As always, determining the size / distance of stuff in the sky is hard. All anyone ever has to go on is the object’s angular size, the clarity with which we see it, and its angle rate across the sky. I know you know this and I know you’re a skilled observer. That bit was more for everyone else’s benefit.
Taking your <200 feet estimate as a reliable number, and assuming it wasn’t directly overhead, how far away was it when you saw it? Does “big” mean buzzard sized? 10 foot wingspan? The size of a Cessna (or OH-6)? Bigger yet? Did the flight seem copter-like or fixed-wing like? Any sounds?
The nightly NBC News today reported that the drones have also been spotted over California, flying over or near a meeting with SecDef Lloyd Austin. Austin had just announced anti-drone strategies.
Weirdly, I can’t find any confirmation of the drones over him story, even on the nbcnews.com website.
But searching finds multiple stories about mystery drones going back months. Headline is “Mystery Drones Swarmed a U.S. Military Base for 17 Days. The Pentagon Is Stumped.” Story is from Oct. 12, but behind paywall. Maybe somebody here has access.
Perhaps someone can explain to me why none of these drones have been photographed up close either by a telescope or more effectively by another civilian drone. I assume just shooting them down would provoke trouble from the FAA without a court order. Has anybody tried to track these things in a serious way?
Officials recommend reporting errant drone sightings to the FBI, but I’m not convinced any laws are being broken. What does the state of NJ have to say? Governor Murphy: “We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter. There is no known threat to the public at this time.” What about the Department of Home Security? The Department of Home Security has no comment, according to the NYT. Frankly, I think New Jersey is filled with suspicious suburbanites and I’m relieved that someone is keeping tabs on them. At any rate there’s no reason to panic: carry on with your day.
During the daily press briefing it was stated the president has been briefed on the drone issue. Lots of statements by various state legislators and congressmen asking for answers. No answers given at all. Crappy weather the last couple of nights so I haven’t seen any new video on social media.
Yeah, I would put the probability of an undisturbed Iranian ship hanging out off the East Coast and launching anything over US airspace would be about zero.
