2021-02-20 - Oxnard, CA - Sphere

Date observed: Saturday 20 Feb 2021 Approx. time: 2130 while walking our dogs.

Place sighted and where we were. The still pictures and video were taken from - Hollywood Beach CA. at the intersection of Los Feliz Ave. and Sunset Lane View: Looking out toward Anacapa Island (in the Channel Islands chain)- Aircraft 'appeared' to be flying between Anacapa (which is 7 miles from the mainland from Hollywood Beach).

What we saw: Five extremely bright lights moving (flying ?) in a circular flight pattern which defied normal aircraft flight patterns and maneuvering (to include helicopters). The leader would disappear and circle around to come back in the picture frame on the right. The four kept equal separation/distance apart from one another. The leader would reappear from the right to rejoin the four. Appeared to be helicopters with bright lights when I zoomed in on one of the still pictures- also when the video is run in slow motion.

I've never seen anything like it before during my days of flying Huey's in the Corps and having a commercial pilots license (helicopter and fixed wing). Night formation flying is difficult- as you know- especially when the lead appears to shut off its light(s) and makes a fast turn to the right and returns to the formation on the right of the picture. Remarkable!