AARO GoFast Case Resolution and Methodology

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Figure 4: The three axes defined relative to an air platform in FMV analysis. Longitudinal is the
+x, Transverse is the +y, and Vertical is the +z (pointing down).
This coordinate system was applied to the F/A-18 as depicted in Figure 3. Because the aircraft
altitude was constant over the duration of flight, its path is level and confined to the x-y plane (z
= 0).
Figure 5: The top-down view coordinate system defined with the position of the F/A-18 at the origin with
coordinates [0,0,0]. The aircraft is moving in the +x direction.
With the position of the F/A-18 defined at t1, the location of the UAP relative to this position was
calculated. This calculation was done by defining a line-of-sight (LOS) or “pointing” vector and
then rotating this vector around the axes by the sensor azimuth and elevation angles given in
Table I in order to point to the location of the UAP.
The angle of rotation about the x-axis is the aircraft roll and is denoted by α; the angle of rotation
about the y-axis is the “up and down” motion due to the aircraft pitch or sensor pointing