Cmdr. David Fravor served 22 years as a U.S. naval aviator. He is neither a liar nor a loon.
I note that in light of Fravor’s testimony that he saw something extraordinary while flying off the USS Nimitz in the Pacific Ocean back in 2004. That exceptionally maneuverable “tic-tac” shaped object, Fravor says, had no wings, no visible jet propulsion, and seemed to be under intelligent control. The Navy has now admitted that three videos of unidentified flying objects, including one recorded by Fravor’s squadron during the 2004 incident he experienced, are indeed videos of unidentified phenomenon.
This admission has the testimony of Fravor and other pilots coming under increasing scrutiny. Some say the pilots mistook what they saw or became confused. Others suggest the pilots didn’t actually see anything.
Ultimately, this skepticism is healthy. And I can tell you where it’s going to end: with more people recognizing that these videos show real objects which, before and after being recorded, performed seemingly impossible movements and were captured on various sensor platforms doing as much. The pilots who witnessed these objects with their own eyes, as well as various aircraft cameras, say as much.
But even beyond the data, there’s good reason to take Fravor at his word. He is both a distinguished aviator and a distinguished leader. While commanding Strike Fighter Squadron 41 embarked on the Nimitz, Fravor was featured in a 2005 PBS documentary, Carrier. Fravor’s wit and quiet authority shine throughout the series, but the most telling moment came in an episode in which his pilots are stuck airborne trying to land on a heavily pitching deck.
Asked by PBS before the piloting difficulties whether he agreed with the captain’s decision to order pitching-deck training operations, Fravor shows he isn’t cowed by rank. “Do I agree with it or disagree with it?” he repeats his interviewer’s question. “It’s not for me to say, it’s probably a little bit beyond where we need to be.”
In the Navy, that’s about as close to disagreement with a command decision as you’re going to get. As night closes in and pilots are struggling to land on the heavily pitching carrier deck, Fravor gears up to help refuel them rather than sending up a younger pilot in his squadron. Fravor explains, “If I really don’t want to be out there, then I don’t want my brand-new people out there.” Again, the man is clearly a leader.
Even as other pilots struggle to land and are forced to make multiple attempts before finally catching a wire, PBS shows Fravor anticipating the massive movement of the deck and making a perfectly smooth landing. The looks on the faces of the rest of the carrier air wing say it all. Even these outsize personalities recognize that Fravor is one of the best of the best.
Fravor is not some weirdo. He saw what he saw. It wasn’t a sensor glitch or a fly in his camera. And the U.S. government is highly confident it is not military technology from China, Russia, or the United States. So, what was it?
We don’t know, which is precisely why this issue deserves serious attention.
Watch the scenes below.
Part One:
Part Two:
