I checked with my son on his thoughts ..
He is one of the early US trained and licensed pilots..and according to those firms who keep track, he is in the top 1% of licensed frequent fliers.
Drone pilots are taught and tested on the same level as regular airplane sport pilots, minus the flight tests.
First off, it is not likely a foreign power since they would likely not keep the lights on. Why betray your presence?
Secondly, most people have a difficult time estimating size at night. Perhaps what looks big as a car at 100 to some, may be the size of
a small loaf of bread flying at 400 ft.
Regular drone allowed altitude is 400 ft. That is not 400 ft above sea level, but 400 ft abovethe ground or surface directly below..while airplanes must
stay above 500 ft, except near airports.
Each time my son flies, he must clear with the FAA..and when within 5 miles of an airport, often his request is declined.
Assuming they are not outright foreign sponsored flights, or they would fly in blackout, drones for sev eral years now, all drones are require by
law to have a tracer system, so the FAA can trace where they come from where they fly and where they return to.
A couple years ago, the FAA opened up night flying to all drones, so likely an ijncrease in traffic would be expected.
Then there is human nature.. John Doe says he saw a drone flying over his town of Badgertown, doing funny things..
So, for the next week, ahundred other folks in Badgertown, spend muich ofthe night, looking for the drone/UFOs...and they saw some..
Watching the videos on TV, my son said some were simply regular planes..easily identified by their lights and how they were used.
Once started, many people will add to a legend...believing they actually saw something.. It is part of human nature..for some.
