My family and I have been spending a lot of time at Ocean Isle Beach, NC recently.
I am a 55 year old FAA licensed pilot that flies regularly and I am always watching the skies since I also love astronomy. I have read multiple other reports lately from nearby Myrtle Beach, SC, and Holden Beach, NC, of strange orange lights appearing.
On June 30th, while sitting outside alone around 9 PM, I am watching the sky over the ocean, but don't see anything unusual until I glance behind me to the North toward Ocean Isle airport (which is only a mile away).
In the exact area where you would normally see an airplane on downwind leg to runway 24 at the airport, I watch a steady orange light cruising in a straight line near the airport, "silently", for about 15 seconds before fading out completely. It appeared to be cruising around 100 knots and to be between me and the airport.
A few minutes later, a small general aviation plane flew almost the same pattern with the expected engine noise.
The orange light was definitely not part of a conventional aircraft, due to the speed combined with the lack of noise.
I am a 55 year old FAA licensed pilot that flies regularly and I am always watching the skies since I also love astronomy. I have read multiple other reports lately from nearby Myrtle Beach, SC, and Holden Beach, NC, of strange orange lights appearing.
On June 30th, while sitting outside alone around 9 PM, I am watching the sky over the ocean, but don't see anything unusual until I glance behind me to the North toward Ocean Isle airport (which is only a mile away).
In the exact area where you would normally see an airplane on downwind leg to runway 24 at the airport, I watch a steady orange light cruising in a straight line near the airport, "silently", for about 15 seconds before fading out completely. It appeared to be cruising around 100 knots and to be between me and the airport.
A few minutes later, a small general aviation plane flew almost the same pattern with the expected engine noise.
The orange light was definitely not part of a conventional aircraft, due to the speed combined with the lack of noise.
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Ocean Isle Beach
USA
15 seconds
15 seconds
33.89
-78.43
light
NC
Occurred : 6/30/2011 21:00 (Entered as : 06/30/11 21:00) Reported: 7/4/2011 7:30:39 PM 19:30 Posted: 7/6/2011 Location: Ocean Isle Beach, NC Shape: Light Duration: 15 seconds
Orange Light