From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2007-05-13 00:20:58
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2028.html?theme=light While relaxing in the back yard, I often keep my eye on the sky. Being an aviation buff and private pilot student, I always keep a look out for interesting aircraft. (I once saw a B2 bomber fly over with six Blackhawks.) Around the first week of May this year, I heard what sounded like a large jet flying overhead. I looked up for an aircraft and/or contrail and found only the latter. Very odd. I usually find it very easy to see the aircraft itself when looking up in the sky, even if the jet is very high or far away. You can always make out something, but not this day. The aircraft was obviously a jet and as you can see from the very clear contrails, a four-engine aircraft. Also, this aircraft seemed to be flying low compared to the average airline traffic in the area, so I was surprised that I could not make out any aircraft by sight or with a camera. I watched it fly overhead for a couple minutes, but failed to make out so much as even a shadow, glimmer of reflected light or anything at all. I took several pics but have only submitted one as they are all the same and this one is probably the clearest. I know that cameras can play tricks with light and distant objects, making them look like something totally different. However, what is in this pic is exactly the same as what I saw with my own eyes. I am curious if maybe they are making progress with optical stealth technology, but how effective is that if you can still see the contrails and hear the thing from so far away? Maybe it was a test, or maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me. I hope it’s the first, I’m all for it! Also, I give my word I have not edited or tampered with this pic except for the enlarged portion that I blew up. If you look real close, you may be able to make out a very faint shape ahead of the trails, almost like a ghost image of an aircraft. I don’t know it may be nothing out of the ordinary at all but I found it interesting. As a private pilot student, I am curious how optical stealth aircraft will play into air safety. As a pilot how do you keep your eye out for traffic you can’t see? –Eddie
