First, my house is 100 yards off the ocean, so I have an unimpeded view of the ocean at night. There are no distant buildings etc. that could play tricks on the eyes. Second the beach runs East to West which is different than most beaches. when you look at my view you are looking due South. I have seen many military jets at night doing maneuvers and they are usually very high but even with the altitude you get a faint sound effect. Some have asked about the altitude, this was my question also. They were low enough to look like high flares, I am guessing and purely guessing maybe 3-5 thousand feet. There was no wind which in itself is rare here. The night was quiet and partly cloudy. I could detect no form because of the brightness of the lights. The formation was obvious. The first four were spaced but not in tight formation, some distance between each. As we watched them pass they made a slight turn to the Northeast which makes me think Cherry Point. As we were turning to go inside I noticed the next three coming from the same direction. Speed was moderate as it took a couple of minutes to get to our location. Commercial jets in the night sky are hauling ass, these were much slower. Again so bright that they looked almost like stars on a very clear night except much lower. As we watched these three, I looked South again and saw the next group, same formation same altitude, making the same turn to the Northeast. NO SOUND!!
I am looking at the pictures as I type and the formation is obvious. I am very aware of how sound travels over water and usually is magnified by it. I owned a boat for many years and have been off shore and am no stranger to the weirdness of the ocean sometimes. This was not an atmospheric anomaly. These were aircraft's flying in formation, on a preset course. I am sure it was military but it didn't resemble anything I have witnessed before. My neighbor who is a retired MD and I were talking and both said the lack of sound was what was obvious. Pictures? One of you guys said not to post. Might not be a bad idea.
I am looking at the pictures as I type and the formation is obvious. I am very aware of how sound travels over water and usually is magnified by it. I owned a boat for many years and have been off shore and am no stranger to the weirdness of the ocean sometimes. This was not an atmospheric anomaly. These were aircraft's flying in formation, on a preset course. I am sure it was military but it didn't resemble anything I have witnessed before. My neighbor who is a retired MD and I were talking and both said the lack of sound was what was obvious. Pictures? One of you guys said not to post. Might not be a bad idea.
