In 1947, a pilot flying near Mount Rainier spotted nine strange objects moving across the sky. His story quickly spread across the country — and helped turn “flying saucers” into an American obsession.
A fascinating thing about supposed aliens is that they are always blurry and seem to only appear near important American infrastructure and top secret military bases. A betting man might say they’re top secret military craft being tested.
All evidence is blurry, 100%. Even close encounters.
You don't need to be a betting man. People are seeing weather phenomena, NV camera glitches, gimbling, parallax, headlight reflections on clouds, you name it .. and yes experimental military craft. Leading to the unidentified part.
The issue is the subsequent leap to "it must be extraterrestrial" when there is zero such credible evidence. Over millions of cases.
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a hoax. I'm open to the idea it was something that Kenneth Arnold saw, but either misperceived what he saw, or saw it correctly but it was some strange and unfamiliar atmospheric phenomenon.
I'm open to the idea that it was a hoax, but I don't think it's by any means a certainty.
My guess is your causal link is reversed. I’d bet they started to develop a saucer shaped prototype because of the saucer crazy. This is only speculation on my part though.
Edit: actually I take it back! Looking more deeply into the history and seeing that the Avrocar is the culmination of a lot of other attempts I think you may be correct.
[OP] sfgate | 3 hours ago
In 1947, a pilot flying near Mount Rainier spotted nine strange objects moving across the sky. His story quickly spread across the country — and helped turn “flying saucers” into an American obsession.
KourteousKrome | an hour ago
A fascinating thing about supposed aliens is that they are always blurry and seem to only appear near important American infrastructure and top secret military bases. A betting man might say they’re top secret military craft being tested.
kdailyone | 14 minutes ago
All evidence is blurry, 100%. Even close encounters.
You don't need to be a betting man. People are seeing weather phenomena, NV camera glitches, gimbling, parallax, headlight reflections on clouds, you name it .. and yes experimental military craft. Leading to the unidentified part.
The issue is the subsequent leap to "it must be extraterrestrial" when there is zero such credible evidence. Over millions of cases.
LordErec | 2 hours ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_VZ-9_Avrocar
Probably an early proof of concept aircraft related to this program.
Kaludar_ | 2 hours ago
1958 prototype, could barely operate outside of ground effect, 2 built. Don't think so
I_am_BrokenCog | 2 hours ago
you point to a 1958 prototype to explain a 1947 hoax??
dittybopper_05H | an hour ago
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a hoax. I'm open to the idea it was something that Kenneth Arnold saw, but either misperceived what he saw, or saw it correctly but it was some strange and unfamiliar atmospheric phenomenon.
I'm open to the idea that it was a hoax, but I don't think it's by any means a certainty.
matsie | 2 hours ago
My guess is your causal link is reversed. I’d bet they started to develop a saucer shaped prototype because of the saucer crazy. This is only speculation on my part though.
Edit: actually I take it back! Looking more deeply into the history and seeing that the Avrocar is the culmination of a lot of other attempts I think you may be correct.
IAmTheM4ilm4n | an hour ago
More likely something like the Vought V-173, first flown in 1942.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_V-173
crowmagnuman | an hour ago
Well TIL...
I had always thought it was Roswell, until I learned this!
AlaskaCosmoline | 46 minutes ago
IIRC they called them "foo fighters," and had emerged from reports of what might have been experimental axis craft. Or maybe not.
I_am_BrokenCog | 2 hours ago
the article sure wants to foment the UFO conspiracy ...