Tag Archives: pilot

Hundreds of New UFO Sightings Reported to Pentagon

The new findings bring the total number of UAP cases under review to more than 1,600 as of June 2024.

Hundreds of New UFO Sightings Reported to Pentagon
A photo from the Department of Defense shows an “unidentified aerial phenomenon.” Department of Defense

There were 757 reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) between May 2023 and June 2024, according to an unclassified Department of Defense (DOD) report released on Nov. 14.

Congress mandated the annual report by the DOD’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which is tasked with studying and cataloging reports of UAPs, formerly referred to as UFOs.

The report said that AARO received 757 UAP reports from May 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024, and “485 of these reports featured UAP incidents that occurred during the reporting period.”

“The remaining 272 reports featured UAP incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2022 but were not reported to AARO until this reporting period and consequently were not included in previous annual UAP reports,” the report reads.

The new findings bring the total number of UAP cases under AARO review to more than 1,600 as of June.

AARO Director Jon Kosloski said at a Nov. 14 media briefing that the findings have left investigators puzzled.

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IN-DEPTH: ‘The American People Are Ready’; Lawmakers Advocate Government Disclosure of Records on the ‘UAP Enigma’

IN-DEPTH: ‘The American People Are Ready’; Lawmakers Advocate Government Disclosure of Records on the ‘UAP Enigma’

“There are interesting cases that I, with my physics and engineering background and time in the [intelligence community], I do not understand,“ Kosloski said. ”And I don’t know anybody else who understands them either.”

Some cases were later resolved, with 49 determined to be sightings of common objects such as balloons, birds, and unmanned aerial systems. Another 243, also found to be sightings of ordinary objects, were recommended for closure by June. However, 444 were deemed inexplicable and lacking sufficient data, so they were archived for future investigation.

Notably, 21 cases were considered to “merit further analysis” because of anomalous characteristics and behaviors.

Despite the unexplained incidents, the office noted that it “has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology.”

The report said UAP cases often had consistent patterns, described as having unidentified lights and as orb-shaped or otherwise round objects with distinct visual traits.

Of the new cases, 81 were reported in U.S. military operating areas, and three reports from military air crews described “pilots being trailed or shadowed by UAP.”

The Federal Aviation Administration reported 392 unexplained sightings among the 757 reports made since 2021.

In one such case, the AARO resolved a commercial pilot’s sighting of white flashing lights as a Starlink satellite launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

“AARO is investigating if other unresolved cases may be attributed to the expansion of the Starlink and other mega-constellations in low earth orbit,” the report states.

The AARO report maintains that none of the resolved cases has substantiated “advanced foreign adversarial capabilities or breakthrough aerospace technologies.” The document also states that the AARO will immediately notify Congress if any cases indicate such characteristics, which could suggest extraterrestrial involvement.

The report emphasized the AARO’s “rigorous scientific framework and a data-driven approach” and safety measures while investigating these phenomena.

UAP Hearing

The report was released a day after a House Oversight Committee hearing titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth,” during which witnesses alleged government secrecy surrounding the phenomena.

During the hearing, a former DOD official, Luis Elizondo, said, “Advanced technologies not made by our government or any other government are monitoring sensitive military installations around the globe.”

He testified that the government has operated secret programs to retrieve UAP crash materials to identify and reverse-engineer alien technology.

“Furthermore, the U.S. is in possession of UAP technologies, as are some of our adversaries. I believe we are in the midst of a multi-decade secretive arms race, one funded by misallocated taxpayer dollars and hidden from our elected representatives and oversight bodies,” Elizondo said.

“Although much of my government work on the UAP subject still remains classified, excessive secrecy has led to grave misdeeds against loyal civil servants, military personnel, and the public, all to hide the fact that we are not alone in the cosmos.

“A small cadre within our own government involved in the UAP topic has created a culture of suppression and intimidation that I have personally been victim to, along with many of my former colleagues.” For The Silo, Rudy Blalock/NTD.

34 Years Ago The Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Was Revealed

Almost three and a half decades ago, a mysterious and strikingly beautiful aircraft touched down on a dusty airfield in the Nevada desert.


The F-117 Nighthawk


Since its public reveal decades ago (consider that development started in the 1970’s on this amazing machine), the Nighthawk served with quiet distinction through the latter half of the Cold War, the first Gulf War, a kerfuffle in Yugoslavia, and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Despite and official ‘retirement’ in 2008, the F-117 still gets spotted in the skies over Nevada where it is rumored to serve as an ‘agressor aircraft’, helping to train pilots.


What’s the F-117 about?


With it’s cyberpunk like profile and stunning angles, the F-117 Nighthawk instantly captured the public’s imagination and birthed a lot of UFO /UAP stories, especially in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when it’s unusual shape confused expectations of what an aircraft could and should look like.
A radical departure from the retro-aerodynamic curves of traditional aircraft design, the F-117’s odd shape serves a singular purpose.


Stealth.


The Nighthawk was conceived by Lockheed’s Skunk Works, a secretive development team responsible for some of the most capable aircraft of the 20th century.
Designed to slip through deep Soviet territory, the Nighthawk incorporated radical new technology to achieve an incredibly small radar and thermal signature. Hard edges, radar-absorbing coatings, a unique twin-tail, and special endinge cowlings reduced the aircraft to the size of a sparrow on Soviet radar.
The Nighthawk was deemed fully operational in the early 1980’s and nearly a decade her pilots and crew flight night sorties in complete secrecy.
Seven years later, the USAF and the Department of Defense decided the Nighthawk would work better as a deterrent if the world knew about it and it’s capabilities.


Plans were made to reveal the aircraft to the world at Nellis AFB on April 21, 1990. Those of us who saw this event live on television will always remember the shock and awe inspiring gasp it created- nothing like it had ever been seen before and it surely looked like something from a science fiction novel or movie.
On a hot spring day, a flight of two F-117s landed in front of thousands of cheering spectators, kicking off one of the most memorable air shows in US history. After opening the show, the F-117s sat quietly on the tarmac surrounded by an entourage of armed airmen and curious onlookers.
Although little was said about the new “stealth fighters”- blimps, fighter jets, and mock dog fights continued the day’s entertainment in style.


Even with talks of ‘spending prioritization’ and ‘doctrinal appropriateness’, the Nighthawk has endured, in it’s own special way, for nearly 40 years. Everything about the F-117 that made it great in the 1980’s still captivates us today. It’s razor-sharp edges, futuristic technology, and it’s family tree of stealthy cousins (foreign and domestic). Here is hoping many more years of this little black triangle up in the sky… via our friends at kommandostore.com

Disruptive Drone Franchise Opportunity

Aquiline Drones (AD) has now combined the fast-paced drone industry with the demand for external property care services and developed a revolutionary drone franchise business model.  Specifically, the Hartford, Connecticut based drone manufacturer offers budding entrepreneurs and those with existing property maintenance companies the power of drone technology to fulfill various exterior cleaning and improvement services safely, quickly and cost-effectively. 

https://youtu.be/4jF9GvBCUys

“Franchising has contributed greatly to the overall North American economy since 1731 and has proven to be a lucrative avenue for those who seek both work freedom and financial stability,” said Barry Alexander, Founder and CEO of Aquiline Drones. “There are thousands of franchises across hundreds of industries, but none like ours in the drone sector, so it’s perfect timing for those wanting to grow their business from the ground floor up.” 

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Franchises offer the independence of small business ownership supported by the benefits of extensive business networks. 

In fact, according to Dr. Franchise’s website, there are more than 792,000 franchising companies in the United States with a projected $826.6 billion usd/ $1.07 trillion cad in revenues for 2022. 

In Canada, a report from franchise101.net indicates that there are about 1,250 franchise companies operating 76,000 franchises.

According to a recent survey by Franchise Business Review, the average annual income of an American franchise owner is approximately $80,000 usd/ $104,000 cad ( According to glassdoor.ca the average income of a Canadian franchise owner is approximately $40,480 cad) ; however, this number varies based on the motivation of the owner, and the particular business industry.  “Clearly, the sky is the limit and with a drone franchise given the rapidly evolving and lucrative drone services market, a new franchisee can literally dominate an entire region in a very short period,” adds Alexander.  “In fact, we are already seeing substantial interest since we announced this unique and creative franchise model with customers already purchasing our equipment.”

Besides its high earning potential, other advantages of AD’s drone franchise include: direct training, easy-to-secure financing, lower investment costs, piggybacking off an established corporate brand, proven management and work practices, and ongoing support – all creating a higher rate of success than other start-up companies in the same business category. 

Similarly, AD’s drone services franchise will offer the prospective franchisee in-depth training through its well-established Flight to the Future (F2F) commercial drone pilot training program. 

The franchisee receives in-person flight training for many commercial applications, including total exterior property care, through the program. 

In addition, AD’s proprietary Drone-On-Demand (DoD) mobile app, downloadable on Google Play Store (Apple iOS in July), will match customer service requests nationwide with drone service providers within proximity to the requested jobs. 

Flexible financing and insurance options are currently being organized through AD and its subsidiary, Aquiline Drones Indemnity Corporation for new franchisees and established businesses alike. 

Individuals can purchase various commercial, American-made drone models through AD’s manufacturing department depending on their desired business scale and goals.

“There is a distinct fascination with drone technology supporting ordinary and dangerous business operations,” adds Alexander. 

“We founded our company on the underlying mission that drones should enhance, preserve and save human lives, and certainly many of those in the outdoor property care industry put themselves at risk every day.”

Specific exterior maintenance services supported by AD’s unique franchise model include:

  • Roof washing and gutter cleaning
  • Solar panel washing
  • Roof and home inspections
  • Ice melting and removal with steam
  • Window washing for both residential and commercial structures
  • Spraying and fumigating pesticides for ticks, mosquitoes, wasp nests, etc.
  • Seeding and fertilizing lawns, farms and golf courses
  • Sterilization of stadiums, streets, and other outdoor facilities

Alexander also highlights that specific drone use cases can create direct cost-savings for the consumer. 

For example, solar energy has been taking the world by storm and homeowners have been using it to save money on their electricity bills, add value to their property, and sometimes make a little money from the utility company. According to Sunbadger.com, 16.4 million American homes currently use solar panels as their primary electricity source and regular cleaning ensures that they are working more efficiently, hence allowing for maximum tax credits, rebates and other federal and state incentives. 

According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, Canada has more than 43,000 solar (PV) energy installations on residential, commercial and industrial rooftops, providing power directly to those homes and businesses.

“Cleaning solar panels with a drone is much safer than traditional methods and could viably save a homeowner money by increasing its efficiency by 15-25%, a welcomed bonus with today’s economic inflation,” said Alexander.

AD is offering its innovative franchise system as a 3-tiered business opportunity:

  1. All-inclusive package – drone pilot training, business registration as an LLC, drone and associated hardware (hoses and pumps for low and high-pressure spray washing), ratio-ed territory exclusivity, job leads through the AD DoD, marketing, branding and support services.
  2. Standard Package – for those already managing exterior maintenance or spray washing companies – drone pilot training, drone hardware, specs for equipment and pumps, access to the AD DoD job or mission requests, support services.
  3. F2F Graduates – for those already certified through AD’s Flight to the Future program , some discounting will apply.  Other items include hoses and pumps for low and high-pressure spraying, ratio-ed territory exclusivity, job leads through the AD DoD, company marketing, branding and support services.

Other benefits of the AD franchise model as compared to a traditional franchise company include, a modest start-up cost without needing an expensive, fixed building lease since all drone missions take place outdoors, single proprietor ownership vs. needing multiple employees up front, affordable drone insurance offered by AD’s insurance subsidiary instead of requiring pricy market liability insurance, flexible and accessible AD lines of credit for the initial investment vs. having to incur market loans.

“Whether one is seeking a career change in a burgeoning industry or a company looking to expand its book of business, the AD drone franchise represents a viable revenue stream and scalable fee structure for both new entrants and experienced business owners alike.” For the Silo, Alisa Picerno.

Free Presidential Helicopter Game Via White House Historical Association

NEW GAME Added to White House Experience App

“Fly Like Ike”

Players Can Pilot Presidential Helicopter Around Washington, D.C.

August, 2019 (Washington, D.C.) – The White House Historical Association has just launched a new game in its WHExperience mobile app called “Fly Like Ike.” This interactive game allows users to pilot the president’s helicopter and make stops to learn about several monuments and historic sites in Washington, D.C. before testing their aviation skills by landing on the South Lawn of the White House.

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Helicopters have played an important role in transporting the president since 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to use a helicopter. The helicopter used in this game is a replica of the Official 2019 White House Christmas Ornament.

“Fly Like Ike” currently features these seven destinations: U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol, National Mall, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial/Tidal Basin, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House.

“Fly Like Ike” is the latest feature on the White House Historical Association’s WHExperience app, which is free to download on iOS, Android devices.

The WHExperience app also provides information and a link to purchase the  2019 Official White House Ornament, which commemorates President Eisenhower’s commitment to innovation as the first president to fly in a helicopter while in office in July 1957.

“Fly Like Ike” requires Wi-Fi or a data plan, and is compatible with iPhone 7 and up and devices running Android version 7.0 and up.  

The WHExperience app also includes virtual tours of the White House and a “Presidential Lookalike” selfie feature, which is powered by Amazon Rekognition technology. For the Silo, Jessica Fredericks.

About The White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $50 million USD in fulfillment of its mission.