AARO GoFast Case Resolution and Methodology

UNCLASSIFIED
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UNCLASSIFIED
Figure 2: The y-axis represents the difference between the object’s heading and the wind direction at 13,000 feet.
The x-axis represents the wind’s heading relative to the F/A-18F’s airframe geometry (0° is a headwind). The curve
represents the object’s range of possible directions compared to the wind. The tailwind, headwind, and crosswinds
are denoted by the colored lines. The maximum deviation in the UAP’s direction of travel from wind direction is
32.1°.
Figures 1 and 2 can be used to find the object’s speed and heading compared to the wind for any
direction of the F/A-18F’s travel relative to the prevailing wind direction. As examples, the
object’s apparent speed and direction is summarized here for four scenarios: headwind,
crosswind from the left, tailwind, and crosswind from the right.
1. Headwind (aircraft flying into the wind): The object moved 2.0 m/s (5 mph) faster than
the wind, at a heading of 5° off-wind.
2. Left Crosswind (wind coming from the left side): The object moved 26.5 m/s (59 mph)
faster than the wind, heading 31.5° off-wind.
3. Tailwind (aircraft flying with the wind): The object moved 41.3 m/s (92 mph) faster than
the wind, heading 12.3° off-wind.
4. Right Crosswind (wind coming from the right side): The object moved 27.7 m/s (62
mph) faster than the wind, heading 9.5° off-wind.
The object’s performance characteristics are consistent with historical wind conditions in each
scenario. AARO assesses the object did not demonstrate anomalous performance characteristics.
The object’s apparent high speed is attributable to motion parallax. Motion parallax is an optical
effect that induces an observer to perceive that a stationary or slow-moving object is moving
much faster than that the subject object’s actual speed when viewed from a moving frame of