Meteorite/Fireball object spotted?
Meteorite/Fireball object spotted?
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireballs - Part 2
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireballs - Part 3
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireballs - Conclusion
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Re: Ufo/alien Themes In Ads
Date: 16 Sep 92 18:10:02 GMT
* Forwarded from "Alt.Alien.Visitors"
* Originally from Rhys Weatherley
* Originally dated 09-14-92 12:23
From: rhys@cs.uq.oz.au (Rhys Weatherley)
Date: 14 Sep 92 01:06:50 GMT
Message-ID: <10279@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au>
Newsgroups: alt.alien.visitors
In <Bu8q6L.9FG@agora.rain.com> krowell@agora.rain.com (Keith Rowell) writes:
>I'm trying to catalog the use of UFO/alien themes in
>advertisements, especially in nationally distributed ads
>in the print or electronic media. Here's what I have so far.
>If you have any information on others, please email me or reply
>to the net. Thanks a lot.
Great list Keith.
Now for an Australian one: the Gobbledok has been a frequent visitor to
Australian TV screens over the past few years in adverts for Smiths Crisps.
I can't remember when he first appeared (any other Aussies know?) but he's
quite a cult figure now. :-) Some facts about the Gobbledok (please correct
me if I get anything wrong Aussies):
- Comes from the Potato Planet (and gets very homesick).
- Loves Smiths Crisps.
- Phrases he is known to utter: "Chippie!! Chippie!! Chippie!!", "Chippies!!",
"Smithies!!". These are uttered in a high-pitched voice. (It's not unusual
to hear Aussie kids talk about "Chippies", meaning they want some chips :-) .
- Short, about the size of an Ewok, furry, but a different face: big nose and
eyes, and no hair on the face. Usually also a punk-style hairdo.
- Fast! Early adverts would have a young couple sitting in their house (or
on the porch - can't remember which) eating Smiths Crisps, and the Gobbledok
would run past at high speed and steal them.
- The latest adverts have the Gobbledok and an Aussie farmer (and sometimes the
farmer's wife) eating Smiths Crisps with the Gobbledok, and the ad usually
ends with "You're not from around here, are you?" at which point the
Gobbledok looks at them with a strange expression on his face, as if to say,
"Are you stupid or something - of course I'm not from around here!". :-)
All in all, the Gobbledok is cute and friendly. If only the greys took after
him ... :-)
Cheers,
Rhys.
--
Rhys Weatherley, University of Queensland, Australia.
rhys@cs.uq.oz.au "I'm a FAQ nut - what's your problem?"
--
Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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From: Mike.Keithly@p0.f605.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Mike Keithly)
Subject: U.n. May Offer Answers To Outer Space Messages
Date: 16 Sep 92 22:08:03 GMT
* Forwarded from "Internet Alien Visitors Conference"
* Originally by Sml108@psuvm.psu.edu
* Originally to All
* Originally dated 16 Sep 1992, 12:27
From: SML108@psuvm.psu.edu
Date: 15 Sep 92 21:29:03 GMT
Organization: Penn State University
Message-ID: <92259.172903SML108@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.alien.visitors,sci.skeptic
or
Hey maybe that Don Allen guy is on to something :-)....
by Peter James Spielman, assoicated press writer, 9/15/92
UNITED NATIONS--After more than 30 years of listening to radio waves from
outer space for greetings from an alien civilization, scientists are
planning to turn to the United Nations for guidance on how to answer.
Dozens of times, scientists have picked up radio waves matching the
expected signature of a message from space. But these have not been
confirmed as genuine contacts because they were fleeting and unverifiable.
With new NASA equipment joining the search next month, radio astronomers
believe they will ultimately be able to confirm that a future transmission
is a sign from a distant planet.
Radio astronomers and engineers involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence, commonly called SETI, this month began consulting with their
colleagues in all scientific disciplines for suggestions on what the reply
to aliens should be.
After sifting and winnowing their own ideas, the scientists plan to seek
a decision from the U.N. General Assembly's Committee on the Peaceful Uses
of Outer Space.
"The basic thinking all along is that this decision ought to be put into
the hands of the United Nations," said John Billingham, head of the SETI
project at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif.
In a "white paper" now being circulated to space scientists worldwide,
one key principle is that Earth should reply with one voice, on behalf
of all humanity, than than individual states sending a response, according
to scientists familiar with the document.
"We have always considered this not just a U.S. question, but an
international question." Billingham said. "Everybody, in some way or
another, should be involved in it." [
Officials at the U.S. State Department, speaking on condition of
anonymity, say they are leaving this initiative to the scientists.
The space scientists plan to refine their ideas at international
meetings in April and October 1993.
The 53-nation Committee of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Sapce has in the
past drafted five intermational treaties on the peaceful uses of outer
space, and three internationally accepted declarations of legal
principles.
The scientists would have to find a sponsor nationa to bring their ideas
before the U.N. committee. Then, Billingham said, the committee could
accept wide-ranging testimony from scientists, historians, philosophers
and political delegates to shape Earth's reply to a message from
another planet.
--
Mike Keithly - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Welcome
Date: 17 Sep 92 06:26:01 GMT
This is to welcome Bob Dunn and the Fortean Research Center of Lincoln,
Nebraska to the ParaNet family. ParaNet ALPHA-BETA is now logged into the
network.
Bob, please take a moment and introduce yourself and your group.
Michael Corbin
Director
--
Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Alien Substance From Space
Date: 17 Sep 92 14:53:01 GMT
* Forwarded from "Misc.Headlines"
* Originally from Stupendous Man
* Originally dated 09-16-92 12:27
From: demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man)
Date: 15 Sep 92 21:59:34 GMT
Organization: Demonic Possesions, Inc.
Message-ID: <1992Sep15.165934.4132@desire.wright.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.space,misc.headlines
Anyone have any ideas as to what the substance found on NASA's long
term exposure unit is?
Apparently it's something never before seen on Earth.
The substance is a few microns of crystal-like material found on a
piece of teflon from the structure.
Brett
_______________________________________________________________________________
Proconsul Computer Consulting CHA-CHING!
Better, Cheaper, Faster (Pick any two :)
Disclaimer: NOT!
--
Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Re: Alien Substance From Space
Date: 17 Sep 92 14:54:02 GMT
* Forwarded from "Misc.Headlines"
* Originally from Ron Baalke
* Originally dated 09-16-92 18:02
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Date: 17 Sep 92 03:09:48 GMT
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Message-ID: <1992Sep16.191305.12755@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov>
Newsgroups: sci.space,misc.headlines
>In article <1992Sep15.165934.4132@desire.wright.edu> demon@desire.wright.edu
(Stupendous Man) writes:
> Anyone have any ideas as to what the substance found on NASA's long
>term exposure unit is?
> Apparently it's something never before seen on Earth.
> The substance is a few microns of crystal-like material found on a
>piece of teflon from the structure.
A "growth" was discovered on LDEF with an electron microscope. It hasn't
been identified yet, and all biological testing has turned up negative.
It seemed to have formed during the time LDEF was in space.
___ _____ ___
/_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
| | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab |
___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | Quiet people aren't the
/___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | only ones who don't say
|_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | much.
--
Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Ufo Abductions: A Lucrative Game
Date: 17 Sep 92 15:04:03 GMT
* Forwarded from "Sci.Skeptic"
* Originally from Robert P.j. Day 277-3175
* Originally dated 09-14-92 18:43
From: rpjday@cuug.ab.ca (Robert P.J. Day 277-3175)
Date: 11 Sep 92 20:29:29 GMT
Organization: Calgary UNIX Users' Group
Message-ID: <1992Sep11.202929.3775@cuug.ab.ca>
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Next week, Thurs, Sept 17, I will be a guest on a local radio talk
show here in Calgary, discussing UFOs, including the field of UFO abductions.
Conicidentally, this weekend, there is a psychic fair which features
two speakers, talking about that very subject. From the Fri, Sept 11
Calgary Herald,
"Psychic fair probing UFO calling cards"
Many people have "missing time" in their lives they can't account for,
says a Langley, B.C. woman who believes she was abducted by aliens in
a UFO.
"People who have undergone trauma may not be able to remember it. It's
like missing time," says Linda Taylor, a registered nurse and trauma
counselor.
"It may have been that they suffered from sexual abuse or an accident
or illness when they were young and it's been blocked from their
consciousness."
Taylor said that until she was in her 30s she was plagued by the
feeling that something happened to her when she was four.
"I thought I'd been a sexual abuse victim."
When she confronted her parents about it, they told her she'd been
abducted by humanoids in a UFO near Langley and examined on a table.
Since then, she's had "spontaneous recall" of that event and subsequent
other times aliens followed and contacted her.
"Aliens treat us like we treat bears," she says.
"They give us a shot, take us away, tag us, then drop us miles from
where they originally knocked us out."
Taylor says she feels more at peace with her experiences since going
public with them several months ago and by helping other victims of
aliens, childhood incidents and secual attacks.
Taylor and Ed Hicks will lecture about UFO experiences at the ninth
annual Psychic ESP Fair today through Sunday at the Calgary Convention
Centre, which also includes talks by psychics.
Hicks, a Tofield-born "research scientist," says that crop circles
found in Alberta fields are mathematical signs given to us by aliens
that Earth is going through major weather, crop and environmental
changes.
He says an alien gave him an idea for his invention, the Dream Dome
(available soon for under $30), a canopy put over a bed which reportedly
aids sleep.
But not everyone is convinced there are spaceships in Alberta.
There have been few UFO sightings in Calgary in recent years, says
Bill Peters, executive director of the Aoberta Science Centre.
"No one has convinced me that we're being visited by Little Green Men,"
he says. "Most things that people see in the sky have logical
explanations."
Sightings around North America have dropped off in the past five
years, partly because of lack of evidence of UFOs, which has "devolved
the subject from science down to the checkout counter tabloids."
Peters adds, though, that he believes some planets are probably
inhabited by beings.
"We live in a big, complex universe. We've learned in 5,000 years
of astronomy not to set up our world as special and unique."
*** END OF ARTICLE ***
Comments, anyone? As if I had to ask :-)
R. Day
Member, Alberta Skeptics
... the pit bull of skepticism ...
--
Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Fireballs
Date: 17 Sep 92 21:42:01 GMT
Below is an interesting article regarding a fireball over Europe, and the
subsequent article on the new aircraft that is being tested.
Date: 20 Aug 92 20:04:24 GMT
From: LJ10717@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Subject: Meteorite/Fireball object spotted?
Newsgroups: sci.space
Hello,
I just recently heard over NPR (National Public Radio) that a possible
"meteorite" was spotted over Europe somewhere. I missed the information on
exactly where it was spotted. However, the object was accompanied by large
tremors covering a 12 mile stretch and a flood of calls to authorities who
have already confirmed that the "fireball" object was NOT
military test aircraft, abnormal weather patterns, an earthquake OR
anything else identifiable, at this point.
If anyone has specifics to this event please post or email. Thank you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diamond - lj10717@lmsc5.is.lmsc.lockheed.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 07:08:32 GMT
From: Harm Munk <munk@prl.philips.nl>
Subject: Meteorite/Fireball object spotted?
Newsgroups: sci.space
LJ10717@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM writes:
>Hello,
>I just recently heard over NPR (National Public Radio) that a possible
>"meteorite" was spotted over Europe somewhere. I missed the information on
>
>Diamond - lj10717@lmsc5.is.lmsc.lockheed.com
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday evening, at around 22:30 local time (20:30 UT) in the northern
part of the Netherlands, a loud, explosion-like noise was heard. At the time,
the air space over this area was closed (it is controlled by a military air
base), and no other military or civilian air activity was going on. Also, no
reports of accidents were reported. The European Space Organisation reported
no space junk entering the atmosphere at that time in that area.
The Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute has six
seismic measuring stations in and near that part of Holland to measure seismic
activity in the gas fields in the northern parts of Holland. All six stations
registered the explosion, and the seismograms indicate that it was a sound
wave and not a seismic wave. From the order of reception of the sound waves
it was concluded that something caused a shock wave above or near the town
Joure in Friesland (a province in the Netherlands). Eye witnesses said that
they saw a 'pillar of fire in the sky'. Alas, at the time that part of the
Netherlands was heavily overcast, so whatever these people saw was filtered
by the clouds.
At this moment, the best guess is that a meteorite of approximately 30 cm
diameter entered the atmosphere and exploded at a height of 10 kilometers
above the town of Joure. Up to this moment, no fragments have been found.
+----------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Harm Munk | Building WAY 11 |
| Philips Research Laboratories | P.O. Box 80 000 |
| Knowledge Based Systems | 5600 JA Eindhoven |
| | The Netherlands |
| #include <standard.disclaimer> | tel. +31 40 74 46 59 |
| | email: munk@prl.philips.nl |
+----------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 07:42:08 GMT
From: Harm Munk <munk@prl.philips.nl>
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro
On wednesday, August 19, seismic stations located in the northwestern part
of the Netherlands registered an atmospheric shock wave, which, apparantly,
was not related to any seismic activity. In the following days, the Royal
Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI) in the Netherlands investigated the
matter and came to the conclusion that it had probably been a meteor with a
cross section of 30 cm which had exploded over the town of Joure in Friesland
(a Dutch province).
[See previous postings on Fireball over NW Europe]
Later investigations by the KNMI and a group of astronomers showed that the
only possible explanation left is not a meteorite or space junk, but some kind
of supersonic, military airplane breaking the sound barrier some ten miles west
of the island of Texel. According to the KNMI, this is the only explanation
left allthough it is an unsatisfactory one.
Because it supposedly was a military airplane, the KNMI contacted the military
airbase Aurora in Scotland, but the spokesperson at Aurora did not know
of any observation of a supersonic, military aircraft that evening.
So, what was it? Rumours in the newspapers suggested that it was that highly
secretive airplane that Lockeed is developing for the DoD: the two stage get
to orbit plane (like DynaSoar and Saenger ?). Now, this plane has been sighted
in the US a few times.
The supposed sighting in the Netherlands was accompanied not only by sonic
booms (energetic enough to crack the front of a house somewhere in the province
of
Friesland) but some people reported seeing a flash of light as well. Was this
also the case with the sightings in the US?
And why would the DoD start testing a secret plane outside US territory?
And why was someone from Lockeed Space and Missiles Systems asking questions
on the net about this event (;-)?
+----------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
| Harm Munk | Building WAY 11 |
| Philips Research Laboratories | P.O. Box 80 000 |
| Knowledge Based Systems | 5600 JA Eindhoven |
| | The Netherlands |
| #include <standard.disclaimer> | tel. +31 40 74 46 59 |
| | email: munk@prl.philips.nl |
+----------------------------------------+------------------------------------+
<<Continued in next message..>>
--
Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Fireballs - Part 2
Date: 17 Sep 92 21:43:02 GMT
<..Continued from previous message>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 13:36:51 GMT
From: Gerald Cecil <cecil@physics.unc.edu>
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro
In article 715246928@prles6b, munk@prl.philips.nl (Harm Munk) writes:
>On wednesday, August 19, seismic stations located in the northwestern part
>of the Netherlands registered an atmospheric shock wave, which, apparantly,
>was not related to any seismic activity .. but some kind
>of supersonic, military airplane breaking the sound barrier some ten miles west
>of the island of Texel. According to the KNMI, this is the only explanation
>left allthough it is an unsatisfactory one. ...
>The supposed sighting in the Netherlands was accompanied not only by sonic
>booms (energetic enough to crack the front of a house somewhere in the
>province of Friesland) but some people reported seeing a flash of light as
>well. Was this also the case with the sightings in the US?
They probably saw a low-flying military aircraft with its afterburners on.
Maybe it punched through a low-lying cloud deck on its way out.
>Rumours in the newspapers suggested that it was that highly
>secretive airplane that Lockeed is developing for the DoD: the two stage get
>to orbit plane (like DynaSoar and Saenger ?). Now, this plane has been sighted
>in the US a few times. ...
According to Aviation Week & Space Technology (aka AvLeak) in issues prior to
Aug. 24, this aircraft is an SR 71 replacement developed by Lockheed
Skunkworks. Speeds estimated at 3500+ mph.
*Not* a 2 stage to orbit plane. It has only been seen near the ground dimly at
night, and was described as `bat-like'' similar to the B2 airfoil. People
report a low frequency, growling noise of tremendous power at takeoff. Daytime
photos of peculiar corkscrew contrails that have been attributed to this
aircraft suggest an ``explosive'' or pulsed propulsion system, but the
observers did not have binoculars to see the plane itself (flying at high
altitudes). AvLeak reports an increasing number of daytime sightings like this,
suggesting that the program is emerging from the so-called Black (i.e.
non-itemized) DoD budget into full Congressional scrutiny, presumably because
the DoD has now sunk so much money into it and distributed its contractors into
so many Congressional districts that the program is unkillable. Yet another
multi-billion dollar aerospace program to protect US airspace from the Bosnian
airforce.
>And why was someone from Lockeed Space and Missiles Systems asking questions
>on the net about this event (;-)?
S/he was probably searching for a new job.
Gerald Cecil cecil@wrath.physics.unc.edu 919-962-7169
Physics & Astronomy, U of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3255 USA
------------------------------
Date: 31 Aug 92 15:59:44 +0100
From: Alan Greig <ccdarg@dct.ac.uk>
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro
In article <munk.715246928@prles6b>, munk@prl.philips.nl (Harm Munk) writes:
>
> Because it supposedly was a military airplane, the KNMI contacted the military
> airbase Aurora in Scotland, but the spokesperson at Aurora did not know
> of any observation of a supersonic, military aircraft that evening.
Can't say I've ever heard of a military airbase called Aurora in Scotland.
Sounds a very unlikely name for an RAF base in any case.
--
Alan Greig Janet: Alan@UK.AC.DUNDEE-TECH
Dundee Institute of Technology Tel: (0382) 308810
Scotland, UK
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 18:10:33 GMT
From: dearnsha@wizard.worldbank.org
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Newsgroups: sci.space
In article <1992Aug31.155944.272@dct.ac.uk> ccdarg@dct.ac.uk (Alan Greig)
writes:
+In article <munk.715246928@prles6b>, munk@prl.philips.nl (Harm Munk) writes:
+>
+> Because it supposedly was a military airplane, the KNMI contacted the
+> military airbase Aurora in Scotland, but the spokesperson at Aurora did not
+> know of any observation of a supersonic, military aircraft that evening.
+
+Can't say I've ever heard of a military airbase called Aurora in Scotland.
+Sounds a very unlikely name for an RAF base in any case.
+--
+
+Alan Greig Janet: Alan@UK.AC.DUNDEE-TECH
Aurora isn't an RAF base, it's the code name for a SR71 replacement.
It would appear (according to sc.military) that the new plane operates
out of a test facility out west (a'la U2/SR71), and uses Machrihanish
base in the U.K. as it's European base. More information on this can
be found on the sc.military newsgroup - although the information is
(understandbly) sparse and subject to interperatation.
<<Continued in next message..>>
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Fireballs - Part 3
Date: 17 Sep 92 21:43:03 GMT
<<..Continued from previous message>>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 14:39:21 EST
From: PHARABOD@FRCPN11.IN2P3.FR
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Regarding the August 19, 1992, event over The Netherlands, Harm Munk
writes (Mon, 31 Aug 1992 07:42:08 GMT):
>So, what was it? Rumours in the newspapers suggested that it was that
>highly secretive airplane that Lockeed is developing for the DoD: the
>two stage get to orbit plane (like DynaSoar and Saenger ?). Now,
>this plane has been sighted in the US a few times.
Here is an article from Aviation Week & Space Technology, August 24, 1992,
about this "highly secretive airplane":
RECENT SIGHTINGS OF XB-70-LIKE AIRCRAFT REINFORCE 1990 REPORTS FROM
EDWARDS AREA
William B. Scott/Lancaster,Calif.
A large aircraft having a planform reminiscent of the Air Force/North
American XB-70 supersonic bomber of the 1960s has been seen flying on
the U.S. East and West coasts over the last two years.
Two recent detailed reports of large, light-colored, XB-70 like
aircraft - one in Georgia and the other in California's Mojave desert -
provided new data that reinforce past sightings near Edwards AFB, Calif.
Since September, 1990, residents of Mojave, Calif., and workers at
Edwards AFB have seen a large, delta-shaped, light-colored aircraft
flying in the area. A total of five separate sightings of this vehicle
has been reported to AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY.
Observers said they first saw a large, primarily delta-shaped aircraft
at night during the summer of 1990. On Sept. 13, 1990, and Oct. 3, 1990,
the same type of aircraft was seen flying near Mojave, Calif., in the
late evening. Mojave is about 16 naut. mi. northwest of Edwards AFB.
The dusk sightings yielded descriptions and sketches of the aircraft
planform, nose and main landing gear door locations, leading edge
tile-like patterns, and lightings layout. Observers consistently
reported a red light beneath the nose, amber lights near the delta's
wingtips, and a white light between the main gear doors.
Engine noise associated with the aircraft seen on Sept. 19 was
described as a low-pitched rumble. However, noise from two chase
aircraft - one was an F-16, the other was not identified - may have
combined with that of the large aircraft, distorting the latter's
sound. Afterburner flames from twin exhaust ports located under the
wing trailing edge and immediately outboard of the aircraft centerline
during the Oct. 3 sighting.
CLUES ABOUT POSSIBLE MISSION
A similar aircraft was seen in April, 1991, at about 11 a.m., flying
north of Edwards AFB at an estimated altitude of 5,000-10,000 ft. An
observer said it was large - dwarfing an F-16 chasing it - and was
light colored, possibly white.
Independent sightings this year produced detailed sketches that
correlate well with earlier ones and provide additional clues about
the aircraft's possible mission. The first sighting this year was
near Atlanta, Ga., on May 10. Glenn Emery, now a writer associated
with Cable News Network, said a large, unidentified aircraft was
flying eastbound at about 5 p.m. Because its size was unknown, its
altitude was difficult to judge, but was estimated to be 10,000-
15,000 ft. The vehicle was clearly higher and faster than the airline
traffic descending for landing at Hartsfield Atlanta International
Airport. It was not leaving a contrail.
He described the aircraft's planform as large, somewhat like an
XB-70, but with a large forward wing or canard. Its dual engines were
"extremely noisy", producing a deep-pitched, perioding beating sound,
he said. Suggestions that he had seen the British Aerospace Concord
or a Beech Starship were discounted by Emery, who said the shape,
size and sound were inconsistent with either of those aircraft.
Another sighting, on July 12 at 11:45 p.m., occurred near a
Lockheed-operated radar cross section (RCS) test range in the Mojave
desert. Described as an "XB-70-like" shape, the aircraft tuned its
landing lights on while at fairly high altitude, then descended
quickly, following an S-pattern flight track. It made a final turn
at about 200 ft. above a road, crossing less than a mile in front of
a motorist who had watched its descend. Ambient noise masked any
sounds from the aircraft.
Bright moonlight illuminated the aircraft's upper surfaces, giving
the observer a good look at the planform during the turn. The aircraft
rolled out, presenting a side view as it descended and landed at a
private Helendale airport adjacent to the Lockheed RCS test facility.
Located about 15 naut. mi. southwest of Barstow, Calif., Helendale
Airfield's three runways are close to civil pilots on current aero-
nautical charts. However, Lockheed aircraft still land there when
shuttling personel between its Burbank site and the RCS facility.
Although weather was clear and calm at the Helendale field that
night, several thunderstorms were reported in the Las Vegas area and
through the highly classified range complexes in central Nevada.
Based on observer reports, this unidentified aircraft's features include:
# Large size, estimated to be close to 200 ft. in length. Observers
near Edwards AFB said the vehicle "dwarfed" F-16 chase aircraft.
# A large aft section with a clipped-delta platform. A narrower,
blended fuselage extends from the delta's vertex forward to a clear-
canopied cockpit and sharp nose. The main delta section has a
prominent, raised spine along the top centerline. Upward-canted
vertical fins rise at each outboard tip of the delta planform.
# A prominent dark line extending longitudinally along part of the
aft raised section. At the aft end of the line, just ahead of the
trailing edge and between the engine nozzles, a broken visual
pattern was seen, but observers could not describe it.
# A forward wing or canard of fairly long spane. The canard, possibly
used only for takeoff, landing and slow-speed regimes, may pivot or
sweep aft for internal stowage during high-speed flight (Some
observers reported a dominant canard, while others did not recall,
suggesting it can be stowed).
# Dual rectangular engine exhaust nozzles at the aircraft's trailing edge.
# Light-colored top and bottom surfaces, with dark leading and trailing edges.
Although the propulsion system is unknown, observers have reported
a "very loud, low-pitched roar" with a rhytmic beat to it. They did
not hear a series of detonations, which have been associated with
high-speed "pulser" vehicles that create "donuts-on-a-rope" contrails
(AW&ST May 11, p. 62)
(end of article)
With this article, there is an "artist's composite" of the craft. It
is said in the caption that "The aircraft configuration suggests a
variety of mission roles, including carriage and high-speed launch of
an unmanned vehicle into orbit". At least this last point should
interest sci.space subscribers !
<<Concluded in next message..>>
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From: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Corbin)
Subject: Fireballs - Conclusion
Date: 17 Sep 92 21:44:04 GMT
<<<..Continued from previous message>>>
In the same issue of AW&ST, there are two other related articles:
UNITED 747 CREW REPORTS NEAR-COLLISION WITH MYSTERIOUS SUPERSONIC
AIRCRAFT, by Michael A. Dornheim/Los Angeles.
SECRET AIRCRAFT ENCOMPASSES QUALITIES OF HIGH-SPEED LAUNCHER FOR
SPACECRAFT, by William B. Scott/Lancaster, Calif. (sci.space
subscribers should be interested in this one !)
._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.
Now a few comments.
1) It is not the first time that "large, primarily delta-shaped
aircrafts" are reported near Edwards AFB. Since the end of 1989,
a "big wing" has been seen several times over Antelope Valley.
See AMERICA'S NEW SECRET AIRCRAFT, Popular Mechanics, December
1991 (I posted this article twice on sci.space, but it seems
that practically nobody was interested). However, this "big
wing" was said to be silent, and could hover in any position
(hence the airship hypothesis). It seems that the XB-70-like
object goes fast, and is generally noisy.
2) A contributor to the "Skeptical Inquirer" assured me that
all secret aircraft tests are over the deserts of California
and Nevada. What was this aircraft doing over Atlanta, Georgia,
on May 10, (1992 ?).
3) "Large, primarily delta shaped aircrafts" appeared over Belgium
in November 1989, and have been seen thousands times during about
two years. Though U.S. citizens are highly civilized (?), I am not
sure that five U.S. witnesses = some ten thousands Belgian witnesses.
4) Though most of time only delta shapes have been seen in Belgium,
there were a number of reports of "narrower fuselage" and/or "forward
wing", especially in year 1991. A drawing made by a witness looks like
the AW&ST "artist's composite". Some Belgian inquirers suggest
the possibility of composite structures (Lego type).
5) "Large size, estimated to be close to 200 ft. in length." This fits
well the size of the Belgian object: a triangulation made from one
of its hovering stations gave: isocele triangle, 50 meters basis,
55 meters height.
6) Though the Belgian object was generally silent, in some occasions
very loud roars were reported.
7) It seems that F-16s like very much chasing these objects. In Belgium
there has been an unsuccessful chase during the night March 30-31,
1990 (see the Belgian Air Force report I posted on sci.space on
February 28, 1992). By the way, the Belgian Center of Electronic
Warfare is still studying the video record of the interception. I
know a bit more about that, but since my info comes from private
mails, and since nobody on sci.space seems interested in that, I
will keep it for myself.
8) As said Harm Munk in his posting,
>And why would the DoD start testing a secret plane outside US territory?
J. Pharabod
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 92 13:40:56 GMT
From: Dean Adams <dnadams@nyx.cs.du.edu>
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro
cecil@physics.unc.edu (Gerald Cecil) writes:
>According to Aviation Week & Space Technology (aka AvLeak) in
>issues prior to Aug. 24,
Uh, there was a considerable amount of NEW information in the August 24th
issue. WHY would you want to limit your reply only to the old info?
>this aircraft is an SR 71 replacement developed by Lockheed Skunkworks.
>Speeds estimated at 3500+ mph. *Not* a 2 stage to orbit plane.
NO. The 8/24 AW&ST *specifically* talked about a vehicle which
potentialy DOES have a 2-stage to orbit mission capability.
> described as `bat-like'' similar to the B2 airfoil.
Now it sounds like you are talking about the *subsonic* TR-3A,
which is something totally different from the Aurora(s).
>Daytime photos of peculiar corkscrew contrails that have been attributed
Now you're back to the older Aurora/pulser concept. I tend to think this
is a *different* (and smaller) vehicle from the large "Concorde-like"
aircraft reported in Europe, and also described in the recent AW&ST.
>presumably because the DoD has now sunk so much money in to it and
>distributed its contractors into so many Congressional districts
The Lockheed Burbank Skunk-Works is likely the main contractor.
With such an ultra-black project I doubt it was spread around that much.
>Yet another multi-billion dollar aerospace program to
>protect US airspace from the Bosnian airforce.
NO, it is to "protect" us from being ignorant about the world around us.
Intelligence gathering is something that will always have considerable
value, with or without any "evil empire" to be worried about.
-{ DA }-
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 92 14:16:04 EST
From: PHARABOD@FRCPN11.IN2P3.FR
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
>From "New Scientist", 29 August 1992:
METEORITE SHAKES DUTCH PROVINCE
Govert Schilling, Utrecht
Two-and-a-half years after a meteorite crashed through the roof of a
house near the Dutch town of Enschede, another much bigger meteorite
has exploded over the Netherlands. Last Wednesday evening, people in
the northern province of Friesland heard a loud bang and felt tremors,
which set doors and windows rattling.
With the recent earthquake in the southern part of the Netherlands
fresh in their minds, more than a hundred people called the police.
Others called the Dutch Air Force base in Leeuwarden, thinking its
planes might be taking part in some exercise.
According to Henk Haak, head of the seismological department of the
Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute in De Bilt, seismic stations near
the town of Assen, to the east of Friesland, registered the passing of
an acoustic shock wave, which ruled out an earthquake. And nor were
any jets flying at the time of the explosion.
Although the sky was almost entirely obscured by cloud, at least 10
people reported seeing a huge flash or fireball, strengthening the
case for a meteorite. Niek de Kort of the Dutch Meteorite Documentation
Center says the best explanation is the explosion of a large, rather
porous stony meteorite, measuring about a meter across, which exploded
at a height of about 10 kilometers, less than a second before it would
have hit the ground near the town of Joure.
"This was probably a scaled-down version of the large Tunguska
explosion in Siberia, back in 1908", says de Kort. Most astronomers
think that the Tunguska event was caused by the impact of a chunk of
cometary material. De Kort is pessimistic about retrieving any material
from the Dutch meteorite, which would probably have vaporised during
the explosion.
(end of article)
._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.
According to Harm Munk (Mon, 31 Aug 1992 07:42:08 GMT), experts in
the Netherlands don't believe any longer in a meteorite, but think it
was a supersonic bang, though no known jet was in the area. This doesn't
explain the "huge flash or fireball". I suggest two other explanations:
1) Somebody (hoaxer or amateur scientist) launched a rather big home-made
rocket, which exploded at rather high altitude (over or inside the
clouds).
2) An air-air or air-ground missile escaped accidentally from a military
jet, and had to be destroyed on flight.
J. Pharabod
------------------------------
Date: 5 Sep 92 03:15:12 GMT
From: Gerry Santoro - CAC/PSU <GMS@psuvm.psu.edu>
Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro
In article <1992Sep1.134056.25842@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, dnadams@nyx.cs.du.edu
(Dean Adams) says:
>
>NO, it is to "protect" us from being ignorant about the world around us.
>Intelligence gathering is something that will always have considerable
>value, with or without any "evil empire" to be worried about.
I realize this is not the place for political discussion -- so I'll make
my comment and then shut up.
Who is to protect us from the zealots who control the intelligence gathering
operations -- and who have shown themselves time and time again more than
willing to break our laws and violate our trust in pursuit of their
supposedly honorable values. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts
absolutely, and secret power corrupts in secrecy.
Frankly, I'm just as afraid of our own military as I was of the 'evil
empire'.
gerry
ps - i'm proud to be American and I believe in the human rights of ALL
peoples -- everywhere! If you want to flame me, send me mail.
------------------------------
END
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