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What was the V-shaped formation seen between 8:00 and 8:45 pm?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: a formation of five or more conventional aircraft at high altitude, probably military, in a VAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. A formation of five or more conventional aircraft at high altitude, probably military, in a V. leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

This is the unresolved half of the Phoenix Lights. The 10 pm lights are explained; the formation that crossed the state earlier is attributed to aircraft on one telescope observation and has never been claimed by any unit⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 4

Evidence: 2 for, 1 against
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 2 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. Wilson puts forward: a single large silent object with lights along its leading edges, flying low.
  2. Wilson: several witnesses, including a retired airline pilot and the then governor, describe a single enormous silent…For: A single large silent object with lights along its leading edges, flying low.
  3. Phoenix New Times (Valley Fever) puts forward: a formation of five or more conventional aircraft at high altitude, probably military, in a V.
  4. Phoenix New Times (Valley Fever): no unit has confirmed flying the formation, and Luke AFB radar operators reported nothing unusual.Against: A formation of five or more conventional aircraft at high altitude, probably military, in a V.
  5. Phoenix New Times (Valley Fever): stanley saw the lights resolve into pairs on squarish wings through a telescope and judged them planes.For: A formation of five or more conventional aircraft at high altitude, probably military, in a V.
  6. Phoenix New Times (Valley Fever): stanley's magnified view showed separate aircraft.Against: A single large silent object with lights along its leading edges, flying low.
  7. Phoenix New Times (Valley Fever): the official silence on the formation is consistent with this but also with a routine transit nobody recorded…For: A classified aircraft or test formation whose unit will not acknowledge the flight.
  8. Prothero & Callahan: size and altitude estimates of lights against a dark sky have no reference and are unreliable.Against: A single large silent object with lights along its leading edges, flying low.
  9. Wikipedia contributors: the Maryland ANG A-10s were airborne that evening and landed at Davis-Monthan at about 8:45 pm.For: A formation of five or more conventional aircraft at high altitude, probably military, in a V.
  10. Asked on this site
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