inforespace810001

Magazine Overview

Title: Inforespace
Issue: N° 81
Date: October 1991
Volume: 20th year
Type: Semestrial review

This issue of Inforespace, a French ufology magazine, explores the complex relationship between advanced military technology, particularly stealth aircraft, and the phenomenon of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP/UFOs). It also provides a comprehensive guide to UFO investigation methodology.

Stealth Aircraft and UFOs: Complements

The lead article, building on previous issues, addresses reader interest in stealth aircraft and their potential connection to UFO sightings. It discusses the F-117A stealth fighter and the theoretical 'Athena' system, described as an advanced anti-radar technology capable of rendering aircraft virtually invisible. The article questions whether stealth aircraft might have been involved in unexplained sightings, such as those reported in Belgium, while acknowledging that the characteristics of some reported UFOs, particularly silent, hovering triangles, cannot be easily explained as misidentifications of conventional aircraft.

It highlights the development of 'smart skins' for aircraft, which integrate microprocessors and micro-sensors to enhance environmental perception and reduce detectability. The article contrasts the noisy, high-speed capabilities of modern stealth fighters like the Lockheed YF-22 ATF 'Lightning 2' with the silent, hovering nature of many reported UFOs, suggesting a divergence in technological approaches.

UFO Investigation Methodology

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to establishing a rigorous methodology for UFO investigation. The author, Jacques Antoine, emphasizes the need for ufologists to adopt scientific standards to gain credibility. He presents a detailed structure for UFO reports, originally developed by SOBEPS, comprising 20 rubrics. These include:

• Witness Information: Number, identity, profession.
• Location of Observation: Specific details.
• Date and Time: Precise recording.
• Observation Conditions: Weather, lighting, witness's physical and psychological state.
• Object Description: Shape, dimensions, color, noise level, speed, elevation, distance.
• Trajectory and End of Observation: How the object moved and disappeared.
• Information Source: Origin of the report.
• Credibility and Strangeness Indices: Measures to assess the reliability and unusualness of the sighting.
• Classification: Categorizing the phenomenon.

The author stresses the importance of objective data collection and analysis, cautioning against subjective interpretations. He discusses the challenges in defining classifications, referencing J. Allen Hynek's work and proposing categories like 'disques diurnes' (DD) and 'disques nocturnes' (DN). The article also introduces a system for coding investigator assessments (NI, IP, IC, RE, PS, CT, RP) to standardize evaluations.

Key UFO Incidents

The magazine recounts several notable UFO sightings, primarily focusing on triangular craft:

• January 3, 1965 (Washington D.C., USA): A passenger jet nearly collided with a triangular object that exhibited extraordinary speed and maneuverability.
• March 18, 1965 (Takamasu, Japan): Airline pilots reported being pursued by an oblong, luminous object that performed abrupt turns and flew in concert with their aircraft.
• June 1970 (Ponce, Puerto Rico): A large, triangular object, possibly of industrial origin, was observed by multiple pilots and tracked by radar, moving slowly.
• 1973 (Flatwoods, Kentucky, USA): A triangular object hovered silently above a police station, emitting bright light, and later caused a car's engine and headlights to fail.
• April 3, 1975 (North Carolina, USA): Police officers pursued a V-shaped object with two headlights that displayed rapid acceleration and sharp turns.

These incidents are presented to illustrate the diverse and often perplexing nature of UFO reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently links advanced, often classified, military aviation technology with unexplained aerial phenomena. It suggests that while some sightings might be misidentifications of conventional or experimental aircraft, others possess characteristics that defy easy explanation. The magazine advocates for a systematic, evidence-based approach to UFO research, emphasizing the need for detailed documentation and objective analysis. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, seeking to understand these phenomena through rigorous investigation rather than outright dismissal or premature acceptance of any single hypothesis.

This document, titled "Lumières dans le ciel" (Lights in the Sky), is a compilation of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) sightings reported between 1975 and 1980. It presents a chronological catalog of these events, primarily focusing on observations made in North and South America. The magazine appears to be a specialized publication dedicated to UFO research, featuring detailed accounts from various witnesses.

Detailed Sightings and Reports

The document meticulously lists numerous sightings, providing dates, locations, and descriptions of the objects and their behavior. The reports are rich in detail, often including witness occupations, estimated dimensions of the objects, colors of lights, altitudes, and the sounds (or lack thereof) associated with the phenomena.

Key incidents and observations include:

• White Lake, USA (Date not specified): A police officer observed an object 12-15 meters long emitting a blue light that illuminated the surroundings. The object responded to a flashlight's blinking by also blinking before ascending rapidly and disappearing.
• St. George, Ontario, Canada (December 31, 1975): A 14-year-old boy witnessed a triangular object, approximately 18 meters in diameter, hovering silently at an altitude of 90-120 meters above a barn.
• Port Norris, New Jersey, USA (January 20, 1976): Two women and their neighbors saw two stationary bright lights that faded. A humming sound was heard as a boomerang-shaped object passed overhead, displaying a red light circle beneath it. One witness reported seeing a silhouette in a dark porthole.
• Venice, Florida, USA (August 28, 1976): A woman reported seeing a single luminous source, followed by three V-shaped formations of lights. Earlier, she had observed an oval white light moving up and down above trees.
• Helena, Montana, USA (September 5, 1976): A man reported a triangular object hovering above an abandoned hotel, which then ascended vertically with red and blue lights.
• Massena, New York, USA (January 10, 1977): A woman observed a diamond-shaped object with green, yellow, and white lights at its base hovering over a primary school for half an hour. The same witness and a friend saw a similar object again later.
• Eustis, Florida, USA (February 15, 1977): Two young scouts observed a diamond-shaped object surrounded by colored lights flying over a lake. The object left a trace like a shooting star, landed behind trees, and then ascended rapidly and silently.
• San Clemente, California, USA (March 22, 1977): A security guard reported seeing two bright white diamond-shaped objects moving at high speed. Other witnesses reported UFOs over Laguna Beach.
• Fontana, California, USA (March 22, 1977): Security guards at March Air Force Base observed two golden-silver diamond-shaped objects moving at high speed, leaving a blue trail. Later, two sheriffs saw a cigar-shaped object.
• Memphis, Tennessee, USA (May 17, 1977): Police officers observed lights arranged in a triangular configuration above high-tension pylons and later saw the object hovering motionless at a significant altitude.

The document continues with numerous other reports from 1977 through 1980, spanning locations like New Britain (Connecticut), Plymouth (USA), Eureka Springs (Arkansas), Leicester and Hinckley (Great Britain), Verna (Kentucky), Vineland (New Jersey), Island Lake (Michigan), Nelagoney (Oklahoma), Loomis (California), Norwich (Connecticut), Chula Vista (California), King Standing (Great Britain), Arroyito (Argentina), Punta del Este (Uruguay), Antofagasta (Chile), Kalama Valley (Hawaii), Oberlin (Kansas), Clifton and Morenci (Arizona), and various locations in Italy and Brazil.

Commonly reported object shapes include triangles, diamonds, boomerangs, cigars, and discs. Many accounts mention bright lights of various colors (red, white, green, blue, yellow, orange), and some describe humming sounds or vibrations. The objects are often described as moving silently or with low noise, exhibiting rapid acceleration, hovering, and sudden changes in direction.

Specific details from later reports:

• New Britain, Connecticut, USA (November 18, 1977): Two women reported a triangular object with an empennage that hovered silently above their car.
• Plymouth, USA (November 22, 1977): A couple heard a loud humming sound, and their house vibrated as a large triangular object hovered nearby.
• Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA (December 15, 1977): Dozens of people observed a giant triangular UAP moving slowly. Descriptions included a diamond shape with a bottom resembling "rough wood" and colored lights.
• King Standing, Great Britain (May 28, 1978): A geological surveyor saw a triangular object detach from the horizon and hover silently, described as having a grey-green color and emitting lights.
• Antofagasta, Chile (May 29, 1979): A pilot instructor and his student reported seeing a non-identified object described as a "black triangle with two small tails."
• Oberlin, Kansas, USA (August 2, 1979): Dozens of people reported seeing two large, slow-moving, low-altitude unidentified objects with lights, described as being as large as a football field or a dirigible.
• Clifton and Morenci, Arizona, USA (October 23, 1980): A triangular and boomerang-shaped object made repeated appearances, described as a "cord of light in the shape of a triangle" and exhibiting unusual movements.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes throughout the document are the consistent reporting of unusual aerial objects with non-conventional flight characteristics, the diverse range of witness backgrounds, and the frequent description of triangular or diamond-shaped craft. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious documentation and presentation of evidence, aiming to catalog and analyze these phenomena. The publication seems to be a neutral platform for reporting these events, relying on witness testimonies and, in some cases, police reports. The sheer volume and geographical spread of the sightings suggest a persistent and widespread phenomenon.

The document emphasizes the lack of conventional explanations for many of these observations, often highlighting the silence of the objects despite their size and the advanced maneuvers they perform. The inclusion of details like the response to a police flashlight and the apparent interaction with vehicles suggests a level of intelligence or advanced technology.

The publication also touches upon the difficulty in obtaining official explanations, as seen in the case where police officers involved in an investigation later disappeared from their posts. The overall impression is that the magazine serves as an archive of unexplained aerial events, presenting them for public consideration and further research.

This issue of OVNI magazine, likely from late 1980 or early 1981 given the date range of the reports, focuses on a compilation of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) sightings. The content is primarily a chronological listing of witness accounts from various locations, detailing observations of unusual objects in the sky.

Documented Sightings

The magazine presents a series of detailed reports, primarily from 1980 and 1981, with a few extending into 1982. These accounts describe a variety of UAP characteristics:

• October 28, 1980, Middleton, New York, USA: Two women observed a black triangular object hovering over trees. It ascended and then disappeared. The object was described as having a bottom resembling rough wooden planks.
• October 29, 1980, Newport, South Wales, GB: A witness reported a white triangular light moving slowly, with bright lights at the lower corners and a blue-green light at the top. The witness, an aviation enthusiast, stated it was not an airplane.
• November 18, 1980, Trenton and Kirksville, Missouri, USA: Hundreds of people reported seeing a large triangular object moving slowly for four to five hours. It was observed visually and by radar, with one estimate of its speed at 75 km/h. Witnesses confirmed it was not an airplane, even when compared to aerial refueling operations occurring simultaneously.
• December 1980, Off the coast of Florida, USA: A sailor on a merchant ship observed a white triangle object following the vessel. After about ten minutes, it transformed into a red sphere, grew larger, and then appeared to shrink and disappear. The total observation time was 25 minutes.
• December 29, 1980, New Caney and Dayton, Texas, USA (Cash-Landrum case): Two women and a child reported a brilliant red, diamond-shaped object hovering at a low altitude. The object emitted blinding light and flames. It later moved away, accompanied by over 20 military helicopters. The witnesses suffered severe physical ailments, including nausea, headaches, diarrhea, skin rashes, and hair loss, attributed to exposure to the object.
• November 26, 1980, West Norfolk, GB: A couple saw a triangular object hovering over a road. Earlier that evening, a young girl had reported seeing red and orange lights, and an elderly man reported a mysterious object over the docks.
• January 16, 1981, Welling, GB: Two men in a truck saw a brilliant light that they identified as a large triangular object.
• January 22, 1981, Eltham, n/a: A witness described a luminous object, a metallic triangle with red lights and a bright white light on the front edge, flying very low over the landscape.
• January 22, 1981, Jessup, Georgia, USA: Three people observed a red or orange triangular object with individual lights. It disappeared silently above the trees.
• February 15, 1981, Offerton, Ontario, Canada: Three students saw a round object with lights all around and three triangle-shaped lights underneath. It moved, hovered, and then ascended.
• February 22, 1981, La Vernia, Texas, USA: At least 30 residents reported seeing a triangular object hovering. TV and phone services were disrupted, and a false fire alarm was triggered. The object had white lights at the front and a red light at the rear, which intensified and then dimmed. A faint whistling sound and an odor of burning tar were noted.
• March 12, 1981, Attica, Michigan, USA: Nine family members saw strong lights that they initially thought were from a helicopter or airplane. They then saw a flat, triangular object with rounded corners and colored lights (red, green, white, amber). It flew low and slowly with little noise.
• March 15, 1981, Bethesda, Maryland, USA: A novelist and his wife saw a triangular object, described as the size of a Boeing 747, flying at a high speed and altitude without noise. It had square windows emitting light and red lights at the rear.
• April 15, 1981, Fairchance, Pennsylvania, USA: A police officer and other witnesses observed a diamond-shaped formation of lights in various colors.
• April 15, 1981, Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire, USA: An automobilist saw a huge triangular object with red lights, initially appearing as "two enormous stars." It moved and then appeared as a metallic triangle with red lights and a bright white light on the front edge, flying very low.
• April 15, 1981, Windsor, Vermont, USA: Two employees reported seeing a "V" shaped object with a large headlight and red side lights. It moved very slowly with a loud, low hum.
• April 27, 1981, Stretton, GB: Two motorists observed a brilliant light that hovered for about two minutes. It was triangular, the size of a twin-engine plane but not one, and hovered about 18 meters above the ground. Witnesses could see lights inside, and heard a continuous machine-like noise. The object then moved away rapidly.
• May 20, 1981, Melones, California, USA: Six people saw two diamond-shaped objects with bright lights hovering for about five minutes before moving south. They were estimated to be at 300 meters altitude.
• September 28, 1981, Bancroft, Michigan, USA: A woman and her family observed three or four lights moving erratically, then forming a formation. One light descended vertically and reappeared. The object was described as bat-shaped with red lights at the wingtips and a white light underneath. Another object was described as triangular with rounded corners.
• October 2, 1981, n/a: A wife reported seeing a "V" shaped object and later a round, red-orange object that appeared as a triangular formation of lights.
• 1982, Pleasanton, California, USA: A baseball player reported seeing a triangular object with brilliant white lights from his patio.
• February 1982, Bakersfield, Vermont, USA: A motorist saw a large white light moving slowly, which then approached her. She described it as triangular and attempted to identify it as a hang glider or hot air balloon. The object hovered about 75 meters from her garden.
• July 22, 1982, Houston, Texas, USA: A woman, her daughter, and a neighbor saw what they initially thought were airplane lights, but realized they were stationary and silent. The lights were large, circular, and orange. They heard a loud, continuous hum. The object was boomerang-shaped and appeared solid, with small round lights visible at the rear.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of triangular-shaped UAPs, the presence of multiple lights (often described as bright, colored, or flashing), and the consistent observation that these objects are not conventional aircraft. Many reports emphasize the silent or low-humming nature of the objects, contrasting with the noise of known aircraft. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting and presenting these witness accounts without overt skepticism, allowing the sheer volume and detail of the reports to speak for themselves. The inclusion of specific dates, locations, and detailed descriptions suggests an effort to catalog and analyze these phenomena seriously.