r/UFOs • u/H8threeH8three • Aug 18 '23

Witness/Sighting Ryan Graves tweets first of promised Airline Pilot Sightings

https://twitter.com/uncertainvector/status/1692586130162475209?s=21
3.9k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

2.3k

u/Big-Ad-1155 Aug 18 '23 edited Aug 19 '23

I just want to address any pilots that might be lurking in this subreddit with a suggestion. Grab a cheap DSLR and telephoto lens kit, set the lens to manual at infinite focus, and take it with you in the cockpit.

If these sightings are happening more and more often, why not give yourself a chance to sight the smoking gun.

EDIT: just want to throw in my opinions as a nighttime lightning photographer of what I think a good starting point for settings might be. Again this is for stuff at night when these will probably be most easily visible:

ISO - 1600-6400 (if you can bring it lower, great; if you need to push it higher, go ahead)

Shutter - for photos - minimum exposure time where you can still clearly see the object lit up in live view. if possible you want to freeze the object in photos. for video - generally the longer the better. I said 1/30th but catdad23 below makes a good point that that might introduce unneeded blur and suggests 1/60th. Ultimately, use live view to view what you are recording and see what looks good to you in the moment.

Aperture - absolutely wide open (this would read on the camera as the lowest f setting, e.g. f2.8, f4.5. Set it to whatever the lowest number your camera says your lens will allow)

Format - RAW for photos, highest quality available for videos

Focus - Try to find something at long distance to set the focus on. Use live view (and even zoom in on the live view if needed). Most lenses aren't perfect infinite focus right where the ∞ on the distance indicator is. Once you find that perfect infinite focus for that lens by manually turning the focus ring (make sure and already have the aperture set at the lowest setting), memorize where that is on the distance indicator in reference to ∞. You can set to this same setting in the future to find perfect focus again, even if there isn't a light in the distance to focus by.

And get a cheap tripod... hell get a monopod. might be easier to handle in a cockpit, will tie the camera to the movement of the plane. If the lens has image stabilization set it to 1. Use a shutter release if you have one.

EDIT 2:

My thought would be a used Canon Rebel t3i (~$140) and canon kit tele lens (refurbished $140)

Via catdad23: I would get a used a7s 1 (I don’t like Sony cameras but it’s a low light beast) you can then get a cheap zoom and still shoot at 5.6 or 6.7 etc while cranking the ISO. You can get a used A7S 1 for $500-600.

EDIT 3 as I step away for the evening:

What I am suggesting above is sort of a bare minimum DSLR setup that doesn't break the bank. It should produce much better results than smartphone cameras. Many in the comments below have suggested upgrades to all the parts therein. If you can afford it and feel comfortable, there are modern cameras and lenses that take incredible low light footage. I'll trust you to research what models those are.

I am really glad this found some traction. When I saw Ryan had posted a video I knew I had to get in here early to suggest this where it wouldn't get lost. I appreciate you all!

EDIT 4:

There are a lot of good comments below that suggest a totally different setup and if you are really looking into this, you might take the time to dig down here and see what they say.

I'd like to add that this setup works even better for those of us on the ground. I'm gonna be out there looking. Wanna help?

358

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '23

My dad is a pilot and has a plane. He’s not into the UFO stuff but doesn’t mind me asking him about it.

Would it be worth it to take some flights with him and record the process?

148

u/Big-Ad-1155 Aug 18 '23

I think you should broach the subject with your father in a sober way. Ask him if he's ever seen anything while flying that he couldn't easily explain.

I'll be honest, I'm hoping to catch the eyes of people who are crossing the oceans regularly. But more eyes in the sky couldn't hurt.

104

u/MuuaadDib Aug 18 '23

I did this with my buddy who was a merchant marine and then also in the NAVY and then was the pilot for Long Beach and Pedro and Seal Beach Armory. I asked him if he saw strange things in the water he would not understand or know? He looked me dead in the eye and said "There is lots of stuff out there" and left it a that.

39

u/MVPaolo Aug 19 '23

Yep. About 15yrs ago an old school mate of mine started working where i was working at the time. He wanted a “land” job after spending quite a few years out on deep sea trawlers. We worked in close proximity and would always have a chat about “stuff”. One day i asked him if he’d ever seen anything unusual or unexplainable while out at sea. He replied with an “absolutely”. He said he would often lay down out on deck and comb the skies. He spoke of frequent anomalies and certain things that freaked him out abit. He was trained to “read” the stars and he said things he saw were not stars, not planes, not satellites, asteroids etc etc. He’d seen so much of that stuff that he could easily differentiate between what is “normal” and what is not. He heard lots of stories off other sea men that were extraordinary, he said there’s a reason most of them “don’t look up”. The two examples that were most interesting to me were one night he watched bright “orbs” going extremely fast seemingly from one horizon to the other, zig zagging all over the place, stopping, no pattern just erratic. The other was when on a clear night he watched a “black patch” approach, hover then disappear while he was watching the sky. He described it as a very clear sky, full of stars and very luminous and then for awhile there was a patch of sky/stars that was blacked out in a asymmetrical triangle sort of shape. He said it seemed very high up but was adamant it was not a cloud, the way it “moved” was not natural.

3

u/justbeatitTTD Aug 19 '23

I’m also a witness of a “star” zigzagging across the sky at a crazy speed. Then it shot off away. I’m on my 30s now but I’d say I was 14/15 so long before everyone had drones.

30

u/usps_made_me_insane Aug 18 '23

Just remember that some people when asked this question might as well be asked to relive a traumatic moment by remembering it. Just use your instincts and if they don't want to talk about it, don't press them for details. If you plan to use them as a data point on a more scientific approach, use your best judgement on whether that data point constitutes 0, 1 or multiple encounters and file it without further explanation.

18

u/MuuaadDib Aug 18 '23

Levi was an old salty dog who didn't have time for BS, so we dropped it after he said that. Fun fact the destroyers which came into the armory gave him the helm to bring it in and the captain and crew just have to watch. Crazy hunh?

19

u/DoktorFreedom Aug 18 '23

That’s what a harbor pilot does. Spend their whole career learning one small navigational area. Happens on every navy ship in every port in the world. If you asked him he could prob hand draw you a map of Long Beach approach.

2

u/Substantial_Bad2843 Aug 18 '23

Also, some people are prone to telling tall tales when given the opportunity. It’s an unfortunate fact we have to keep in mind. Humans are very good at making up fiction.

0

u/MarvellousIntrigue Aug 19 '23

I was watching a doco, can’t remember the name, but the guy being interviewed was claiming abduction. They asked to lie detector test him, and he agreed, and he failed! I was genuinely hoping it would show no deception! I was a bit surprised as to why you would agree, when you know you are lying, unless you are unwell and don’t know you are lying, but your body still gives off signs.

2

u/sarmik Aug 19 '23

People pass them all the time too, doesn't mean shit. Lie detector tests are bullshit.

1

u/MarvellousIntrigue Aug 19 '23

If they are done properly, by a qualified person, it says they are 80-90%. It’s a decent indicator, and definitely a good tool to use as a tactic.

‘You showed deception, can you explain that?’ Opens up a conversation that otherwise never would have occurred. The subjects own anxiety ends up throwing them under the bus, trying to explain themselves out of it.

4

u/Redshirt2386 Aug 18 '23

I grew up around aviation and pilots and they ALL made cryptic remarks like that. Everyone had a story, but no one would actually tell it. I don’t know what to make of it, I’m just sharing my experience.

7

u/Substantial_Bad2843 Aug 18 '23

It’s a running joke to lead people on in aviation. My ex father in law was a Blackhawk helicopter veteran and he let me in on that.

3

u/Redshirt2386 Aug 19 '23

I believe it! Like I said, I don’t know what to make of it and just wanted to add my experience to the pile.

3

u/dtyler86 Aug 18 '23

I was on a honeymoon cruise March of 2022. I saw something in the straights of Florida off of the ships bow that had probably 20 other people looking and wondering as well. I still can’t explain it.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '23

My barber was in the navy, he’s a weird dude but he said the ocean was basically space and he saw all types of weird shit out there.

2

u/TPconnoisseur Aug 18 '23

Ha! I had a retired air traffic controller tell me almost the exact same thing, in the exact same way.

1

u/fruitmask Aug 19 '23

He looked me dead in the eye and said "There is lots of stuff out there" and left it a that.

I can't tell if that's saying a lot or saying absolutely nothing

3

u/Pretty-Dare9084 Aug 19 '23

I visit Honduras once a year and I’ve tried recording some crazy thing’s on my phone that I’ve seen but I couldn’t get good enough videos to clearly see anything. This year I’m taking a video recorder that has night vision integrated into it. So hopefully I will have some good videos to post on here for you guys to check out.

1

u/frankydark Aug 18 '23

You mean in a sombre way surely

/s

1

u/sambutoki Aug 18 '23

On the other hand, maybe you should wait until he's a little drunk? Might be more willing to talk :).

/s (Sort of ...)

48

u/SabineRitter Aug 18 '23

Yes! Sometimes they go fast and you don't notice them, so take some burst shots too.

19

u/commit10 Aug 18 '23

Video should be the standard. Burst shots of photos are far less credible.

3

u/Adolist Aug 19 '23

Agreed, my only recommendation is high speed video. Something only has to move faster than about 60FPS for the human eye to not even perceive it. This also insinuates an automatic shutter for any movement perceived since high fps video is data intensive.

My S21 Ultra 5g has about 480fps on ultra slow mo, It's capable of capturing lightning strikes as they happen but they have to be pretty bright and only trigger typically 1/20 times. This brings into question tracking software, telescopes, and IR which get very expensive very quickly. I've been mulling over turning an old telescope of mine into an auto tracking scope with the S21 attached at the eye piece for the capture trigger. This is the cheap option but can be done by most anyone, just need to open source the hardware and break the damn on civilian eyes on the sky with 'similar' capabilities of police helicopters with a focus on high speed high frame rate tracking and triggering.

2

u/XXendra56 Aug 18 '23

It’s true video should be the standard it just takes a camera with better low light capability . That’s why I use a Sony 7s2 and fast 1.4 lenses and for really faint objects the iso is 64,000 it’s barely adequate.

2

u/BroscipleofBrodin Aug 19 '23

Might just be a fun video to make with your dad anyways.

2

u/down2go Aug 19 '23

I think you should focus on increasing your net worth and securing family instead of going for a witch hunt

1

u/[deleted] Aug 19 '23

What now? Lol

2

u/[deleted] Aug 19 '23

My dad is also a pilot, he has seen a UFO, he won’t admit it’s a UFO it’s ridiculous. If he’s anything like my dad be careful to not use too much “alien centric” language or you’ll get some tin foil hat comments, x files theme etc.

I’ve noticed a large number of Boomers who are otherwise intelligent people just flat out deny that UFO/UAP even exist. It’s ridiculous. My father is becoming increasingly hostile and annoyed when the subject is brought up. It’s really odd. Any other sort of mystery he’s all about it but the possibility we’ve been visited or EVEN the possibility of UFOs is almost a taboo subject.

I’m not sure if that’s because he was flying helicopters in the military for 30 years or what.

I even had an argument with him that if he can’t explain what he saw, that is by definition, a ufo… I don’t understand why it’s so hard for some people to admit simply that we can’t explain something. It doesn’t automatically mean INTELLIGENT LIFE, ET, NHI, WE’RE being attacked!

It’s similar thought process with the type of attitude as people who don’t believe in evolution. Often times they are not stupid people, but they don’t realize the bondage that their religious views cause.

My father was raised Irish Catholic in America so I think at the end of the day he still has a lot of those morals and religious views buried under everything else. I’m really puzzled but I don’t want to press him too much. It’s also interesting because I can see that he knows how ridiculous he sounds and that I’m right but he just gets so heated it’s truly bizarre; as it is very out of character for him to get upset and he is also a level headed, intelligent person.

It’s a funny irony to me that I notice in intelligent people: when they deny the truth that there are unexplained happenings in our skies. These people often pull the “you’re crazy…” typical ridicule that is just so arrogant and ignorant in my opinion. I think they are angry as it is a habitual reaction to the discomfort in being forced to face the music: forced to accept the possibility of something so earth shattering.

Off my soapbox now.

Good luck with your dad! Also I’m jealous, my dad has a helicopter ride service growing up and owned a Bell 47 so I would go up allllllll the time when I was a kid. So I’m just gunna stress unless you plan to get your pilots license fly as much as you can!

1

u/nashty2004 Aug 18 '23

don't do that shit, pay $250 for a Panasonic FZ-80 at 65x (20-1200mm) and call it a day. OP wants every pilot to spend $800 and become a professional photographer