Aircraft taking-off seen trailed by two unidentified object / vehicles
I was sky-watching while sitting on my backyard deck (I like looking for satellites or watching aircraft from nearby McGhee Tyson Airport). I have a pair of binoculars that I use during this endeavor.
On the night of June 15th, 2021, I saw an aircraft taking-off around 2300 hours. It was traveling in an easterly direction, and was about 45 degrees above the horizon, when I focused my binoculars on it. At this time I saw two lights, which looked like what you would expect when seeing satellites, traveling above, and in the same direction as, the aircraft. I then saw each light bank-away from each other, and take-up a position behind the aircraft. It looked like a classic fighter maneuver to get behind an adversary aircraft. The lights "tailed" the aircraft (closely, but not close enough to be a hazard) for a short distance before they both climbed upward at a steep angle. I lost sight of the lights before losing sight of the aircraft.
Other than the engine noise from the aircraft, no unusual sound was heard. They lights were a solid, white color. They had no other lights that were visible to me (such as collision or navigation lights as should be seen on an aircraft). I do not think they were drones, at least in the conventional/non-military sense owing to their speed and maneuverability.
I should also mention that I have good knowledge of aviation and aircraft.
I was sky-watching while sitting on my backyard deck (I like looking for satellites or watching aircraft from nearby McGhee Tyson Airport). I have a pair of binoculars that I use during this endeavor.
On the night of June 15th, 2021, I saw an aircraft taking-off around 2300 hours. It was traveling in an easterly direction, and was about 45 degrees above the horizon, when I focused my binoculars on it. At this time I saw two lights, which looked like what you would expect when seeing satellites, traveling above, and in the same direction as, the aircraft. I then saw each light bank-away from each other, and take-up a position behind the aircraft. It looked like a classic fighter maneuver to get behind an adversary aircraft. The lights "tailed" the aircraft (closely, but not close enough to be a hazard) for a short distance before they both climbed upward at a steep angle. I lost sight of the lights before losing sight of the aircraft.
Other than the engine noise from the aircraft, no unusual sound was heard. They lights were a solid, white color. They had no other lights that were visible to me (such as collision or navigation lights as should be seen on an aircraft). I do not think they were drones, at least in the conventional/non-military sense owing to their speed and maneuverability.
I should also mention that I have good knowledge of aviation and aircraft.
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Off
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Maryville
USA
1 minute
1 minute
35.69
-84.06
sphere
TN
Occurred : 6/15/2021 23:00 (Entered as : 06/15/21 23:00) Reported: 6/18/2021 1:48:22 PM 13:48 Posted: 7/31/2021 Location: Maryville, TN Shape: Sphere Duration: 1 minute Characteristics: There were lights on the object, There were aircraft in the vicinity or aircraft chasing the object
Aircraft taking-off seen trailed by two unidentified object / vehicles