(DPT) ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE, VAUCLUSE (04, 84) 01.07.2015

From 22:30 on 1 July 2015, several people in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence observed luminous phenomena moving across the night sky. Some described geometric shapes or a kind of craft outlined by points of light. The local press also reported the sightings; the source refers to the final account. The case title covers Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse (04, 84). GEIPAN considered regularly arranged geometric patterns of lights suggestive of an aerobatic team rehearsing or performing. Checks with the Patrouille de France, based at Salon-de-Provence, confirmed that the team had exceptionally flown at night in this area on 1 and 3 July. The 1 July flight rehearsed the demonstration held on 3 July for the naming ceremony of the graduating classes. GEIPAN explains that the reported silence is normal: an aircraft seen head-on from more than a few kilometres away produces very little audible noise. The team's 8 Alpha Jets have powerful lights visible from more than 10 km along their flight axis. When an aircraft turns, its light beam changes direction and suddenly disappears from the view of observers on the original flight axis. Seen from the side, the aircraft are visible only through their red or green navigation lights, which are too weak to be seen from a great distance. Head-on, their approach is not perceptible and they appear stationary; only lateral movement is perceptible, and it may be slight. GEIPAN received reports of the same formation from Valensole (04) and Sainte-Tulle (04) on 1 July, and Villeneuve (04), 10 km away, on 3 July. It states that it has received similar reports from Provence in the first days of July every year since 2008, including a sighting at Villeneuve on 5 July 2013. GEIPAN classified the case A: confirmed sightings of the Patrouille de France's 8 Alpha Jets. The source states that the Sainte-Tulle witness's video would be posted later following a temporary technical problem, and refers to a video of the Patrouille de France flying over Paris at night.