UFO-ALLEHANDA

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-ALLEHANDA
Issue: No. 2, 2004
Publisher: Enköping-Sala UFO-förening
Type: Member magazine

Editorial and Content

This issue of UFO-Allehanda, the member magazine for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening, aims to provide members with current information and is published three times a year. The magazine's club room is located at 'the little red cabin' near Ullundakorset. The editorial team, led by Ordförande Anita Andersson and Sekreterare Mats Nilsson, acknowledges that finding material for a local publication can be challenging but emphasizes the value of providing the latest local information rather than aiming for a large, flashy publication. They express a desire to increase the publication frequency to four issues per year.

The issue highlights upcoming events, including the Riksstämma (National Meeting) in Gothenburg on May 15-16, recalling a previous positive experience in Gothenburg in 1992. The magazine encourages readers to enjoy the spring season and offers a pleasant reading experience.

Featured Articles and Reports

Hessdalen

An article by Jörgen Granlie discusses the financial difficulties faced by the Norwegian UFO Center AS in Ålen, Sør-Trøndelag. Opened recently, the center had hoped to attract thousands of visitors annually but only managed 2,000 in its debut season. The center's entire share capital of 900,000 Norwegian Kroner has been depleted, and bankruptcy looms. The municipality and private investors had contributed to the center's construction, which had an initial expansion budget of 20 million Norwegian Kroner. The center's limited staff have been laid off, and its exhibition hall and cafeteria are closed.

Enköping-Sala UFO-förening Spring Party

An announcement for the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening's spring party on Friday, April 23, 2004, at 18:30. Attendees are asked to bring a good mood and a gift for an auction. Food can be ordered or brought from home.

Luftiga aktiviteter (Aerial Activities) by Arnold Idebring

Arnold Idebring shares his childhood passion for model aircraft. He recounts building his first model airplane at age 8-9, inspired by Charles Lindbergh. He describes saving up to buy kits and building various models, including a Taylor Cub sport plane. He details the process of building and attempting to fly the model, including a humorous incident where the plane veered off course and crashed. He also discusses his interest in photography and trying to capture the model in flight. Later, he describes joining a flying club and building a model called 'Gladan'. He recounts attending airshows at Hässlö airfield and the experience of taking a short flight in a twin-engine Junkers J86 bomber plane for 10 Kronor. He also shares a personal experience of flying in a Tiger Moth biplane with a local pilot named Thorvald Andersson, which allowed him to experience flying and even control the aircraft briefly. He concludes by mentioning his later interest in building detailed, non-flying scale models, such as a DC9, and how other interests, particularly girls, eventually took over.

New Member of the Solar System Discovered

Astronomers have discovered the most distant member of our solar system, located 7 billion kilometers beyond Pluto. This object, named Sedna after the Inuit sea goddess, is approximately 200 miles in diameter and orbits the sun in 10,500 years. At its closest approach, it is 13 billion kilometers from Earth, three times farther than Pluto. Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology, who found Sedna using the Samuel Oschin telescope, does not consider it the tenth planet, arguing that planets should be significantly larger than other objects in their vicinity. Sedna appears to be alone in its distant region of the solar system, though more similar objects are expected to be found.

UFO Reports

Enköping (31/12-03): A couple attending a New Year's party observed a luminous object, described as a glowing sphere, moving at high speed towards the city from the northwest at an altitude of about 300 meters. After disappearing, it returned in the same direction. Later, a black triangular wing shape was seen against the sky after the object's light extinguished.

Västerås (7/3-04): Several people in Västerås reported seeing luminous objects flying in formation. Police, the airport, and the local newspaper VLT received calls. The explanation offered by the Västerås airport's flight controller, Björn Stavås, suggested that ice crystals in thin clouds from a cold front could have reflected moonlight, creating the appearance of glowing spheres. Another possibility mentioned was UFO balloons – small, quiet, and environmentally friendly hot air balloons powered by paraffin. Jörgen Granlie of UFO-Sveriges local group in Enköping suggested these balloons could change direction and appear to blink.

VLT Article (10/3-04): A follow-up article in VLT revealed that TV 4 had reported on the Västerås sightings but did not disclose that one of their own employees was responsible for releasing the UFO balloons. Thomaz Magnusson, editor-in-chief of TV 4 Mälardalen, explained that it was a private prank by the employee and not something the station was aware of beforehand. He defended the decision not to reveal the employee's identity initially, stating that employees have a right to anonymity and that the intention was to explain the phenomenon, not to deceive viewers.

Vi har varit i fjällen (We were in the mountains) by Tommy Brandt

Tommy Brandt recounts a family ski trip to the mountains. He humorously describes the hurried journey, the challenges of navigating unfamiliar roads, and the family's search for food. Upon reaching their rented cabin, he humorously admits to having disconnected the TV antenna. The family spent their evenings playing card games and Fia. Brandt also reflects on the experience of skiing, particularly his struggles with downhill skiing and the perceived speed of other skiers. Despite his difficulties, he concludes that they had a good week and wishes others the opportunity to experience something similar.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Allehanda focuses on local UFO phenomena and the activities of the Enköping-Sala UFO-förening. It balances reports of sightings with personal accounts, such as Arnold Idebring's nostalgic look at model aircraft and Tommy Brandt's humorous travelogue. The magazine also touches upon broader topics like astronomical discoveries (Sedna) and the challenges faced by UFO organizations (Hessdalen). The editorial stance appears to be one of providing accessible, relevant information to its members, with an emphasis on local relevance and personal experiences. There is a clear effort to explain phenomena, as seen in the Västerås UFO balloon incident, while still acknowledging the mystery surrounding UFOs.