La Circulaire - No 32 - 1994 Juin

Magazine Overview

Title: LA CIRCULAIRE
Issue: N°32
Date: June 1994

This issue of LA CIRCULAIRE is a compilation of news, reviews, and reports related to UFO phenomena, drawing from various media sources including newspapers, magazines, television programs, and books.

New Observation: Concarneau (29)

The issue leads with a detailed account of a UFO sighting in Concarneau on Friday, April 8, 1994. A couple observed a large, round object, estimated to be four to five meters in diameter, with numerous bright white spots around its edge. These spots emitted light and occasional flashes. The object moved silently above the trees, rotating on its axis for approximately three hours. The witnesses attempted to photograph the object but used a low-sensitivity film and flash, resulting in only a few blurry images of branches. The report also mentions a similar observation by another couple in Concarneau on a Saturday night, involving a luminous ball moving in large circles.

Potential Misidentifications

Several sections address potential misidentifications of UFOs:

• 'Cypher' Aircraft: A report from 'Ciné-Télé revue' describes the 'Cypher', an experimental vertical take-off and landing aircraft from Sikorsky, shaped like a donut. It's presented as a revolutionary aerial vehicle capable of hovering, remote control, and autonomous navigation for tasks like remote surveillance and reconnaissance.
• Luminous Balloons: A report from 'M6' discusses luminous balloons used by firefighters, noting their creation by a company and their use for illumination. These spherical balloons, about 1 to 1.5 meters in diameter, are gas-filled and use electric lighting.

Media and Publication Reviews

The magazine extensively reviews various media content related to UFOs and related topics:

• 'Air and Space/Smithsonian': The cover features the F117 stealth fighter, with an article on the 'Skunk Works' and its history, including the SR-71, F117, B2, and Sea Shadow, with mentions of UFOs in relation to the Aurora program.
• 'F3' (Nimbus): A report on 'solar sails' and the Russian 'Znamia' project, mentioning the potential for atmospheric disintegration of space mirrors.
• 'Science et Vie Junior': An announcement about 'Bizarre Flying Objects' and hot air balloons participating in a festival in Tours.
• 'Air and Space/Smithsonian' (The Big Balloon): An article detailing American 'satellite balloon' tests from 1958 to 1964 for space communications, including the 'Echo' program which used large metallic balloons. It recounts the explosion of a balloon in 1959 and the subsequent observation of debris.
• 'Art' Publications: Reviews of books on 'Land Art' by Gilles A. Tiberghien, including photos of Nazca lines and a sand sculpture resembling the 'Martian face'.
• 'Presse' Publications: Reviews of 'Légende et News' discussing extraterrestrials, UFOs, and science fiction films. It also covers an article about a young pilot and his dream of becoming a space traveler.
• 'OMNI' Magazine: A special issue on 'The UFO conspiracy', covering government cover-ups, military UFO underground, and Russian 'saucer research'. It also details 'abductee' accounts and the 'Soviet saucers' topic.
• 'Psychologies' Magazine: An article on Martine Castello, a journalist who wrote a book about the 'Ummo affair' and the involvement of scientists in extraterrestrial matters.
• 'Ciel et espace': A report on a new geological formation on Mars and the SETI program's funding challenges and potential restart.
• 'Télé 7 Jours': A brief mention of a TV program featuring 'Mr. UFO' commenting on alien landings.
• 'L'Automobile Magazine': An article on the 'Stealth Tech 1' car, described as invisible to radar, with a design inspired by stealth technology.
• 'Ciné-Télé revue': A review of a futuristic car concept by Renault, designed for autolevitation and color-changing capabilities.
• 'J'aime lire': A children's book review about a space alien named 'Zibou'.
• 'L'Express': A review of a book by Primo Levi and Tullio Regge discussing extraterrestrial life.
• 'Le Point': An article on a Belgian UFO case, including a robot portrait of the craft and witness testimonies.
• 'Le Soir' (Brussels): Reports on astrophysicists explaining UFO phenomena and the Argentine president meeting Shirley MacLaine to discuss UFOs.
• 'Le Monde': A film review titled 'Unidentified object'.
• 'Science' Magazine: An article on a study of UFO witnesses, suggesting they are not fundamentally different from the general population, but are more prone to distorting memories.
• 'New Scientist': A letter questioning why computer firms are funding the SETI project.
• 'Le Monde': An article featuring Arthur C. Clarke's wish to see the discovery of extraterrestrial life.

Television Program Reviews

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to reviewing television programs featuring UFOs, aliens, and science fiction themes:

• 'TV (fiction)' Section: This section details numerous fictional programs across various channels (M6, TF1, C+, RTL-Lorraine, DRS, MC-TMC, 3 SAT, ARD, SAT 1) that included UFOs, aliens, space travel, or related concepts. Examples include episodes of 'Super Jaimie', 'Superman', 'Alien', 'Predator', 'Star Wars' related content, and films like 'Cocoon', 'Devil girl from Mars', and 'Babar'. Many reviews note the presence of UFOs, extraterrestrials, or related phenomena within the plot.
• 'TV (ufo)' Section: This section reviews programs that directly addressed UFO phenomena, often featuring interviews with UFO researchers or discussions about specific cases. Examples include:
• TF1: A program with J.C. Ladrat and a reporter who allegedly traveled in a saucer to the Bermuda Triangle.
• F2: A program with J.C. Bourret discussing future contact with extraterrestrials and the Bible.
• F3: A science and discovery magazine featuring J.P. Petit discussing aeronautics and mentioning UFOs.
• TF1: A program discussing communication with the afterlife and 'little geniuses', featuring M. Castello.
• Planète: Documentaries on the Bermuda Triangle and Nostradamus, with the latter predicting extraterrestrials appearing on TV.
• F2: A report on 'otaku' culture and their identification with fictional characters, including aliens.
• TF1: A program discussing whether information about UFOs is being withheld, featuring interviews with researchers and a demonstration of a fake UFO case.

Specialized UFO Press Reviews

This section reviews content from dedicated UFO publications:

• 'L'Inconnu': An article on the 'malefices' of UFOs, a report on UFOs in Eastern Europe, and a review of a book by J.G. Greslé. It also mentions a news item about UFO cults on Easter Island.
• 'Mystères': Articles on 'ufology in Eastern European countries', 'Saturday night lights', the 'Mars exploration' issues, and theories about lunar structures.
• 'CONFERENCES': An announcement for a spectacle and hypnosis demonstration by Daniel Huguet.
• 'CONFERENCES': An announcement for a round table discussion on 'The Strange Festival' covering topics like parapsychology, secret societies, and UFOs.
• 'CONFERENCES': An announcement for a conference on 'UFOs in Russia' with speakers B. Chourinov and F. Couten.
• 'PUBLICITE': Advertisements for an interactive dictionary with a UFO-themed spot and a book titled 'The Middle Kingdom Troubled by UFOs'.
• 'F3' and 'F2' Spots: Mentions of advertising spots for France Infos and France Inter, featuring science fiction imagery.
• 'FESTIVAL': A review from 'Ciné-Télé revue' about an 'UFO festival' in New York City, focusing on the creation of an 'extraterrestrial's robot portrait' and featuring accounts of alleged alien abductions.

Ufological Press Reviews

This section reviews publications specifically focused on ufology:

• 'PRESSE UFOLOGIQUE': Reviews of 'Phénomèna' (mysteries, UFOs in France and worldwide), and 'Inforespace' (Belgian UFO observations, Spanish armed forces and UFOs, letters from readers, media and UFOs).
• 'UFOVNI': Reviews of articles on UFO sightings in France and Belgium, laser technology, and opinions on UFOs.
• 'Recherche ufologique': Reviews of interviews with specialists, discussions on ufology, and mysterious objects in the sky.
• 'LDLN': Reviews of articles on the 'Ouragan' project, recent observations, alleged mutilations, and UFO phenomena.

Commerce and Philately

• 'COMMERCE': A description of 'OVNIS Surprises' candies sold in a supermarket, shaped like two connected saucers.
• 'Micro Machines': A mention of a toy series including military aircraft and triangular craft inspired by the 'Aurora' project.
• 'LIVRE (ufo)': A review of the book 'When Prophecy Fails' by Leon Festinger, Hank Riecken, and Stanley Schachter, which studies a UFO cult that predicted the end of the world.
• 'PHILATELIE': A mention of an illustrated envelope from a UFO congress in Germany.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting and analysis of UFO sightings, the investigation of potential misidentifications, the coverage of UFO phenomena in popular media (television, film, books, magazines), and the scientific and pseudoscientific approaches to understanding these events. The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent archival and reporting, presenting information from a wide range of sources, often with critical commentary or cross-referencing to previous issues or related publications. There is a clear effort to document and catalog UFO-related content across various media platforms.