AARO GoFast Case Resolution and Methodology

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reference. The more quickly an observer moves relative to an observed object, the more
pronounced this effect is.
Data Quality and Methodology
AARO analyzed the publicly available 34-second FLIR video, because the original file and its
accompanying metadata are no longer available. The video display provided sufficient
information to assess the object’s altitude and a range of possible speeds. The display showed:
• The range (distance) from the FLIR sensor to the target.
• The FLIR camera’s azimuth (left-right angle) and elevation (up-down angle).
• The aircraft's altitude, speed, and tilt (bank angle).
The aircraft’s exact location and heading (compass direction) during the recording are unknown.1
AARO could not calculate a single speed or heading for the object because the aircraft’s
calculated flight path depends on its exact heading, and the object’s calculated location depends
on the aircraft’s location. Instead, the analysis considered all possible aircraft headings (from 0°
to 360°) to calculate a range of possible speeds and headings for the object. These calculations
include a small margin of error, because the range from the sensor to the object and the sensor
angles are only accurate to a single decimal place.
AARO could not determine the object’s size due to the video’s low resolution and the range from
the sensor to the object. However, pixel analysis (a method of measuring an object’s size based
on pixels relative to an object known dimensions) by AARO’s Intelligence Community (IC)
partner suggested the object was one meter or less in size - comparable to a small drone or bird.
For more technical details on assumptions and methodology, see Appendix A: Estimating UAP
Location, Speed, and Heading from “Go Fast” FLIR Video Data.
1 Editor’s Note: AARO sought but was unable to obtain witness accounts from the F/A-18F aircrew. Updated 20 February 2025.