Chug.
Aircrew were castigated for reporting "Lightning" that appeared to flash up into space from clouds. All technically impossible of course.
Now "Sprites" are a recognized and accepted phenomenon scientifically, following some eventual investigation and a rethink.
Same with some UFO sightings. Eventually a reasoned explanation can be found in many cases, although the U.K. MoD has ceased investigations as "no threat" is perceived.
Which seems to be similar to the French Academy of Sciences :"As there are no stones in the sky , stones cannot fall from the sky" of yore.
The study of UFO's (now UAP - Unexplained Aeronautical Phenomena) should be widely separated from links to "Flying Saucers", which is an explanation needing a justification - where none exists.
I would maintain that formal UAP investigation should continue in the U.K. ,although reasonably outside of the MoD.and perhaps along the lines of the French investigation who have a funded body called GEIPAN, (Groupe d'études et d'informations sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non identifiés ) which is under the remit of CNES, the French National Space Agency.
Last edited by Haraka; 11th Apr 2014 at 17:02.