VILLENEUVE (04) 03.07.2015

On 3 July 2015 at 22:29, several people noticed an unusual light formation in the night sky. Only one witness supplied an account. She described watching for 3–4 minutes as 2 parallel, horizontal rows of round white lights without halos gradually formed a triangle. No sound was apparent. The formation began turning before disappearing to the west. Repeated sightings of lights arranged in regular geometric formations suggest an aerobatic team practicing or performing. GEIPAN checked with the Patrouille de France, based at Salon-de-Provence, which confirmed exceptional night flights in the region on 1 and 3 July. The first was a rehearsal for the display on 3 July at the naming ceremony for graduating classes. GEIPAN explains that an aircraft viewed head-on from more than a few kilometres away produces little audible sound. The Patrouille de France's 8 Alphajets have powerful forward-facing lights visible from more than 10 km along the flight axis. When an aircraft turns, the beam changes direction and can suddenly disappear for an observer on the original axis. From the side, only red or green position lights are visible, and these are too faint to be seen at a great distance. Head-on approach is difficult to perceive, making the aircraft seem stationary; only lateral movement is apparent, and that may be slight. GEIPAN also received accounts of the same team seen on 1 July from Valensole, Lurs and Sainte-Tulle, about 10 km away. The source states that GEIPAN had received similar reports from Provence in early July every year since 2008, including a sighting at Villeneuve on 5 July 2013. GEIPAN classifies the case A: confirmed observation of the Patrouille de France's 8 Alphajets. The case page also links to a video of the team flying over Paris at night.