(DPT) VAUCLUSE (84) 04.07.2008

On 2 and 4 July 2008 between 22:15 and 22:45, several witnesses near Apt in Vaucluse (84) saw unusual movements of lights in formation, appearing and disappearing over 20 minutes without audible sound. One witness filmed the phenomenon on 4 July and another took photographs. The investigation established that they saw Patrouille de France night flights in the Apt area between Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. The reported times matched the team's flights, with a rehearsal on 2 July for a ceremony held on 4 July. The Patrouille de France's Alpha Jets have nose lights switched on during flight displays to make the aircraft clearly visible. On those evenings the team flew holding circuits in the area, in formations of 8 aircraft before the display and 4 before starting the approach to Salon airfield. GEIPAN considers this to confirm the observations. The case is also covered in a dedicated news item on the website.