Instrumented UAP UFO Field Studies now & then

Philippe Ailleris operates the UAP Observations Reporting Scheme.  He has focused on UAP UFO instrumented field experiments. He shared with me his 2011 Acta Astronautica paper "The lure of local SET: Fifty years of field experiments"

At the July 2014 CAIPAN UAP UFO scientific workshop Philippe presented a poster paper:
UNIDENTIFIED AEROSPACE PHENOMENA AND EXPERIMENTAL STRATEGY : METHODS, EQUIPMENT AND LESSONS FROM INSTRUMENTED FIELD STUDIES
Philippe Ailleris,1
1 UAP Observations Reporting Scheme, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
contact@uapreporting.org, http://www.uapreporting.org/
Since the publication of the University of Colorado’s Condon Report [1] and the inception of the French Space Agency’s unit GEIPAN [2], numerous Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP) sightings have been reviewed using diverse measures (e.g. physical traces, radarscope data, photographs, film and video footages, physical effects, and medical records). Nonetheless they have failed to provide sufficiently reliable evidence to convince the scientific community of the existence of anomalous aerial phenomena on Earth. Almost all these previous data have not been acquired under controlled conditions with scientific instrumentation. It is obvious that a change of methodology is necessary and that the UAP phenomenon requires an active investigative response to move toward a scientific solution. To maximise the chances of acquiring reliable and valid data on the UAP phenomenon, instrument observations of UAP are essential, preferably coupled with visual observations. Instrumentation can assist in obtaining quantitative data required to understand basic physical characteristics of UAP. As early as the 1950s some attempts to detect and analyse anomalous atmospheric phenomena using scientific equipment have been carried out in the field in areas where anomalous aerial events had been reported. Field research gave credence to the idea that the UAP phenomenon could be studied on a rigorous and empirical basis. This paper describes some of these past experiments, from the different schemes and strategies devised, to the field-instrument packages selected and the most important results obtained. Details of the principal instrumented field studies deployed by governmental agencies, scientists, researchers and associations around the world are presented along with limitations and shortcomings in extant field research, with the objective of refining future instrumented projects. Finally the paper highlights the importance of studying the history of the UFO controversy, especially the necessity of accurately documenting and preserving the information pertaining to these historical research efforts (allowing this past work to guide future projects), and encouraging official bodies to be open and transparent in communications related to genuine UAP reports.
References:
[1] Condon Dr. Edward & Sullivan, Final Report of the Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects Conducted by the University of Colorado under Contract to the United States Air Force, Bantam Books, 1969.
[2] Groupe d’Études et d’Information sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non identifiés, http://www.geipan.fr/, 2014. 











Here is a photo taken by Tom Tulien (used with his permission) 
of Philippe Ailleris presenting at the CAIPAN workshop.
Philippe kindly supplied an interim copy of his excellent poster presentation, which I have split into manageable segments for viewing:

Recently I sent Philippe material about instrumented field studies in Australia and China.  Between 1983 and1989 the famous Chinese scientist and the “father of Chinese rocketry”, Tsien Hsue-shen (or Qian Xeusen (pinyin)) advocated “UFO studies to be included in the teaching of geoscience” and supported the establishment of UFO observation stations. (See also Paul Dong in "The UFO Report 1991" edited by Timothy Good, Chp 6, "China Establishes UFO Observation Stations"). Taking Qian Xeusen's comments to heart a lot of the astronomical observatories "provide" a "side benefit" of defacto UFO observatories.

Tsien Hsue-shen (Qian Xeusen in pinyin) with Chairman Mao

Around 1968 Australian researcher Stan Seers developed "a simple, cheap, and easy to assemble UFO magnetic monitoring device."  One of these fitted with a "self-triggering cine camera" was set up at Horseshoe Lagoon near Tully, another at a site 20 miles south of Brisbane.  The setup at Horseshoe Lagoon was triggered and ran off footage. The undeveloped footage was posted off to Kodak. The package was returned with a note from Kodak saying the container contained no film on arrival in Melbourne, despite the original postage being indicative of a film being present. Investigators used a local member of parliament to try to get to the bottom of the missing film mystery, but all to no avail.

Albert Pennisi pointing to photos of the UFO detector and a group photo of Albert, his 2 sons and Stan (blowups of these shots) taken from movie by Mike Williams)

An extract from my tribute article for Albert Pennisi -

"Albert's "dream" machine - UFO reality at Tully"

In my book "Hair of the Alien" I devoted a chapter "An early Abduction odyssey" to the experiences of Vicki Klein.  She operated a “UFO detector” in her Canberra suburb of Downer. On July 7 1971, at 1.10 pm, from her Downer house Vicki saw a light grey cigar-shaped object above Mt. Majura.  Shortly before 1 pm, the detector, designed to pick up changes in magnetic fields, started to “buzz”.  It could not be switched off by resetting. Nuclear physicist Harry Turner wrote in a report, “Armed with 12 power binoculars and a next-door neighbour, (Vicki Klein) scanned the skies for a possible cause for the buzzing, finally locating an object at elevation 40^o and bearing 70^o, apparently directly above a civil radar station on top of Mt. Majura (2 miles from observer and 4 miles NE of Canberra city).  The object was slightly fatter at one end and was tracing out a square patter in a vertical plane, the object remaining horizontal during the manoeuvre. At the corners of the square pattern there appeared to be some fading with occasional flashing.  After five minutes the object disappeared and the detector stopped buzzing.  There was no echo reported on the radar, but this would not be expected if the object actually was directly above the radar.”

I deployed a range of detection equipment, including one device designed by technician Andrew Cole to detect only moving magnetic fields, into known UFO flap areas of Tyringham and Kempsey during 1976.  Only calibration studies were undertaken as no UFO activity was witnessed.

 my sketch of an event at Tyringham in 1973

UFO photo by Marwin Copland at Tyringham in 1973

My recent return to the Tyringham "hot zone"

The availability and variety of monitoring equipment has vastly improved over the decades.  The lessons to date provide useful opportunities for implementing improved strategies.

Astrophysicist Dr. Massiomo Teodorani in his paper “INSTRUMENTED MONITORING OF AERIAL ANOMALIES - A Scientific Approach to the Investigation On Anomalous Atmospheric Light Phenomena” addressed the following areas: “Anomalous atmospheric light phenomena tend to occur recurrently in several places of our planet. Statistical studies show that a phenomenon’s real recurrence area can be identified only after pondering reported cases on the population number and on the diffusion of communication media. The main scientific results that have been obtained so far after explorative instrumented missions have been carried out are presented, including the empirical models that have been set up in order to describe the observed reality. Subsequently, a focused theorization is discussed in order to attack the physical problem concerning the structure and the dynamics of “light balls” and the enigma related to the central force that maintains them in spherical shape. Finally, several important issues are discussed regarding methodology, strategy, tactics and interdisciplinary approaches.”

Dr. Teodorani concluded, “The most appropriate conclusive remark that can be given here is probably the one that stresses the real main goal of this research, consisting in searching for the physical mechanism that keeps light balls so perfectly confined in a spherical shape and that makes them produce so much energy. Once we’ll understand definitively this mechanism we’ll have at our disposal the key to reproduce this energy – possibly a clean form of it – in a laboratory and consequently to use it for many mankind’s needs, now compelling in this so critical period of our civilization. After all, quite recent laboratory experiments were able to reproduce for a short time lapse a ball lightning of small size. Why not thinking that we might replicate in a lab a much more energetic phenomenon such as a so called “earthlight”? Of course the use of this possible new energy source might be double-faced: a) tapping it under control conditions and peacefully in a similar manner as in electric or nuclear centrals; b) using this energy as a weapon system. The second possibility seems possible as well, or even easier: after all, once the physical mechanism is known it might be possible to find out a way to liberate suddenly the energy contained inside a light ball by nullifying instantly the central force that permits a hydrostatic equilibrium with the outward pressure force. The implications of this are really weird. But, as we all know, the use of some science or technology depends mostly on the nature of man. The main wish is that mankind becomes more peaceful and mature, so that an “infinite possibility” might be managed only for the common well.”

Massimo Teodorani also included some information on what a monitoring station for “UFOs” should cover. He indicate that for 2 years he had been collorating “with an international research group of scientists lead by Dr. Mark Rodeghier of CUFOS. Our goal is to prepare a project for an automated measurement station in order to obtain measurements of such phenomena all the time, after choosing an appropriate location for the station. At the present time most of the attention is concentrated in two directions:

A) Optimizing the best optical sensors that are able to acquire data on weakly luminous objects after covering all the sky.

B) Optimizing the best grating system able to obtain spectra of good resolution. Gratings are intended to be attached to optical sensors such as 3i Cube CCD camera.”

In my up coming columns for UFO Truth magazine "The OZ Files" and the Australian UFOlogist magazine "Science and the UFO Controversy" I have re-examined the CAIPAN UAP UFO scientific workshop in terms of it being an important signpost on the long road to a UAP & UFO science.