SIGHTING: LUND/HIKO/ASH SPRINGS/ALAMO, NV

Witness Testimony

" One hoax "UFO," and one possible test plane, over Hiko/Ash Springs/Alamo area.Multiple sightings between November 2013 and January 2015 (when this report was filed) Multiple sightings of a confirmed hoax craft; And a single sighting of one possible test craft from Area 51 or Nellis AFB Location: State Route 318 from Lund to Hiko and continuing south along US 93 to just south of Alamo. Observer: Individual who frequently (sometimes weekly) travels back and forth between northern and southern Nevada along US 93 and SR 318.Object #1: Multiple nighttime sightings of what I have since learned is a cool, but not hugely secret (to locals, anyway) hoax "UFO" - a small aircraft with a custom (perhaps programmable) array of animated red lights that is flown at low altitude through the White River Valley between Lund (at the north end) and Hiko (at the south end) along State Route 318, and then continuing into the Pahranagat Valley down to Ash Springs and Alamo, just south of where 318 dead ends into 93.For uninformed nighttime travelers, this craft would easily be a startling sight, as the operators activate the lights intermittently along a meandering flight route. I have seen the craft most often in the vicinity of White River Narrows, a short stretch of canyon through which 318 winds just north of Hiko. During the most recent sighting (in December 2014, I believe), I was concerned that the craft was being flown in hazardous weather conditions - high winds and rain/snow, a risky venture for the operators if they were in it ... or for the craft if it's just a remote. The craft appears to have no fixed or flashing running lights (FAA violation?), so until the red light array is activated, it is basically invisible. The effect is rather striking, though, because the light pattern is different each time - reminds me of the animated light patterns on the side of some blimps, but appears to be on the underside/underwing of the craft.Didn't get details of why this craft is being flown (I've only seen it at night), but it could just be for fun or publicity to spice up interest in the mystique of the area with its adjacency to Area 51, which lies west of here off State Route 375 going toward Rachel. There are a few Area 51-themed tourist attractions and businesses in this area, including E.T. Beef Jerky (right at the junction of 318 and 93), The Alien Research Center (just a short distance up 375 after it splits off from 318), which is more a gimmicky Sci-Fi memorabilia shop than any genuine "research center." Also up 375 is the Little A-lé-inn (spelling?) in Rachel, which is a good ways north of the famous/infamous "Black Mailbox" and main turnoff to get to Area 51 (there are actually several ... but not necessarily passenger-car-friendly ... access roads and backways into the property that comprises Area 51 - travel along them is highly inadvisable). Maybe the operators of this craf! t are just playing into the lingering appeal of this area to UFO seekers from afar. Pretty clever, but risky. This report is just an explanation of this particular object to any "newbies" who see it for the first time and wonder if it might be extraterrestrial. This one is not.Object #2: Some type of craft (likely a high-performance jet) performing dizzying maneuvers above the Hiko/Ash Springs/Alamo area near where SR 318 and US 93 intersect.I witnessed this craft on a cold winter day in early 2014, when the sky was crystal clear ... other than the (perhaps unintended?) contrail that made it possible for me to track the movement of the craft, if not actually see it (it was either at very high altitude or very small and at low altitude).The contrail appeared intermittently, as though the craft was hitting pockets of very cold air along its path (much like one might see from a jetliner passing high overhead through variable air masses).Cannot say if this was a manned or remotely controlled craft, but it was making some very sharp, sudden turns and loops that were far beyond what I believe to be the envelope of most known fighter planes, including those I have observed at air shows or conducting military practice maneuvers. Possible sources: Area 51, which is not far from here, or Nellis AFB, which lies about 80 - 90 miles south of here. Pretty sure it was not just the Thunderbirds, whose home base is Nellis. They usually stick close to Vegas and in a group. This was an individual craft. Wondering if anyone else has seen this type of craft executing similar aerobatics in this area.((NUFORC Note: Witness indicates that the date is approximate. PD)) "