The truth is out there – Woodmancote UFO was a kite, probably, or maybe a hot air balloon
THE truth is out there, but it depends who you want to believe.
The Echo has been inundated with calls from people saying they know what an unexplained object, seen flying over Bishop's Cleeve and Woodmancote at the weekend, was.
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Sarah Catton took pictures of an unidentified object outside her Woodmancote home at 1pm on Sunday.
Neil Jones, who lives in Wyman's Brook, believes he knows what it was is.
The 55-year-old hang-glider and member of Kemble Flying Cub said: “I think it's a parafoil. That's the banana-shaped canopy used by parasailers. Sometimes people have them connected to something like a go-cart.
Mr Jones said it took him a while to realise what the object was.
He said: “It did puzzle me for a few minutes, especially when it was turning, but you could see it was straining against the tether and that was causing the odd movements.”
The flying enthusiast said he was going to inform the air traffic control tower at Gloucestershire airport about the object.
He said: “It was up at about 1,000 feet, which is at the height of planes approaching Staverton.
“People who launch gliders tell the flight planners, but this was just somebody who'd launched a parafoil. It's a bit naughty to let it go to that height though.” Several other callers from Bishop's Cleeve back up his theory.
Jane Parker, 37, who works at Cheltenham Borough Council, was at her mother's house in Kayte Lane in Bishop's Cleeve.
She said: “They were flying big and unusual kites from the sports ground next to Cheltenham Road on Sunday afternoon. There were only three or four at a time. They were unusual enough for me to point out to my children.”
An unnamed Cleeve Hill resident had a different view.
He said: “When I saw it I got the binoculars out. I could see straight away it was a balloon.”
The 69-year-old added: “It was in the air for about 30 minutes and I was watching it through the binoculars.
“I was flicking through one of those magazines that come through the door, and there it was.
“ It's called a thermal hot air balloon and it's eight metres long.”
5 Comments
by Mark Barber, The Prince, Cheltenham
Friday, August 01 2008, 6:18AM
“I often see UFO's, particularly on the way home from the pub at night after I have consumed 2 gallons of chemically enhanced, industrial strength cider. Just remember: Watch the skies. The truth is out there. Everything is a conspiracy. Stop government mind control.”
by Aurelio, Boston
Thursday, July 31 2008, 4:03PM
“It's always great knowing that if One UFO sighting is successfully demonstrated to be a balloon then ALL must also be balloons. I can now sleep easily. Thanks!!!!”
by John, Cheltenham
Thursday, July 31 2008, 11:22AM
“My friend ran the kite festival. When I showed him the picture he said it was a Science Museum Solar Airship. You can buy them for £12.99 from the Science Museum. They are "A giant craft that inflates and flies using solar power alone. Even on a barely sunny day, the airship will absorb sufficient heat to turn into a sausage-shaped kite eight meters in length". It's made out of material similar to bin bags.”
by Philip, Hucclecote
Thursday, July 31 2008, 9:24AM
“99% bet it's a parafoil.
Don't know if it was the same one, but one was up there at about 8pm last night (Wednesday), too - you could even see it from where I was at the racecourse.”
by FJ, Glos
Thursday, July 31 2008, 7:40AM
“I'm pretty sure its a kite- if you look very carefully at the photo you can see some very faint lines which I think are the strings.”