Papers d'Ovnis - 1a epoca - No 01

Magazine Overview

Title: Papers d'OVNIS
Issue: Number 1
Date: January 1994
Publisher: Centre d'Estudis Interplanetaris (CEI)
Language: Catalan (with Spanish translation provided for the introduction)

This inaugural issue of Papers d'OVNIS, the internal bulletin of the Centre d'Estudis Interplanetaris (CEI), presents itself modestly in an era of crisis, contrasting with the perceived euphoria of UFO research in the 1960s and 70s. The bulletin aims to inform CEI members about developments in the UFO phenomenon, acknowledging a perceived decrease in UFO sightings since the mid-1970s, which the editors suggest may be due to an unknown intentionality.

Papers d'OVNIS will be published monthly with an average of eight pages. Its content will cover current national, state, and international UFO news, as well as historical cases and documents. The publication is open to contributions from members and friends, including studies, unpublished cases, historical cases, 'Charles Fort' phenomena, and general opinions.

Reflecting Catalonia's political situation, the bulletin will accept articles and comments in both Catalan and Spanish. This marks the first time Catalan will be used in a periodical addressing the UFO phenomenon, a point emphasized by recalling early Catalan investigators like Eduardo Buelta, Antoni Ribera, Eugeni Danyans, and Màrius Lleget.

Main Article: The Largest UFO Ever Seen (Catalonia 1985)

The issue prominently features a detailed report on a significant UFO incident involving both radar and visual observations in the Terrassa and Sabadell area of Catalonia on the night of November 29-30, 1985. This case is presented as a prime example of radar detection, which can help eliminate identification errors.

Development of Events

The observation began around 9:30 PM on November 29th when a sergeant and an agent of the Terrassa Municipal Police spotted an appreciable-sized light stationary in the sky. Numerous people in the region also observed the phenomenon.

Two witnesses from Sant Quirze del Vallès described a powerful bluish-white light visible to the naked eye. Through binoculars, they discerned an elongated object with intense luminosity at the center, fading at the extremities. The following night, the light was no longer visible, ruling out a star or Comet Halley.

Shortly after, the Terrassa Municipal Police contacted the Guardia Urbana of Barcelona, who then notified the Air Traffic Control Center at El Prat Airport. The controllers initially observed nothing unusual on their radar screens. However, after disabling a fixed echo canceller (MIT), they detected a fixed echo north of Terrassa with an unusual shape and characteristics, estimated to be over 200 meters in size. They initially attributed this to the mountainous terrain (Sant Llorenç-La Mola, 1,100 meters altitude).

The radar used was an ASR-7, a primary approach radar capable of detecting aircraft between 600 and 12,000 meters altitude within a 110-kilometer range.

Simultaneously, Barcelona's Guardia Urbana informed TV3, which dispatched a mobile unit to Terrassa. The TV3 team, accompanied by the Municipal Police, filmed the stationary, powerful light, which appeared three to four times larger than normal stars. Attempts to film stars for comparison were hampered by their low luminosity.

Air traffic controllers directed two or three commercial aircraft (likely Iberia DC-9s and a Boeing) towards the Sabadell and Terrassa area. The pilots reported observing nothing unusual. Meteorological conditions were clear, with good visibility and standard temperature gradients.

Further Details and Radar Observations

Around 1:30 AM on November 30th, an Iberia Boeing 727 (flight IB-064) flying from Tenerife to El Prat was near Sitges. Air traffic control asked the pilots to look about 10 degrees to their left. Shortly after, the pilots reported observing a soft, non-brilliant blue light in the shape of a line northwest of Sabadell, described as narrow and elongated with a white-blue color, featuring 'windows or compartments,' and an intermittent orange point at one end. This visual sighting coincided with the radar echo over Terrassa. The pilots noted a slight movement to the right, giving the impression of approach.

At approximately 4:24 AM, the El Prat radar control center detected a sudden, powerful, mobile primary echo about 4 miles (7.4 km) north of Sabadell, moving south (180°) for one and a half minutes. This echo was exceptionally large, estimated at 5 miles (9 km) in length, with an almost imperceptible width. After about 50 seconds, a smaller echo, similar in size to a fighter jet (approx. 20 meters), detached from the right side of the large object, moving southeast (150°) at an estimated 900 km/hour for 15 seconds before disappearing.

The large object disappeared suddenly from the radar screens after its minute and a half of observation. It was oriented with one end towards the East and the other to the West, presenting its widest face as it moved south. The controllers confirmed the object was moving very slowly, comparable to an ultralight aircraft. The MTI system confirmed its movement, covering approximately 2,250 meters and approaching to within 5.2 km of Sabadell.

The smaller echo traveled about 4 km in 15 seconds before disappearing northwest of Sabadell.

The altitude of these echoes could not be determined by the El Prat control center, but it was estimated to be above 1,000 or 1,500 meters due to the terrain. Military radar, which also detected the echoes, calculated their altitudes, and this information is included in official reports.

More Case Details

At around 4:31 AM, a C-212 Aviocar postal flight (flight 302) took off from El Prat for Madrid. Controllers diverted the plane to avoid a potential collision with the previously detected unknown echoes. The pilots later reported observing a powerful, flashing white light in the sky about 20 miles to their right, near Terrassa and Sabadell, while flying at 1,500 meters altitude.

An unusual aspect was that the object was only visible from a specific position over the coast southwest of Barcelona, while pilots flying over the area reported seeing nothing. The large radar echo remained in the area until approximately 6:00 AM.

Reports of military combat aircraft being scrambled from Zaragoza to identify the objects could not be confirmed.

Radar Diagram

A diagram on page 5 illustrates the positions of the fixed and mobile radar echoes, as well as key geographical locations like Terrassa, Sabadell, Montserrat, and the Barcelona Airport.

Comments

The article's comments section, attributed to Joan Plana i Crivillen, emphasizes the exceptional characteristics of the large radar echo, particularly its 9,000-meter length, which is unprecedented for any known vehicle. The object's horizontal speed was also noted as unusual for an aircraft. The sudden appearance and disappearance from radar were highlighted as mysterious. The case is classified as extraordinary and indicative of genuine UFO phenomena, largely due to the credibility of the information source.

Some data related to the case are withheld for security reasons, as the incident has been classified as 'reserved matter' by military authorities due to its implications for Spanish defense and security.

Note from the Editorial Staff

This article by Joan Plana was previously published in "Cuadernos de Ufología" (March 1986) and "Flying Saucer Review" (December 1986). The editors chose to feature it in the first issue of Papers d'OVNIS to make it accessible to Catalan readers, given the case's significance and the local press coverage it received (including reports in Avui, La Vanguardia, and El Periódico).

The article also draws a parallel between the extraordinary size of the UFO and historical astronomical observations of giant objects near the Moon, as recorded by Charles Fort.

CEI History: Manifesto

The issue includes the foundational manifesto of the CEI, originally written by Eduardo Buelta. It outlines the center's purpose: to unite and guide individuals interested in the contemporary question of humanity's potential contact with extraterrestrial intelligences. The manifesto stresses the importance of this topic and the need to address it scientifically, distinguishing between fact and fantasy.

It asserts that extraterrestrial spacecraft have been visiting Earth since ancient times, with activity intensifying in recent decades, suggesting an approach to a culmination or resolution. While these craft have not shown overt hostility, neither have they offered proof of friendship. The manifesto calls for a collective effort to investigate and understand these phenomena, emphasizing the need for direct witness testimony.

Key Points from the Manifesto:

• Increasing UFO Activity: UFO craft have been arriving on Earth at an increasing rate since 1946, with reported sightings escalating significantly over the years.
• Possible Origin: The origin is suggested to be Mars, with potential bases on the Moon and satellite orbits.
• Historical Presence: UFO activity dates back centuries, possibly to the beginning of human history, but has become more intense recently.
• Lack of Intervention: Despite their long presence, the craft have not intervened in human affairs, possibly awaiting the right moment.
• No Proof of Friendship or Hostility: No clear evidence of either friendly or hostile intent has been received from the entities.
• Call for Information: The CEI appeals to witnesses of unidentified aerial phenomena or abnormal objects to share their observations with utmost fidelity, speed, and detail.
• Purpose of CEI: To act as a lookout, discover the origins and reasons for the extraterrestrial presence, and prepare humanity for potential future interventions.

CEI Leadership and Evolution

The manifesto is signed by Eduardo Buelta (President), Antoni Ribera (Vice President), and Màrius Lleget (Information Delegate). A concluding note reflects on the evolution of UFO research, noting that subsequent generations of investigators have become more focused on scientific methods rather than grand declarations. It also observes that the UFO reality itself has changed, with no more 'waves' and a diminished connection to the 'Mars opposition' theory, suggesting the phenomenon continues to elude easy explanation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly through radar detection, while acknowledging the limitations and potential security implications of such data. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry, aiming to present factual accounts and encourage rigorous research. There's a clear distinction made between verifiable facts and speculative fantasy. The CEI positions itself as a serious research body, distinct from sensationalism, and committed to uncovering the truth about UFOs and potential extraterrestrial contact. The historical context of UFO research, including early Catalan investigators and the broader international efforts, is also a recurring theme.