unknown Aircraft saw....

[.Dirty-.Thirty]

After hunting this evening I heard a loud roar in the sky and saw a strange sight. It had a total of 7 lights, the front 5 were in a pentagram shape, the last 2 were on the tail. The strangest thing about it was that the tail was as wide as the wings. As for size, it seemed as big as a plane can possibly be. Off to its right side it was being escorted or followed by 2 large planes. Any of you plane guys know of a military model that might fit this description?

[COSteve]

ET's ???

[rock-steady]

Could it have been a C-17 Globemaster?



A while back I saw several C-17's flying single file not very high and very slow.

[Gary]

Yes, the C17 comes to mind. (I worked on them.) Could you draw and post a picture of what you saw, including the two escorts? It would help us figure out what you saw.

[Bill in Oregon]

Dirty: Where are you at? Could it have been a C-5A Galaxy, or that huge Russian Antonov transport? The Russian behemoth occasionally stops here in Medford to pick up a load of Ericson Air-Crane helicopters for distribution around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225

[gak]

A "few" years ago I would have said this

[.Dirty-.Thirty]

I'm in Southeastern KY and it was headed direct West. Can't do the drawing. Strangest thing I've ever seen in the sky. Looked nothing like regular planes. But the 2 big ones looked like the C-17 picture above. They were 1 behind the other and maybe a 1/4 mile beside that strange thing and slightly behind it.

[pwl44m]

If U don't know what it is doesn't that make it a U.F.O. Prolly being escorted out of Dodge.

[Blaine]

Complete with escorts...??

[Gary]

[jeepnik]

That simplifies things, just shoot em all down, and head to the base for beer and (well, let's keep this G rated), female company.

[.Dirty-.Thirty]

Yep, for sure it was a weather balloon probably filled or crossed up with some swamp gas.

Best I recall, those 2 lights on the tail section which looked as wide as the wings were orange, the others were red, green and such. does this sort of color mean anything to you guys that know planes?

[Booger Bill]

You are throwing us all with that tail being wide as the wings! Outside of that my first guess would have also been the C-5A. The C-5`s have a high wine to their engines unlike anything else I have heard. I am begining to think what you saw was very important, maybe even it`s maiden flight due to the escourts. What state do you live in? Most those maiden flights are north of reno.

[spaceman spiff]

You are throwing us all with that tail being wide as the wings! Outside of that my first guess would have also been the C-5A. The C-5`s have a high wine to their engines unlike anything else I have heard. I am begining to think what you saw was very important, maybe even it`s maiden flight due to the escourts. What state do you live in? Most those maiden flights are north of reno.

+ 1 on the engine noise

I heard it when I was in Honduras in the 80's. I was astounded by the size of a C-5, still am.


spaceman

[Booger Bill]

As a lockheed guard I have been in the C-5`s. It looked to me like you could hold a basketball game in them!

[Paladin]

One of these coming back from Oshkosh 2011

[Booger Bill]

By the way, you asked about the green and red lights.
They help you figure out which side of the plane is which in the dark. The green lights go on the right, or starboard, side; the red ones are on the left, or port, side.
It helps other pilots when converging traffic to get a better sense of your direction. It can get confuseing at night.

[Cliff]

There was a program about UFO's the other day on History or Discovery Channel. They were discussing a triangular shaped vehicle with 5 lights showing down, plus maybe four lights on the tail, very bright. At night but it was a huge vehicle, quiet and could move fast. They went on to explain the military is experimenting with drones, lighter than air, air craft, built similar internal structure as a Ridgid Air Ship. Supposed to be able to loiter and fly exceedingly high and far. Can't remember much else. Interesting concepts they were talking about. ATB

[Blaine]

I also saw an article about the new space plane......that was the ever so shy replacement for the shuttle..

This one will be enlarged for men and equipment, but it went on a mission that is still under wraps.

[jeepnik]

By the way, you asked about the green and red lights.
They help you figure out which side of the plane is which in the dark. The green lights go on the right, or starboard, side; the red ones are on the left, or port, side.
It helps other pilots when converging traffic to get a better sense of your direction. It can get confuseing at night.

Not if you've ever read Chapmans.

[claybob86]

Not if you've ever read Chapmans.

What is Chapmans?

[Tycer]

A buddy of mine described the same thing. He never did find a pic of anything that looked like it.

[jeepnik]

Not if you've ever read Chapmans.

What is Chapmans?

Chapmans Navigation. It's a book (darned big one) on the rules of the sea and such. Colored lights allow yu to know the orientation of another vessel in relation to your's. Observing them lets you know if they are moving toward or away from you. Larger ships have mast mounted lights providing even more information. Aircraft use their lights for the same things.

[.Dirty-.Thirty]

Yesterday on the MSN homepage, the news was talking about billionaire Bransons' planes, the picture of the spaceship 2 that he has could pass for it. it says on its Wikipedia page that testing it for its 16th flight has went into October of 2011. Could been it and some of his other craft he has had overseas showing them off. I guess i'll never know, but probably werent any little green men on board.

[rodeo kid]

All regular airplanes are lighted in the following manner: Right wing tip has a green light. left wing tip has a red light, the rear of the fuselage has a white light. In addition, the top and bottom of the fuselage may each have a small rotating red light. I flew 5 days a week for 10 years and have never seen a orange light on an aircraft. Also powerful landing lights shine to the front(white) but would only be used while landing. God Bless.