旼컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � Distributed by the MufoNet-BBS Network, the official computer network of � � the Mutual UFO Network, Inc. (MUFON), with the permission of the author � � editor or publisher. Digitized by the Tex*Star BBS, Headquarters BBS of � � the MUFONet BBS Network (512) 556-2524 � 쳐컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� � The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily � � those of the Mutual UFO Network, Inc. (MUFON), or the MufoNet BBS Network.� � Permission is granted for download by MUFON Members for personal � � use only. Neither this file nor it's contents is to be dis- � � tributed publicly or uploaded to another BBS. � 읕컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴컴� ============================================================================ The Lone Star (TX) MUFON Reporter Vol 1 # 3 May 15, 1993 ============================================================================ Disclaimer: Due to the controversial nature of the UFO phenomenon, and some of the data presented in this newsletter, we recommend that you don't form any conclusions based solely on the facts contained in these articles, but rather that you research the topics yourself to come up with your own judgement about these findings. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWSLETTER SEEKS ARTICLES All of the articles in this issue were written by Texas MUFON members about events that have affected their lives. If you would like to submit an article to the Lone Star MUFON Reporter, please write to Ellen Stuart at 8103 Richard King Court, Austin, Texas 78749, or call (512) 288-0505. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investigator's Guide - UFOs and Radar by Ron Schlosser This is the second in a series of articles by Ron Schlosser, an Air Traffic Controller with the Federal Aviation Administration for over 35 years. Ron's experience and knowledge of the FAA imminently qualifies hlm to educate Texas investigators in this all-too-often misunderstood realm. If you have a specific question for Ron, please write to him c/o The Lone Star MUFON Reporter and he will respond directly or through a future article. -Ed.) A radar is a radar is a radar... well, not quite true -- no more than it is of roses, anyway. While the basic principle driving the many different units is the same -- bouncing an electron off some distant object in order to determine bearing and distance -- (RAdio Detection And Ranging) -- there have been many variations over the years to accommodate specific needs. The obnoxious radar "gun" used by highway patrolmen from behind bushes or billboards is, in fact, a very distant cousin to the long-range radars utilized by FAA and military facilities. Just how significant is radar in confirming a UFO report? After all, they are the ultimate electronic tool for watching the skies, right? Maybe. If you've read enough of the various books, articles and newsletters, you're bound to have seen more than one author "validate" a sighting with corroboration from radar operators. One such report from the early 1960s spoke of UFOs travelling "over 2000 miles per hour," and that they could turn on a dime at that speed." I hate to be a spoil sport, but do not look for this kind of information from the FAA. (Tecnical information derived from military sources is highly suspect in my opinion, and only as valuable as you can independently confirm.) It is not my intent to start another controversy (we have plenty as it is), and space prohibits an exhaustive explanation as to why the FAA radar data cannot reliably provide the kind of information cited above. The main reason, simply, is that FAA radar is not set up to track such fast moving targets without electronic augmentation, i.e. a transponder "beacon". Today's radars are quite adequate to track all the "low and slow" small aircraft in use, but these puddle jumpers are the only ones not _required_ to have an operational beacon on board. If earlier reports of visual sightings are accurate, the typical flying saucer will not appear on most radars because of its radar-evading shape. That little electron referred to earlier will just "slide around" most most raindrops and similar shapes instead of bouncing back. It is possible for the unlikely to occur: a controller could observe a primary (raw) radar return from such a craft, especially if it were flying low and slow, but without some reflective surface, such as an aircraft wing, the radar can easily "overlook" such a target. In over 35 years as a controller, I have never observed a UFO on radar, even when told where to look by aircraft making visual sightings! Remember, however, some types of military radars have been specifically used for detection purposes, and their capabilities are highly classified. [Editor's note: Ron specifically chose to discuss radar through referring to electrons rather than electromagnetic waves and "sliding around" rather than going through or being scattered by raindrop-shaped ob)ects.] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------