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 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 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Mike.Keithly@p0.f605.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 | tel. +31 40 74 46 59 | | | email: munk@prl.philips.nl | +----------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 07:42:08 GMT From: Harm Munk 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 | tel. +31 40 74 46 59 | | | email: munk@prl.philips.nl | +----------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ <> -- Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 Subject: Fireball over The Netherlands Wasn't Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro In article , 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@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. <> -- Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ! <> -- Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 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 PARANET FILENAME: FIREBALL.TXT -- Michael Corbin - via ParaNet node 1:104/422 UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name INTERNET: Michael.Corbin@p0.f428.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG ******************************************************************************* Submissions infopara@scicom.alphacdc.com Administrative requests infopara-request@scicom.alphacdc.com FTP archive grind.isca.uiowa.edu:/info/paranet/infopara Permission to distribute Michael.Corbin@paranet.org Private mail to Paranet/Fidonet users firstname.lastname@paranet.org UUCP gateway {ncar,isis,csn}!scicom *********************End**of**the**InfoPara**Newsletter************************