1998-08-25 - Winnipeg, MB - Sphere

4 witness daytime sighting of metallic rotating ball at Winnipeg international air show.

Metallic Ball at WPG air show The date given is my best guess the year could have been +or- 1. II could obtain the exact year from old friend who lived at address, but if anyone wants to check into it further it was on the first or second Day of the Winnipeg international air show.

My Brother, a friend and myself were watching the air show from another friend’s balcony. It was the top floor (14th?) facing east. I was on the balcony having a smoke and watching the "Snow birds" do there routine. They broke formation and one flew past the apartment (approx height and distance to follow).

As it did I caught sight of what looked like a metal flake that came off the plane. (This was not in the area prior to the plane passing by) After watching it for about 4 seconds it became very apparent to me that this was not a piece of the plane. It was round like a beach ball (refer to following beach ball description) 6 feet in diameter and very shiny.

There was no light except for its metallic reflection. Picture one of those beach balls that is divided into 8 different colored sections, now remove 3 of them. The larger side (5 slices) was bright polished metallic in color. The 3 missing sections were just that, missing and you could see the inside of the shiny side, which appeared dimmer.

I yelled for everyone to "get out here and see this thing before its gone" they came out expecting to see some part of the air show, but all had the same "what the H@#l is that" reaction I did. It was aprox 500' or more off the ground (snow birds might be able to provide better distances) and about 1000-1500' (3 or 4 residential blocks) away. It was very clear what we were seeing, the sky was blue, only a few nimbus clouds and a moderate wind (20 kmh? could check airport weather for exact info)

It rotated consistently about 1 per second giving it a pulsating look. It remand fixed at that point in the sky for about 2 minutes, then began to move straight up over the course of 20 to 30 min (still rotating) completely unaffected by the air currents that day. We watched it until it was no longer visible.

I would like to include here that myself and one of my friends both saw what looked like 2 specs (very high altitude approximately 5 min prior to losing sight) These specs moved very fast side by side formation from the SE to NW as they passed the "ball" they made some sporadic movements then continued NW and out of sight over the apartment we were in. (It is very possible that the specs were a trick of the eye from looking up at the blue for so long however we both saw them around the same time do similar motions)

I am sure that more must have seen this as thousands were watching the air show that day and the plane I was watching would have led others to look in that direction not to mention the pilot himself might have seen it.

I will include here the areas of the city I am referring to but If necessary can be removed. We were located in the ((apartment name deleted)) east phase ((floor deleted)) floor. The object would have been over Thompson Dr between Portage and Ness ave. (1 or 2 block radius but possible further out)

The plane was moving in a NW to SE direction.

I feel this sighting must be looked at closer (daytime sighting, with the possibility of multiple witnesses, in multiple locations.)

I have included legitimate contact information. Please get in touch.

Drawings and maps can be provided if requested.

((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that date is approximate. PD))