Identifying Landing Lights Reported as UFOs

I think by "blue" you meant green? @Mick West

 

Seriously?


"'Boomerang' objected (sic) spotted..." ?!?

God, it's like they're not even trying anymore.



When I was kid, we had decent UFO sightings...now, you kids, get off of my lawn!!!

 

It's a UFO. The aliens are just complying with civil air regulations (safety first!)

 

What are the odds aliens who see a different color spectrum would choose the same lighting standards (red on the left, green on the right) as humans?

 

Slim to none. But then they won't be complying and they'll be even more busted when an F-18 pulls up beside them.

 

Actually, this brings back a memory of mine, from an old ATS ('Above Top Secret') thread regarding a YT video in the Chicago area, posted by a gent claiming they were "alien spacecraft".

Was simple enough to identify his location relative to the O'Hare Airport (KORD) and check the date, and find that due to prevailing winds that evening and night, the airplanes were landing on a runway (in a direction) that was outside the "normal" pattern, as is "normally" the case at O'Hare.

IIRC this was back in 2011, and I am having trouble finding the original YT video, and the ATS thead (so many YT videos are uploaded every second, nowadays!!!)


ETA: Occurred to me that the image that is the topic of the OP is a still photo, of poor resolution. Yes of course, it is just an airliner landing light configuration. (As pointed out, the navigation lights on the wingtips can also be seen).

In "real-life", or a real time video clip, we would also see the white wingtip strobes...and depending on the angle at least one red flashing beacon light ("beacon" is a common term.."Anti-Collision" for the pedantic)....there are usually two, on the fuselage centerline, top and bottom.

As to:

My thoughts first jumped to the B737-300. Since Nashua is near the airport Manchester (KMHT) I looked it up on Flight Aware...for the hours after dark, on Sunday the 23rd November. (For arrivals...since I can just make out that the Taxi light is on, on the nose gear. A common technique that I used was, when receiving a clearance to land from the Tower, was to then turn it on....as a memory aid).

Here's a handy diagram of the B737-300 {**}...(what we now call a "classic", as compared to the "Next Generation" beginning with the -700 series....slightly different landing light configuration):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wbaiv/4085635596/



{**}...and sure enough, SouthWest Airlines does still operate the -300...identified for ATC purposes as "B733". Compared to "B737", which denotes a -700, "Next Gen". ("B738" is a -800, etc).

Note that for these models (which include the original "classics"...few, if any, still flying...the -100 and -200) the Landing Light configuration is the same. Two Landing Lights in the wing leading edge, at the root where the wing meets the fuselage. The outboard lights are motorized....they retract flush, or extend as commanded. (Much like the wingtip, outboard Landing Lights on the MD-80/DC- series of airliners).
The B737-300 Lights are located in a wing flap track fairing, one each side.

They are usually not deployed until at lower speeds, and after flaps have been selected to at least 1°.

PS: Tried to find a close-up image of the Forward Overhead Panel, showing the external lighting control switches. No joy, yet.

The OutBoard Landing Light switches have three positions: "OFF", "EXTEND" and "ON".
( Just FYI ).[/URL]

 

Is it just camera angle, or does that runway have a really undulating surface?? Looks like it could double for dune races during down time..

 

Fair enough, I figured it might be that as it just looked a bit severe. I could imagine a few complaints coming otherwise - As if wind shear is not enough to deal with, a jet pulling bunny hops down the runway might make it interesting for the passengers.

 

BTW, RE: SWA flights....this is (possibly? EDIT...no, wrong date**) a likely "suspect", from Sunday, 23 November 2014:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA357/history/20141123/2235Z/KBWI/KMHT

{**ooops}.....MORE (ETA): From the OP--- it was kindly pointed out to me that the date of the original post (which I missed.....I took my "cues" from the date of your OP) was last month. I do not have access in FlightAware back to October 7. However, I'm sure that someone does. I see that 7 October was a Tuesday, so this person's post refers, I guess, to the previous Sunday, 5 October 2014?

Sorry for any confusion on my part. I'm sure it's possible to link a local time (of the OP's photo) and date with historic air traffic schedules and flight information. Should note, in case my explanation seems unclear: I selected the Manchester, NH airport as the likely major metropolitan airport that would accommodate airliners in the vicinity of Nashua, NH (where the "sighting" is alleged to have occurred).


Also, inRE: the light switches/controls in the cockpit, found this:
http://www.b737.org.uk/aircraft_general.htm#Lights

Note that the "Next Gen" B737s also have flush, extendable Landing Lights...but are not out on the wings, they are near the bottom of the fuselage. The wing-root lights, as on the "Classic", are still same location.

 

The OP photo is a frame from the Boomerang UFO Virginia video on youtube:

Edit:
Perhaps, it was landing at Langley AFB?

 

D'Oh!! (Smacks forehead!). I discounted that jet because I didn't think any were still flying in the U.S. I was fixated ( somewhat similar to UFO enthusiasts? ) on currently operating airlines' fleets. And yes, the B727 had (has?) a landing light in each #3 outboard Leading Edge Flap ("Krueger" flaps as they are referred to, as opposed to the Slats, which extend differently).

I suppose there are still a few B727s equipped with "hush kits" on the engines still operating, possibly owned privately or by research companies.

Also, another "derp" moment for me....the B727 has a much greater degree of wing sweepback, compared to the B737. The "UFO" photo tends to illustrate this, by position of the wingtip Nav Lights.

 

The video from which the 'original' of OP picture came from was taken in 2002, perhaps Boeing 727 was in use at the time:

Also, I found a video of DHL 727-200F NIGHT LANDING 16R SYDNEY AIRPORT:

The front lights of planes in both videos look similar, but the rear ones (after they had flown over the cameramen) are different. Perhaps, the 'UFO' plane filmed in 2002 was a 'specialised' variant. Or was it an original design?

 

See from 2:22 for the original footage which was taken down by the Father and Son after they were informed that they were filming aircraft lining up to land over the lake.

The initial footage on the following is from a poster "Maverick" who filmed the stack from his house.

Amazing how many people couldn't understand how far away these aircraft actually were when forming up over the lake.

ATS thread from 2011.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread664580/pg1

 

It really is all about the perspective, and perception.

Would be nice if we had a member here who was a "Local" Air Traffic Controller ("local" refers to those in ATC who work in airport towers).

They see this all the time, from their vantage points. (Gee, bonus if we could get more laypersons up there too? But, that is extremely difficult...getting permission, nowadays is next to impossible).

Slightly OT, but the issue of 'civilians' in a Control Tower has been made ever more difficult due to the actions a while back (2010) of a Local controller at JFK:

 

Sadly there are lots of individuals out there exploiting aviation lights. It is amazing how many people get sucked into this hoax? This guy lives some 60km east of me in the UK and exploits it to the full with the old donation scam in order to get better cameras.

http://thejsb007.com/UFO_s.html

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheJSB007

I've marked his filming location with at star (Kings Lynn). He lives in a target rich environment within the East Anglian Military Training Area. All he has to do is monitor the aviation enthusiast websites, Notices to Airmen, or simply plug in a radio scanner to find out the military night flying activity. Sadly his followers believe that he lives in some sort of UFO hot spot! During quiet periods civilian aircraft are permitted to transit over the Military Training Areas and he also exploits this to the max. In addition he also exploits the upper air routes some 20 miles to his north over the North Sea.



Another high profile aviation light exploiter is Alison Kruse in the US.

https://www.youtube.com/user/seeingUFOsPA

 

I love that video, Mick! It never fails to amaze me how light and graceful airplanes look, and the ease with which they apparently manoeuvre, despite their immense weight.

 

The film is sped up...almost as a time-lapse.

I was appalled (no, too strong a word)...concerned...(?)...puzzled that a few....quite a few actually, did not have their landing lights on. It is a common practice amongst U.S.-based commercial pilots to have as many lights on as possible when below 18,000 feet. This is our "transition altitude" in U.S. airspace, and on descent for arrivals where the "In Range" checklist is conducted.

These airplanes were filmed maneuvering to, and on Final Approach, as you see the landing gear being extended. (This generally occurs at roughly 1,500 above the ground. The airplane must be completely configured, and stable prior to 1,000 AGL).

 

For example some military planes.

First B1 bomber.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AjuwvXXS4I


Second B2 stealth bomber.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyaUwKCTF48


third B52 bomber.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSKxUBRD40E


4. Lockheed C-5 Galaxy take off by night

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqNx3GIuK7s