29 July 2015 (updated on 17 December 2019)
(Comité de Estudios de Fenómenos Aéreos Anómalos (CEFAA), Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil, Santiago, Chile)
The whole article (translated by Google Translate):
“Testimony of a retired colonel from the Chilean Air Force
July 4, 2010
Author: Chilean Air Force Pilot
Birth date: 02.07.1929
Agency in charge: Department of Aerofotogrammetry of the Chilean Air Force (Aerofotogrammetric Service of the Chilean Air Force (SAF)).
Circumstance: During an aerial photogrammetric flight.
Plane: Twin-engine Beechcraft T-11 (from the plexiglass bow).
Airplane flight altitude: Approx. 8,000ft. Location: Chile, near Lake Rapel, SW of Santiago City (capital of the country).
1.- Carrying out an aerial photogrammetric flight, which consists of taking vertical photographic shots with a special camera equipment, following a FLIGHT PLAN previously, which is marked on an aerial chart (map) with lines (flight axes) that will be covered with photography the area to be surveyed at the previously established photography scale.
These axes or strips of photographic flight are parallel lines in which successive photos are ‘shot’ automatically and cover each other 60% in the forward direction and 20 or 30% (laterally) between strip and strip.
During this capture operation, the navigator (the author of this narration located on the nose of the plane) orders the pilot through internal communication the maneuvers to perform to place the plane at altitude and ‘in progress’, the turns and the corrections when necessary. It also informs the photographer operator, who is next to his team in the fuselage of the plane, the data to be entered in the photographic machine according to the situation at the time: ex: light intensity, need for filter factor, initiation of shots and end of these. Repetitions and others.
2.- While we were making one of these photographic strips and constantly checking my control points on the aerial chart, comparing with the geographical accidents etc., where one looks mainly downwards and sides at an angle of approximately 45º, I realize that in front mine, about 3000ft below my flight course and in the opposite direction white object of the size larger than a large plane of that time (today it would be a Jumbo). It was shaped like a cigar (fuselage without wings or empennage. And it had windows running on both sides. Its speed: indeterminate, but from the sighting to disappearing under me it would be 3 or 4 seconds. I was perplexed by something never seen. I thought it was a fantasy, but it was too real. Unfortunately I did not manage to order the operator- 2 photographer to take an immediate photo, other than those taken by the camera automatically conforms to the pre-calculated flight plan.
When I made the first comment via internal communication with the pilot and the operator, it was late and the precise moment had passed.
I admit I was deeply moved by what I saw. No sighting of this object was ever commented on by another person either that day or before or after. The UFO subject was considered something fanciful at that time. And since I did not have a clear proof in my hands, I chose to comment on it only with my closest ones.
3.- Some years ago someone told people on a TV channel. taron [?] at the Aeronautical Museum in Los Cerrillos. When they had recorded all my explanation, they showed me on a monitor a ‘sighting’ of a UFO to confirm what I saw. Then they handed me a statement for my signature where I authorized them to use my statement according to the interests of the respective TV channel.
Given what they had shown me, a thing with no definite shape, and nothing like what I saw, I refused to sign. There the ‘interview’ ended.
4.- The photograph exhibited by General Mr. Ricardo Bermúdez Sanhueza, Head of the Committee for the Study of Anomalous Aerial Phenomena (CEFAA) of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics Chile, during his excellent talk on the subject of ‘UFO’ in June 2010 at the Club of Officers of the Air Force before a group of officers of the Circle Colonels of Aviation in Retiro, prompted me to write this event that was engraved in my memory, today with 81 years ‘in the body.’
As he finished his talk: I DO NOT BELIEVE IN WITCHES, BUT THERE ARE THEM, THERE ARE !!!
And I saw a BIG one.
Chilean Air Force Pilot Coronel de Aviación (A) Member of the Círculo de Coronelas de Aviación® Santiago de Chile, July 4, 2010”
English translation (by Google Translate):
Wikipedia article: “Rapel Lake”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapel_Lake
Related posts:
realtvufos.blogspot.com/search?q=Chilean+Government+UFO+Article
realtvufos.blogspot.com/search?q=CEFAA
(Photo: cefaa.gob.cl)