Comment Posted SuccessfullyI've had it happen to me several times along I-95 on the flight paths for BWI, Martin, Newark and even National and Dulles as well as JFK in NYC . On an especially clear day with the sun at the right angle, the plane can look Much lower and closer than it really is, on the order of ten or more times closer And lower. The combination can multiply and give you the strong impression of one percent (or even less!) of the real airspeed. Add in a very slight hint of mist or humidity to stabilize the air and it's downright scary. It can look as though it will be coming in just about ON Top of you.
Only on very rare occasions have I had an actual mirage enter into it (where the air forms a lens series and can put the image just about anywhere, even Hundreds of Miles away). That is usually just so odd as to kick in my Huh?! alarm and remind me that it Does happen. Many UFOs (at least of the ones that aren't weather balloons and similar) are mirages that aren't recognized by the observers. Venus is the most common object seen as such, but all Sorts of stuff has been (in one really neat case, a cargo ship almost a thousand miles away!).
Floating Airliner illusion not uncommon
Comment Posted SuccessfullyI've had it happen to me several times along I-95 on the flight paths for BWI, Martin, Newark and even National and Dulles as well as JFK in NYC . On an especially clear day with the sun at the right angle, the plane can look Much lower and closer than it really is, on the order of ten or more times closer And lower. The combination can multiply and give you the strong impression of one percent (or even less!) of the real airspeed. Add in a very slight hint of mist or humidity to stabilize the air and it's downright scary. It can look as though it will be coming in just about ON Top of you.
Only on very rare occasions have I had an actual mirage enter into it (where the air forms a lens series and can put the image just about anywhere, even Hundreds of Miles away). That is usually just so odd as to kick in my Huh?! alarm and remind me that it Does happen. Many UFOs (at least of the ones that aren't weather balloons and similar) are mirages that aren't recognized by the observers. Venus is the most common object seen as such, but all Sorts of stuff has been (in one really neat case, a cargo ship almost a thousand miles away!).