View Full Version : TV Alert: Newsnight on Aurora
Lazer-Hound
14th Jun 2006, 15:59
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5079044.stm
ExRAFRadar
14th Jun 2006, 16:19
Standby for a wealth of:-
"Well I was at Machrihanish in the late 80's when......."
Or
"Doing PI's at Buchan one evening we noticed a blip covering 60 miles....."
:):):)
Maple 01
14th Jun 2006, 17:25
"Well I was at Machrihanish in the late 80's when......."
It was Neat actually, and we'd stopped flying for the night.....TPO Shamus Lynch (RIP)
And it's a track, not a blip (and radars don't go 'ping' either)
Edited to add
After a visit from some nice chaps in a black Omiga I can confirm the incident never happened
BTW Printed UK RESTRICTED overstamped SECRET? - Someone’s having a laugh
vecvechookattack
14th Jun 2006, 17:39
The UK knows more than it is saying about top secret American aircraft projects
Oh really ? Maybe we should disclose all of our secrets and then they wouldn't be secret would they?
Navy_Adversary
14th Jun 2006, 17:48
I wonder if the 'Boscombe Down' incident will get a mention?:8
Maple 01
14th Jun 2006, 17:52
There was no 'Boscombe Down' incident, and there is no such place as 'Boscombe Down' - please look directly into the light.....
ExRAFRadar
14th Jun 2006, 22:52
Ah Maple a track was only a track when you had 3 consective 'blips'
Till then it was a 'blip'
Suspect you come from the days of all singing all dancing radar.
:)
Now where did I put my ruler......
Edited to explain:
A ruler was layed across the 3 'blips' (history) and then moved down to the rose to get heading. But then you already knew that, didnt you ?
And what happened at Neat ? F4 transit to Germany didnt go quite right ? Oh the secrecy, the agony.........
Archimedes
14th Jun 2006, 23:24
Why was the gentleman from Scottish Earth Mysteries Research wearing what appeared to be a badger on his head? A far greater mystery than anything contained in the report....
For anyone who missed it, the Newsnight item may be summarised thus:
1. We think that the Americans may have some secret aircraft types
2. Although, the Americans may, in fact, not have any secret aircraft types. We're not sure...
3. ... and they may, if they exist, be flying over Scotland...
4. ...although they may not be.
5. Some Scottish people think that they probably are, and if not, they are craft created by alien lifeforms.
5. Oooh, look at the footage of stealth aeroplanes we've managed to borrow from Discovery Wings.
Thunderball 2
15th Jun 2006, 00:47
Archimedes - nice one.:ok:
Also enjoyed the uncharacteristic attitude of Jeremy Paxman....either he's a closet UFO enthusiast or he'd soiled his underwear, or both. Can't think of any other explanations for his uncomfortable but vaguely collegiate attitude towards the guy from the Kyle of Tongue....
Maple 01
15th Jun 2006, 06:24
ExRAFRadar - SLEWC
BEagle
15th Jun 2006, 06:38
Andy, mon brave, surely you know that to move an orbiting satellite to observe a particular area is a complex, time and fuel consuming process? The overflight time of reconnaissance satellites is very predictable; to re-orientate the orbit of such a vehicle takes a lot of fuel.
Whereas Aurora could go wherever, whenever and be there very quickly.
That was indeed an unusual place to keep a tame badger though....
ImageGear
15th Jun 2006, 06:58
Boring, almost as bad as watching BBC Parliament with less of an accent. Cackled into my Bristol Cream and fell asleep snoring loudly. ( So the missus said)
Imagegear
tonker
15th Jun 2006, 07:17
About 6 years ago i was talking to a B1 ECM operator who was boasting about their recent F3 avoiding trip with much alcohol induced gusto.
When i mentioned Aurora he sobered up albeit for a short while and quoted the "i can't and won't talk about etc"
Then the alcohol gusto mix kicked in again and with a large smile, told me that although it doesn't exist it does take 3 US states to turn round at top speed!
althenick
15th Jun 2006, 07:27
5. Some Scottish people think that they probably are.
... only at around chucking out time though :E
Navy_Adversary
15th Jun 2006, 07:34
Nothing new and totally boring programme, watching Hazel Blears and Paxman was the best bit.
teeteringhead
15th Jun 2006, 07:51
Have to agree that Paxman/Blears/other numpty was far more entertaining!!
One thing I've always wondered about the Aurora/Macrihanish/doughnuts-on-a-rope/UFO stories is why on Earth would the US bother with here, or Jockistan??
As one of my favourite references, The CIA Factbook (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/) states, the area of the UK is "slightly smaller than Oregon". With all their wide open spaces, why put secret fast recce thing where all the fishwives of Campbeltown (at least those not being serviced by Macrihanish personnel) could see or hear it??
I agree with BEags that satellites aren't a universal answer, but it's difficult to imagine a cold war scenario which would involve frequent use of Campeltown International - unless they really liked the lobsters!