hypothesis even more difficult to accept. 1his case therefore seems
to fall, albeit inconclusively, into the classification of prohable
AP radar returns.
Case 21.Colorado Spring~, CU10., 13 May 1967, 1540 LST (1640 MDT).
Weather: overcast, cold, scattered showers and snow showers (graupel)
in area, winds northerly about 30 mph., gusts to 40 mph., visibility
fair -- more than 15 mL (Colorado Springs airpo:tt is not horizon-
limited; visibilities of 100 mi. are routinely reported on clear days).
'l11is i~ a radar··only case .• and is of particular interest because the
UFO could not be seen, when there was every indication that it should
hav0 been seen.(See Section IV).
from the time the UFO was first picked up on radar to the time
the Braniff flight touched down on runway 35, the UFO track behaved like
a ghLst echo, perhaps a ground return beicg reflected from the aircraft.
TIlis is indicated by the fact that the UFO blip appeared at about twicp
the range of the Braniff blip, and on the same azimuth, although the
elevation angle appears to have heen different. When Braniff t0uched
down, however, the 511''.:at10n changed radic:ilIy. 'I11e UFO blip I)ulled
to the ri~ht (east) and passed over the airport at an indicated height
of about 200 ft. As pointed out by the FAA,. thi~; is precisely the
correct proc€~dure for an overtaking aircraft, or one which is practicing
an I LS approach but does not actually intend to t,mch down. 111though
the UFO track passed within 1.5 mi. of the control tower, and the per-
sonnel there were alcltcd to th~ situation, the UFO was not visible,
even through hi'1oculars. A Continental Airlines flight, loJhich wa<;
monitored 3-4 mi. behinJ the UFO I1t fiTst contact, and was flying in
the same directio~, never Jaw it eithc?
Both the PAR and ASR radar transmitting antennas are locateJ to
the east of runway 35, und they are about 1,000 ft. apaTt on a SW-NE
line. A ghost echo SC<i:I1lS try be ruled out by at least the following
cr:-nsiderations:
258
hypothesis even more difficult to accept. This case therefore seems
to fall, albeit inconclusively. into th~ classification of probable
AP radar returns.
Case 21. Colorado Spring.s, COLO., 13 May 1967, 1540 LST (1640 ~IDT).
Weathe,; overcast, cold, scattered showers ~nd snow sho'.'I'ers (graupel)
in al'ea, winds northerly about 3D mph., gusts to 40 mph., visibility
fair -- more than IS mL (Colorado Springs airpol't is not horizon-
limited; visibilities of 100 mL are routinely reported on clear clays).
'lhis i5 a radar··only case .• and is of particular interest because the
UFO could not bc seen, when there was evcry indication that it should
have been seAn.(See Section IV).
Prom the time the UFO was first picked up on radar to the time
the !!raniff flight touched down on runway 35, the UFI) track behaved like
a ghLst echo, perhaps a ground return beieg reflected from the aircraft.
TIlis is indicated by the fact that the UFO blip appeared at about twicp
the range of the Braniff blip, and on the same azimuth, although the
elevation angle appears to have heen different. When Braniff touched
down, however, the sit~;ation changed radiCally. 'I11e UFO blip l)lllled
to the ri6ht (east) and passed over t.he airport at an indicated height
of about 200 ft. As pointed out by the FAA" this is precisely the
correct prQ(;~,dure for an overtaking aircraft, or one which is practiCing
an ILS approach but does not actually intend to t;mch down. !11though
the UFO track passed Within 1.5 mi. of the control tower, and the per-
sonnel there wure alclted to th~ situation, the UFO was not visible,
even through hino(;ulars. A Continental Airlines flight, Ivhich WHO;
monitored 3-4 mi. behinJ the lIFO at fiTst contact, and was flying In
the same directio~. never Jaw it eithc"f.
Hoth the PAR and ASR radar tnmsmi tt.1.ng antC '11H1S a-rc 10'2att;;r\ to
the east of r\lllwar 35, r.nd they are about 1,000 ft. apnTt on a SW-NE
line. A ghDst echo SCi:IlIS tl) be ruled out by at least the followi ng
cr:-nsiderations:
258