2003-02-13 - Columbia, SC - Unknown

The three craft where flying with very little sound, low and slow.

This observation involved 3 aircraft while walking from my car to the house. From the east and also the direction of Ft Jackson I observed 3 groupings of lights in perfect formation, flying very slow at an altitude of approx 1500 ft with only the faintest stir of jet engines.All 3 had several bright landing type lights on and were super quiet for the slow speed and altitude. Just before approaching my location all three begain a perfect 90 degree right turn. As they rolled I noticed the plane closest to me banking and its wings had the normal light formation of green-right red-left as did the plane on the far side but the craft in the middle was different. It had green lights in the front and the back with what looked like a line of white lights from nose to tail similar to an airliner with cabin lights on. I could not make out any shape but also could not percieve any roll or change of the lights as would have occured in banking and leveling from a greater than standard rate 90 degree turn. Also, I work at an airport so I know approach speeds and all three of these were traveling amazingly slow and quiet and also away from Metro. You will probably note that this was the same time as the code orange situation.