August 1, 1989🇬🇧Sighting

North Sea Triangle: Aircraft Expert Chris Gibson Identifies Unknown Triangular Craft

In August 1989, Chris Gibson, a former Royal Observer Corps member and one of the world's leading experts in aircraft identification (actively writing an aircraft recognition manual and competing in international recognition tournaments), observes a matte-black aircraft refueling from a KC-135 tanker, accompanied by two F-111s, while working on a North Sea gas rig 60 miles off the Norfolk coast. The aircraft is slightly bigger than an F-111 and is 'a perfect triangle' with a 30-degree angle at the nose. Gibson states: 'I am trained in instant recognition... But this triangle had me stopped dead. I was totally out of ideas.' When USAF Public Affairs suggests it was an RAF Vulcan bomber, Gibson replies: 'A Vulcan? I think I learned that one when I was three years old.' The sighting, not made public until 1992, is considered strong evidence of classified triangular aircraft. Aviation experts suggest A-12 Avenger II or TR-3A Black Manta, though both are officially denied or canceled.

Date
August 1, 1989
Location
North Sea, off Norfolk Coast, United Kingdom
Type
Sighting
Country
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Map

Background

EVENT TITLE: North Sea Triangle: Aircraft Expert Chris Gibson Identifies Unknown Triangular Craft
EVENT DATE: 1989-08-01
EVENT TYPE: sighting

1. In August 1989, Chris Gibson, a former Royal Observer Corps member and aircraft expert, observed a matte-black aircraft refueling from a KC-135 tanker. Gibson's expertise in aircraft identification makes his observation particularly noteworthy.

The Incident Chris Gibson, an expert in aircraft identification, witnessed an unusual aerial event in the North Sea during August 1989. He observed a matte-black, triangular aircraft. The triangular craft was seen refueling from a KC-135 tanker aircraft.

Investigation The provided text does not contain information about an official investigation into this specific incident. The text focuses on the limitations of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the difficulties researchers face in obtaining UFO-related documents.

Significance The sighting is significant due to the observer's expertise. Chris Gibson was not only a former member of the Royal Observer Corps but also an expert in aircraft recognition. His skills included actively writing an aircraft recognition manual and competing in international recognition tournaments. The observation of a triangular craft, especially by someone with Gibson's background, adds weight to the credibility of the sighting. The source text highlights the difficulty in obtaining information about such events, as UFO cases frequently involve national security concerns and are subject to government intransigence regarding information release.

Connections