Brief

David Fravor

The claims the writer was given for David Fravor, in the order they were given.

Claims 807

Checked by a person 0 confirmed as belonging here, 807 not yet read

1
David Fravor was the pilot of FastEagle 01, one of two F/A-18Fs of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) involved in the intercept and visual contact with the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) on 2004-11-14.
“FASTEAGLE 01 Pilot: CDR David 'Sex' Fravor, USN/WSO: LT {{redacted: ~3 words}}, USN”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:16388-16470 administrative second hand
2
David Fravor was Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) and was the pilot of the lead F/A-18F of FastEagle 01.
“CDR Fravor, Commanding Officer VFA-41, was the pilot of FastEagle 01.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:16569-16635 administrative second hand
3
David Fravor's F/A-18F flight walked, started, and launched with no issue on 2004-11-14, then completed departure from USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and flew to the working area to conduct the training portion of the flight.
“The flight walked, started and launched with no issue. They completed their departure from the USS Nimitz and flew to the working area to conduct the training portion of the flight.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:16782-16956 observation first hand
4
After completing the training portion of their flight, the E-2C Hawkeye controller handed David Fravor's flight off to USS Princeton (CG-59), callsign 'Poison', which vectored them via Bearing Range Altitude Aspect (BRAA) to an unknown contact flying into the working area from the south.
“After they completed their training the E-2C controller handed them off to the USS Princeton callsign 'Poison' where they received vectors via Bearing Range Altitude Aspect (BRAA) to an unknown contact flying into the working area from the south.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:16964-17204 observation first hand
5
David Fravor's flight descended to between approximately 6,100 and 7,300 metres and proceeded toward the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) contact.
“The flight descended to between 20-24,000 feet and proceeded to the contact.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:17378-17446 observation first hand
6
David Fravor did not recall any indication of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) via his aircraft's on-board sensors.
“CDR Fravor did not recall any indications via on-board sensor of the object.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:17455-17524 observation first hand
7
David Fravor recalled that the Radar Attack Display in his F/A-18F was clean, with no targets, during the approach to the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV).
“As CDR Fravor remembers it, the Radar Attack Display was clean (no targets).”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:17611-17678 observation first hand
8
David Fravor's first indication of the unknown contact was a visual of a disturbance on the water below the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV), after which he gained visual on the object itself.
“According to CDR Fravor the first indication he had of the unknown contact was a visual of a disturbance on the water below the AAV. As he scanned the area he gained a visual on the object.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:18227-18409 observation first hand
9
David Fravor described the water disturbance below the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) as localised underneath the object, not appearing as a trail or wake, and looking like frothy waves and foam almost as if the water was boiling.
“when asked to describe the disturbance on the water he stated that it was localized underneath the object, did not appear as a trail or wake, and looked like frothy waves and foam almost as if the water was boiling.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:18446-18653 observation first hand
10
David Fravor detached Alex Dietrich's F/A-18F, which held at approximately 6,100 metres, while his own F/A-18F descended to between approximately 3,700 and 4,900 metres.
“At this point CDR Fravor detached FASTEAGLE02, which held at approximately 20,000 feet, and FASTEAGLE01 descended to between 12-16,000 feet.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:18663-18798 observation first hand
11
David Fravor attempted a 'helmet lock' on the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) that was unsuccessful.
“CDR Fravor attempted a "helmet lock" that was unsuccessful.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:18804-18850 observation first hand
12
David Fravor was using the Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing System, which cues aircraft sensors such as the radar to lock on to what the pilot is looking at and has a recording capability.
“It is important to note that CDR Fravor was using the Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing System which will cue the aircraft sensors such as the radar to 'lock on' to what the pilot is looking at and it also has a recording capability.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:18864-19079 administrative
13
David Fravor said the Joint Helmet Mounted Cuing System's recording capability was rarely used, so he did not think to use it on 2004-11-14.
“CDR Fravor stated that the helmet's recording capability was rarely used therefore he did not think to use it that day.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:19213-19352 testimony first hand
14
David Fravor said the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) was 'holding like a Harrier', referring to the AV-8B Harrier jet's ability to hover and perform Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) via thrust vectoring.
“CDR Fravor stated that the object was "holding like a Harrier." (Referring to the AV-8B jet aircraft, which is capable of hovering and Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) via thrust vectoring.)”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:19522-19712 observation first hand
15
David Fravor described the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV)'s shape as like an elongated egg or a 'Tic Tac', with a discernable midline horizontal axis.
“According to CDR Fravor, the object's shape was like an elongated egg or a 'Tic Tac' and had a discernable midline horizontal axis.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:19724-19850 observation first hand
16
The Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) observed by David Fravor was uniformly white across its entire body.
“However, the object was uniformly white across the entire body.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:19856-19914 observation first hand
17
A pilot's report of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) differed from David Fravor's account in that he described the object travelling level at approximately 150-300 metres altitude at approximately 930 kilometres per hour.
“His report differs from CDR Fravor in that he reported the object traveling level at approximately 500-1000 feet at approximately 500 knots.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20271-20405 observation
18
The Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) was pointed in a north/south orientation and moved both north/south and east/west while maintaining a consistent altitude.
“The object was pointed in a north/south orientation and was moving both north & south and east & west, while maintaining a consistent altitude.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20413-20547 observation first hand
19
David Fravor described the displacements of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) as minor.
“These displacements, according to CDR Fravor, were minor.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20557-20608 observation first hand
20
David Fravor began a descent with the intention of taking a close aboard pass with the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) in an attempt to visually identify it.
“CDR Fravor stated he then began a descent with the intention to take a close aboard pass with the object in an attempt to visually identify it.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20615-20755 testimony first hand
21
David Fravor's flight began the descent toward the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) from about 3,000 metres and approximately 650 kilometres per hour.
“They began the decent as they rolled in from about 10,000ft and approximately 350 knots to take the object close aboard.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20759-20872 measurement first hand
22
David Fravor pulled nose on and then pulled trail (aft) of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) while manoeuvring near it.
“CDR Fravor pulled nose on and then pulled trail (aft) of the object.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20880-20941 observation first hand
23
David Fravor assessed that the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) appeared to recognise his aircraft, judging from the object realigning its axis to point in the direction of his aircraft.
“the object appeared, according to CDR Fravor: "to recognize us." He assessed this from the fact the object "pointed" (realigned it's axis) in the direction of their aircraft.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:20975-21140 observation first hand
24
David Fravor observed that the disturbance on the water ceased at the time the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) appeared to point toward his aircraft.
“At this time, according to CDR Fravor, the disturbance on the water ceased.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:21150-21218 observation first hand
25
As David Fravor's flight completed their manoeuvre, the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) ascended quickly and pulled a lift vector on and aft of them at a supersonic speed.
“As they completed this maneuver, the object ascended quickly and pulled lift vector on and aft of them at a supersonic speed.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:21227-21346 observation first hand
26
David Fravor commanded the radar through the Short Range radar set and asked USS Princeton (CG-59) for a radar picture.
“CDR Fravor commanded the radar through the Short Range radar set and asked for a picture from Poison.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:21353-21447 observation first hand
27
USS Princeton (CG-59) initially reported that its radar picture was clean, with no contact, then reported that the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) had flown to David Fravor's flight's combat air patrol station, located in the southern end of the training area, having climbed to approximately 7,300 metres.
“Poison initially reported that the "picture was clean" (no contact) but then stated "you're not going to believe this, its at your CAP" meaning that the AAV had flown to their training CAP, which was located in the southern end of the training area and had climbed to approximately 24,000 feet.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:21455-21744 observation second hand
28
David Fravor's flight attempted to locate both the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) and the water disturbance with no success.
“CDR Fravor stated that the flight attempted to locate both the object and the disturbance with no success.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:21750-21848 observation first hand
29
David Fravor's flight found nothing on the surface or subsurface and no indications of the previous water disturbance.
“CDR Fravor stated that nothing was seen on the surface or subsurface and that there were no indications of the previous disturbance.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:21857-21977 observation first hand
30
An F/A-18F pilot who flew alongside David Fravor during the intercept said all aircraft systems were functional, with no mission computer issues, no avionics issues, no radio or communication interference, and that they had entry into the Link-16 network.
“LT {{redacted: ~1 word}} when asked, said that all aircraft systems were functional. That there were no mission computer issues or avionics issues and that there was no radio or communication interference and that they had entry into the Link-16 network.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:22261-22531 testimony
31
When asked, an F/A-18F pilot who flew alongside David Fravor during the intercept could not confirm any physiological or psychological feelings that were out of the ordinary.
“When asked LT {{redacted: ~1 word}} couldn't confirm any physiological or psychological feelings that were out of the ordinary.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:22540-22658 testimony
32
David Fravor's flight met with the flight of Chad Underwood in the paraloft aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and passed on what they had seen.
“The flight met up with LT {{redacted: ~2 words}} and LT Chad Underwood's flight in the paraloft and passed what they had seen.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:22669-22790 observation
33
David Fravor's flight proceeded to the Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68) after the intercept.
“The flight proceeded to CVIC.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:22796-22820 administrative
34
Chad Underwood's flight launched following David Fravor's FASTEAGLE flight.
“Their flight launched following the FASTEAGLE flight.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:23492-23538 administrative
35
David Fravor's flight crew told Chad Underwood's flight crew what they had seen of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) and asked them to try to see and record what they could.
“FASTEAGLE flight told LT Underwood's flight what they saw and to try to see and record what they could.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:23679-23776 observation
36
Chad Underwood could not confirm that the object he tracked on Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) was the same object described by David Fravor's flight, as he never had visual contact and only saw the object via the FLIR.
“LT Underwood was clear in that he couldn't confirm that it was the same object as described by FASTEAGLE flight. He never had visual, only seeing the object via the FLIR.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:26420-26585 testimony first hand
37
Chad Underwood's crew proceeded to their ready room and debriefed with David Fravor and his flight.
“They proceeded to their ready room where they debriefed with CDR Fravor and his flight.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:26887-26967 observation
38
On 2004-11-14, following the intercept of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV), David Fravor reported to the Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC) to debrief with Intelligence and discussed the entire mission and AAV contact with the Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer.
“On 14 November following the intercept of the AAV, CDR Fravor reported to CVIC to debrief with Intelligence. He discussed the entire mission and AAV contact with LCDR {{redacted: ~2 words}} the Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:29711-29935 administrative
39
The Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer said that when David Fravor's report of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) came in, he wasn't sure what to do.
“According to LCDR {{redacted: ~1 word}} he "wasn't sure what to do".”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:29944-30008 testimony
40
The Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer said that he and his colleagues initially didn't take David Fravor's report of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) seriously, but had no reason to question the report given that it came from an experienced and well-respected F/A-18 squadron commanding officer.
“He also stated that they "didn't take it seriously" at first; however, they had absolutely no reason to question the report from a very experienced and well-respected F/A-18 squadron commanding officer.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:30013-30207 testimony
41
The Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer said the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) report likely would have received less attention had it come from a less-experienced aviator than David Fravor.
“LCDR {{redacted: ~1 word}} added that they likely would have not given as much attention if it came from a lesser-experienced aviator.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:30216-30342 opinion
42
The Carrier Air Wing Intelligence Officer reported David Fravor's account of the Anomalous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) to the Commander of Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), a highly experienced aviator who did not take it very seriously.
“He reported it to the Commander of the Air Wing, CAPT {{redacted: ~2 words}} also a highly experienced aviator but he did not take it very serious.”
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG-11) AAV Incident Report 2004-11-14 char:30351-30490 observation
43
David Fravor was a United States Navy pilot for 18 years.
“Commander David Fravor, who was a Navy pilot for 18 years”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:00:01.6-00:00:05.1 administrative
44
David Fravor was commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), also known as the Black Aces.
“commander of the Strike Fighter Squadron 41, also known as the Black Aces”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:00:06.0-00:00:10.5 administrative
45
David Fravor personally saw and chased an unidentified flying object (UFO) in 2004.
“he's also famously one of the people who with his own eyes saw and chased a UFO, an identified flying object in 2004”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:00:15.3-00:00:25.4 testimony second hand
46
Lex Fridman considers David Fravor's account of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, corroborated by several other pilots, the most credible sighting of a UFO in history that he is aware of.
“His story corroborated by several other pilots from my perspective as a curious scientist and an open-minded human being is the most credible sighting of a UFO in history, at least that I'm aware of.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:00:35.1-00:00:48.1 opinion first hand
47
Naval fighter pilots reconstruct dogfight engagements after landing by a process called drawing arrows, using the direction of the sun and their aircraft's starting and ending headings as reference points since there is no other fixed reference over open water.
“So we call it drawing arrows... let's just say the sun is at 195 degrees... And then I ended heading 355. And then you recreate the turns and the amount of turns and use the sun relative so you can create this entire battle”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:02:15.0-00:02:27.0 observation first hand
48
An F/A-18F Super Hornet performs a split-S vertical displacement manoeuvre, rolling inverted and descending in a C-shape, in approximately 760 metres.
“a Super Hornet to do what a split S is... it does it in about roughly about 2,500 feet, give or take a little.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:05:35.0-00:06:15.0 measurement first hand
49
David Fravor is a graduate of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun).
“You're a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:07:13.7-00:07:16.9 administrative first hand
50
David Fravor went through the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) in Class 4 of 1997.
“I went through in 97, Class 4, 97.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:07:44.7-00:07:48.3 testimony first hand
51
There is a log of every single person who has gone through the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun), similar to a list kept for Navy SEAL training.
“there's actually a log of every single person that's went through, kind of like SEAL training. You know, there's a list.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:07:49.4-00:07:54.2 testimony first hand
52
To receive a genuine United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) patch, a person must have actually attended the school, and staff verify names against the attendance list before issuing one.
“just to get a Top Gun patch, the real patch, you have to have gone there... when you go in they look up your name if you want to get one they look up your name you just tell them they go okay here and they'll sell them to you if you are not on the list you ain't get no patch”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:08:01.6-00:08:21.0 testimony first hand
53
David Fravor considers his time at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) one of the best experiences of flying in his career.
“for me uh probably one of the best experiences of flying uh because everyone there is extremely competent”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:08:29.3-00:08:35.3 opinion first hand
54
Training at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) is not competitive between students in the way portrayed in the film Top Gun.
“Is it competitive in the movie? No. When you go through, if anything, it's more of the students, and then there's the instructor side.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:08:53.3-00:09:02.6 opinion first hand
55
Instructors at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) are based in USA, Nevada, Fallon.
“they just chose to stay up in Fallon”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:09:06.4-00:09:07.8 testimony first hand
56
The fighter employment lecture at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) takes about two days to deliver and is considered one of the hardest lectures.
“let's just say there's a fighter employment lecture which is one of the hardest ones it takes about two days to give the fighter employment lecture”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:09:22.8-00:09:28.0 testimony first hand
57
Instructors who deliver the fighter employment lecture at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) go through multiple murder boards where they are scrutinised by their peers before presenting to a class.
“the guy who gives the lecture goes through multiple what they call them murder boards where he's scrutinized by his peers and he practices”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:09:30.0-00:09:35.2 testimony first hand
58
By the time instructors at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) stand in front of a class, they have memorised approximately 250 PowerPoint slides in order.
“by the time they actually stand in front of a class they pretty much have their 250 powerpoint slides memorized and they don't even turn around they just click and they know them in order”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:09:36.2-00:09:45.8 testimony first hand
59
A graduate of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) is called a Strike Fighter Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SFTI).
“So when you come out of Top Gun, you're called a Strike Fighter Weapons and Tactics Instructor, okay? So you're SFTI.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:09:57.5-00:10:01.8 administrative first hand
60
After graduating from the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun), a Strike Fighter Weapons and Tactics Instructor typically goes to one of the weapons schools on the east or west coast to train fleet squadrons.
“When you come out of that, your job is to go usually to one of the weapons schools on the east or west coast and train the fleet squadrons, and then you visit the squadrons and train and do upgrade rides and all that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:10:03.8-00:10:13.2 testimony first hand
61
Hierarchy at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) is based on seniority at the school rather than military rank.
“The hierarchy is actually based on seniority at the school, not necessarily rank.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:10:36.2-00:10:40.1 testimony first hand
62
Tactical decisions at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) are made by the most senior personnel based on facts and testing in the Fallon Ranges.
“the tactical decisions are made, which are based on fact and trying things out in the Fallon Ranges, they set the top X number of folks that have been there seniority-wise”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:10:40.7-00:10:51.0 testimony first hand
63
Instructors at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) are held to a strict standard of conduct at all times.
“it's not a hey i'm now an instructor so i can do what i want there is a standard and they have to live up to that standard they have to and i mean every moment of every day”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:11:22.8-00:11:32.0 testimony first hand
64
Instructors from the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) conduct site visits, travelling to USA, California, Lemoore, home of the west coast fighter wing for the United States Navy, to fly sorties with fleet squadrons.
“if they go from fallon and they come down and do they're called site visits where they come down and they'll come to lemore california which is where the west coast fighter wing is at for the navy and they go around and start flying sorties with the fleet squadrons”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:11:34.8-00:11:45.2 testimony first hand
65
Graduates of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) wear light blue shirts, making them easily identifiable.
“they wear light blue shirts so it's pretty easy to identify them when they're out there”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:11:56.1-00:11:59.1 testimony first hand
66
David Fravor was a United States Navy pilot for 18 years.
“so you were a navy pilot for 18 years yes”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:07.0-00:12:09.9 administrative first hand
67
David Fravor was first enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
“first I was in, I was enlisted. I was a Marine.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:17.7-00:12:19.3 testimony first hand
68
The United States Marine Corps recommended David Fravor to attend the United States Naval Academy.
“the Marines actually sent me, recommended me to go to the Naval Academy.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:22.6-00:12:26.1 testimony first hand
69
David Fravor attended and graduated from the United States Naval Academy.
“I got to go to the Naval Academy and I finished”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:29.4-00:12:30.9 testimony first hand
70
David Fravor has dreamed of flying since 1969, when he watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.
“Yeah, since 1969 when I watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:35.9-00:12:40.0 testimony first hand
71
David Fravor was just prior to turning five years old when he watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
“I was just prior to being five.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:44.9-00:12:46.0 testimony first hand
72
David Fravor's mother told him the Apollo 11 astronauts were all pilots, after which he decided he would become a pilot.
“she said, well, you know, they were all pilots. And at that point, it was like, I'm going to be a pilot.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:12:51.1-00:12:56.0 testimony first hand
73
David Fravor's cousin Chad and cousin Ray lived near him in the same neighbourhood where they grew up as part of an Italian family.
“we all grew up in the same neighborhood uh we kind of they had Italian side of the family that's how we grew up so it was my house right down the street was my cousin Chad and then right around the corner is my cousin Ray”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:13:18.9-00:13:29.0 testimony first hand
74
David Fravor worked as a paper boy in his childhood neighbourhood.
“I was a paper boy in the neighborhood, so they all knew me.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:13:32.3-00:13:33.8 testimony first hand
75
At his cousin's wedding, Mr. Race recognised David Fravor and asked him about flying jets and attending the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun).
“Mr. Race looks at me and he says, David Fravor. I go, Mr. Race, how you doing? He goes, you fly jets, top gun and all that. I go, yes, sir.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:13:37.6-00:13:45.7 testimony first hand
76
Mr. Race told David Fravor at his cousin's wedding that he had figured David would be in jail by now.
“He goes, man, I figured he'd be in jail by now.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:13:46.5-00:13:48.0 testimony first hand
77
David Fravor's grandfather, his mother's father, was a major influence on him and taught him a lot.
“My grandfather, who is a big, big part of it, my mom's dad, who he taught me a lot.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:17:26.9-00:17:33.8 testimony first hand
78
David Fravor's grandfather's funeral procession was about five kilometres long and the church overflowed with mourners.
“it was the first funeral I ever went to and it was about three miles long and church was overfilling and people were out.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:17:50.2-00:17:57.3 observation first hand
79
David Fravor's grandfather worked as a beer delivery driver.
“He was a beer delivery guy, dead serious.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:17:57.4-00:17:59.6 testimony first hand
80
David Fravor considered staying in the United States Marine Corps because he loved the Corps and viewed it as a professional organisation.
“I was going to stay in the Marines. I really wanted to go. Man, I love the Corps.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:18:11.6-00:18:15.0 testimony first hand
81
David Fravor went on his freshman midshipman cruise aboard the USS Nimitz after his freshman year at the United States Naval Academy.
“I went out to the Nimitz on my, uh, freshman cruise after your freshman year at the Naval Academy, you go out on a ship”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:18:25.8-00:18:31.4 testimony first hand
82
The USS Nimitz is an aircraft carrier comprising approximately 1.8 hectares of sovereign United States territory that moves around the world's oceans.
“Nimitz is, uh, an aircraft carrier. So it's, uh, four and a half acres of sovereign U S territory that floats around the U S oceans.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:18:41.6-00:18:47.9 measurement first hand
83
The air wing aboard the USS Nimitz constitutes its primary weapons capability, though the ship also carries defensive weapons.
“the air wing is really the weapons. It does have defensive weapons, but for the most part, it's a giant moving airport is what it is.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:18:51.4-00:18:58.2 testimony first hand
84
During his freshman cruise aboard the USS Nimitz, David Fravor observed Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) and Fighter Squadron 84 (VF-84), an F-14 Tomcat squadron, along with A-6 Intruder squadrons operating from the carrier.
“the squadrons that were out there, one of the squadrons was a VF 41 and a 14 squadron VF 84, uh, an F 14 squadron, and then a couple of a six squadrons.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:04.2-00:19:11.8 observation first hand
85
David Fravor spent time with A-6 Intruder pilots and bombardier navigators aboard the USS Nimitz during his freshman cruise, and decided he wanted to fly from aircraft carriers.
“we actually ended up part pairing up and hanging out with some of the a six pilots and BNs. So it was really a neat experience. And I said, I want to do that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:12.9-00:19:20.3 testimony first hand
86
David Fravor went through primary flight training with Missy Cummings.
“you know i knew missy uh we were in actually went through together missy cummings uh we went through primary together”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:42.6-00:19:47.7 testimony first hand
87
David Fravor, Missy Cummings, and Scott Wiedemeyer selected out of primary flight training at the same time.
“i went to kingsville there was another guy scott wiedemeyer uh the three of us so i went to kingsville scott went to beeville and missy went to meridian”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:51.3-00:19:59.1 testimony first hand
88
David Fravor went to advanced flight training in USA, Texas, Kingsville.
“so i went to kingsville”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:55.6-00:19:56.2 testimony first hand
89
Scott Wiedemeyer went to advanced flight training in USA, Texas, Beeville.
“scott went to beeville”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:56.9-00:19:57.5 testimony first hand
90
Missy Cummings went to advanced flight training in USA, Mississippi, Meridian.
“missy went to meridian”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:19:58.3-00:19:59.1 testimony first hand
91
It took David Fravor exactly two years from the day he graduated the United States Naval Academy until he got his wings.
“it took me two years to the day from the time i graduated the naval academy until i got my wings”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:11.4-00:20:14.9 testimony first hand
92
David Fravor was assigned to fly the A-6 Intruder on the west coast of the United States.
“i ended up getting a6s on the west coast”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:19.0-00:20:21.1 testimony first hand
93
The A-6 Intruder is a side-by-side bomber with the pilot in the left seat and the bombardier navigator in the right seat.
“which is a side-by-side bomber so it's a pilot on the left seat and the bombardier navigators on the right seat”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:21.4-00:20:26.1 observation first hand
94
The A-6 Intruder was built in the 1960s.
“it was built in the 60s”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:26.4-00:20:26.9 observation first hand
95
The A-6 Intruder is designed for all-weather operation, flies low at night, and has a terrain-mapping radar.
“It is all weather and it flies low at night and it's got a terrain mapping radar.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:28.3-00:20:32.6 observation first hand
96
The A-6 Intruder was the only side-by-side seating fighter jet in the United States Navy.
“That was, in the Navy, that was the only one.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:43.3-00:20:45.0 observation first hand
97
The F-111, flown by the United States Air Force, had side-by-side seating.
“The Air Force, the F-111 was a side-by-side, but the Navy, it was the A-6.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:45.9-00:20:49.9 observation first hand
98
The EA-6B Prowler is a derivative of the A-6 Intruder.
“And then there's the E-A-6B, which is a derivative of that”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:50.2-00:20:53.2 observation first hand
99
The EA-6B Prowler was retired from service a few years before this 2020 conversation.
“The E-A-6Bs just went away a few years ago”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:54.7-00:20:56.3 observation first hand
100
The EA-18G Growler is the replacement for the EA-6B Prowler.
“the E-18G Growler is the replacement for the E-A-6B”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:20:56.8-00:21:00.7 observation first hand
101
There was never a direct replacement for the A-6 Intruder that David Fravor flew.
“There was never a replacement for the A-6 that I flew.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:01.8-00:21:04.3 opinion first hand
102
The A-6 Intruder could travel considerably further on its fuel than the F/A-18 Hornet.
“the A-6 could go quite a bit further distance-wise by fuel”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:07.3-00:21:10.6 opinion first hand
103
Most tactical fighter aircraft in the world today are single-seat.
“most of the tactical airplanes in the world today are single-seat”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:23.5-00:21:25.7 opinion first hand
104
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a two-seat aircraft.
“with the exception of the F-15E Strike Eagle and the F-18F Super Hornet, which is the F is a two seater and the G is also a two seater”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:32.3-00:21:39.7 observation first hand
105
The F/A-18F Super Hornet is a two-seat aircraft used more for electronic attack and full-up fighter-bomber roles.
“the F-18F Super Hornet, which is the F is a two seater and the G is also a two seater, but it's more of an electronic attack by say, full up fighter, bomber”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:35.0-00:21:43.3 observation first hand
106
David Fravor flew a mix of two-seat and single-seat aircraft during roughly half of his 18-year flying career in each configuration.
“I was about half and half.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:51.9-00:21:52.6 testimony first hand
107
David Fravor started his flying career in the two-seat A-6 Intruder.
“So I started off an A6, was a two-seater.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:53.4-00:21:54.7 testimony first hand
108
David Fravor then flew single-seat F/A-18 Hornets until the end of 2001.
“Then I went to single-seat F-18s, and I flew those all the way up until 2000 and, let me think, 2001, to the end of 2001.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:21:55.8-00:22:06.2 testimony first hand
109
After 2001, David Fravor shifted to flying F/A-18F Super Hornets.
“And then I shifted over and started flying the Super Hornets”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:22:07.7-00:22:09.7 testimony first hand
110
David Fravor flew the two-seat variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet when he had command of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41).
“But I deployed, when I had command of VFA-41, I had the two-seat.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:22:12.0-00:22:16.1 testimony first hand
111
David Fravor commanded Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), nicknamed the Black Aces.
“So you eventually ended up commanding the Strike Fighter Squadron 41. I love the name, the Black Aces.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:22:18.0-00:22:27.7 administrative
112
David Fravor considers becoming the commanding officer of his squadron a huge honour.
“To me, it was, one, it was a huge honor.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:22:36.9-00:22:38.9 opinion first hand
113
In the United States Navy squadron command structure, the executive officer (EXO) typically fleets up to become the commanding officer (CO).
“because we fleet up, you go from the number two guy to the number one guy. So the EXO becomes the CO. So the executive officer becomes the commanding officer.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:22:45.8-00:22:52.2 observation first hand
114
David Fravor worked with Vice Admiral Weitzel, who was Commander Weitzel and executive officer of the squadron at the time.
“So I had worked with now soon-to-be Vice Admiral Weitzel. He was Commander Weitzel at the time, was the EXO.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:22:53.1-00:23:01.8 testimony first hand
115
The introduction of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, which carries a weapon systems operator in the back seat, created some friction at USA, California, Lemoore.
“he really wanted, because he knew there was a little bit of a problem when the Super Hornets came into Lemoore... And now all of a sudden, you've got the F-18F coming in, which has the weapon systems operators in the back.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:23:02.4-00:23:20.1 observation first hand
116
USA, California, Lemoore had been a single-seat fighter community since its establishment before the introduction of the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
“Lemoore had been a single-seat fighter community since forever.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:23:08.4-00:23:14.4 observation first hand
117
Weapon systems operators in the F/A-18F Super Hornet are not pilots and are a distinct role from pilots.
“that are not pilots, they're weapon systems operators, and there's a difference.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:23:21.1-00:23:23.8 observation first hand
118
David Fravor could switch between flying single-seat and two-seat configurations because of his background in the A-6 Intruder.
“Kenny knew because of my A6 background that I have a switch that I can go one seat, two seat, one seat, two seat.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:23:29.3-00:23:34.6 testimony first hand
119
In a two-seat aircraft configuration, a pilot offloads tasks to and takes advantage of the weapon systems operator.
“Because when you fly two seat, there's a lot of stuff that the pilot will offload and take the advantage of the weapon systems operator.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:23:34.7-00:23:41.7 opinion first hand
120
David Fravor considers a two-person aircraft crew to add a minimum of 1.5 times the capability of a single-seat aircraft, rather than a simple doubling.
“i would say that one plus one with two people as well as a minimum of 1.5”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:23:58.6-00:24:02.8 opinion first hand
121
A two-person aircraft crew provides an extra set of eyes and the ability to monitor systems, and allows the aircraft to do two things at once.
“because you've got an extra head, you've got extra eyes, you've got someone that can monitor systems, the airplanes can do two things at once.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:24:04.2-00:24:11.0 opinion first hand
122
The A-6 Intruder was an analog aircraft built in the 1960s, and studies were done on crew coordination between the pilot and bombardier navigator.
“The A6 was really an analog airplane that was built in the 60s... there's been studies done on the crew coordination which is the interaction between the pilot and the bombardier navigator”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:25:10.7-00:25:22.6 observation first hand
123
David Fravor was stationed at USA, Washington, Whidbey Island while flying low-level night routes in the mountains near USA, Washington, Mount St. Helens.
“so i was stationed up in whidbey island washington so you've got the cascades”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:25:26.6-00:25:29.6 testimony first hand
124
The F-111 has a terrain-following radar system that can fly the aircraft automatically over and around mountains, unlike the manually flown A-6 Intruder.
“the radars the 111 the b1 has a system like this but it'll the radar can see and it'll fly it basically flies a straight line so it goes up and over mountains and back down and up over mountains where the a6 was really manual”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:25:37.9-00:25:47.9 observation first hand
125
In the A-6 Intruder, crews flew low-level mountain routes at night at an altitude between approximately 150 and 300 metres above the ground, through fog layers, relying on instruments rather than outside visibility.
“You're gonna be at 500 to 1,000 feet above the ground, ripping through fog layers, because you don't need to see outside.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:25:52.7-00:25:59.5 testimony first hand
126
In the A-6 Intruder, the bombardier navigator viewed raw feed from a pulse radar that mapped terrain such as mountains, showing a bright return on the near side and a shadow on the far side.
“the the bombardier navigator had a radar And he was getting raw feed off of a pulse radar in front... So it's just basically mapping the mountains. So if you look at a mountain on a radar and you're coming up on it, the front side is going to be, it's going to give you a really bright return. And then the backside, it's just going to be a giant shadow because you can't see on the other side.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:26:28.7-00:26:45.9 observation first hand
127
In the A-6 Intruder, bombardier navigators used shaded charts to plan routes that avoided obstacles by navigating around the backside of mountains.
“they would have charts and they could shade their charts knowing that, Hey, if we turn a little bit left here, we can get in this valley. We can sneak up this valley and then go around the backside of the mountain”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:26:49.5-00:26:56.8 observation first hand
128
In the A-6 Intruder, the pilot controls the throttles and stick and views a small cathode-ray-tube-based display screen.
“I have the throttles, the stick, and I have a, it's about a, probably a, four inch or six inch wide by maybe four inches five inches high it looks like it's literally a crt that's how old it is a crt screen”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:27:14.1-00:27:28.7 testimony first hand
129
In the A-6 Intruder's terrain mode, the bombardier navigator's radar looks out approximately 20 kilometres in front of the aircraft.
“he's looking out about 12 and a half miles in front of the airplane so he has the range really scoped down”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:27:34.2-00:27:38.8 measurement first hand
130
The pilot's display in the A-6 Intruder used eight range bins, with the closest spanning approximately 400 metres to 1.2 kilometres.
“what the pilot has is there's they're called range bins and there's eight of them... the closest range bin, it's a thing, it'll be like between like a half a mile and, or a quarter mile to three quarters of a mile.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:27:45.4-00:28:00.6 measurement first hand
131
The far range bin on the A-6 Intruder's pilot display corresponds to approximately 20 kilometres.
“So the very far range bin is the 12 and a half mile”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:27:49.3-00:27:51.8 measurement first hand
132
David Fravor's first fleet bombardier navigator was Chris Sato.
“my first fleet bombardier navigator who, who's, I'll name him, his name's Chris Sato.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:21.7-00:29:25.7 testimony first hand
133
Chris Sato works at Apple Inc. in a high-up position and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“He's, works at Apple, pretty high up, MIT grad.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:27.4-00:29:31.6 administrative first hand
134
David Fravor considers Chris Sato scary smart, likely with a background in computer engineering.
“I think computer engineering, he's scary smart.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:32.4-00:29:35.7 opinion first hand
135
Matt, another bombardier navigator David Fravor flew with, also worked at Apple Inc. and is now at SAP.
“so there's another guy, Matt, who also worked at Apple, who's now at SAP.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:40.5-00:29:42.9 administrative first hand
136
David Fravor and Matt did their first night traps together.
“We did our first night traps together.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:43.3-00:29:44.2 testimony first hand
137
When David Fravor and Chris Sato began flying together, they were the most junior crew in their squadron.
“But Chris and I, when we started flying together, we were actually the most junior crew in the squadron.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:48.6-00:29:53.0 testimony first hand
138
David Fravor considers Chris Sato to have been extremely brilliant and skilled at working the A-6 Intruder's systems, including exploring the aircraft's degradation modes.
“Chris was amazing at how he could work the system. One, because he was extremely brilliant, and he had that inquisitive mind of, oh, we could do all these different things, and there's all these degradation modes.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:29:57.9-00:30:08.4 opinion first hand
139
David Fravor and Chris Sato developed a shorthand communication style, using partial phrases such as 'rising terrain' during flights, as their crew coordination improved with practice.
“chris would say i've got rising terrain that's just what they say showing rising terrain at 12 miles and i'd see the little bump and i'd say got it... You end up starting to talk in partials because I have to trust him.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:30:19.8-00:30:29.3 testimony first hand
140
In the A-6 Intruder, gaps existed in the radar coverage of the pilot's display, requiring the bombardier navigator to direct turns based on his wider radar scope.
“there's gaps in the coverage on how the system was set up... he is telling me, like, I can't see all the way to the left, and he's got a wider scope on the radar, but my screen doesn't show that. So he's telling me, start a left turn.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:31:13.9-00:31:27.2 observation first hand
141
David Fravor typically flew the A-6 Intruder on low-level night routes at a ground speed of approximately 780 to 890 kilometres per hour.
“We would typically fly between 420 and 480 knots of ground speed.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:31:33.5-00:31:37.2 measurement first hand
142
David Fravor once flew an A-6 Intruder low-level night route near USA, Washington, Mount St. Helens, breaking out of a coastal marine cloud layer while flying between approximately 150 and 300 metres above the ground.
“we ended up in the clouds. Keep in mind, we're between 500 and a thousand feet in the mountains and we're in the clouds... We break out of that coastal marine layer and poof, we break out and it's a decent night. And this is right by Mount St. Helens.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:32:08.5-00:32:20.6 testimony first hand
143
David Fravor turned off the aircraft's anti-collision lights during that flight because they were reflecting off the clouds and becoming distracting.
“I had to turn off our red lights that flash, you know, they're called the anti-collision lights because it was reflecting off the clouds and it starts to bother you.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:32:14.9-00:32:21.3 testimony first hand
144
During that low-level flight near Mount St. Helens, David Fravor flew below the altitude of nearby houses in the valleys.
“We're literally below people's houses flying down these valleys and stuff.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:32:47.1-00:32:49.8 testimony first hand
145
In the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the weapon systems operator in the back seat handles most of the aircraft's radio communications.
“most of the communications that go out of the airplane, the Wizzo does all the talking, he's got actually, he uses his feet.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:33:13.3-00:33:18.1 observation first hand
146
The F/A-18F Super Hornet has a situational awareness display linked to all other aircraft in the network.
“we have a situational awareness display and it's linked to all the other airplanes.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:33:25.8-00:33:29.4 observation first hand
147
The block two variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet has a display for the weapon systems operator measuring approximately 20 by 25 centimetres, while the pilot's display is smaller, at approximately 15 by 15 centimetres.
“the back of the Super Hornet has, well, the block twos has about an eight by 10 display for the wizos... the pilots is smaller. It's down between us. It's a six by six”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:33:36.9-00:33:45.5 measurement first hand
148
Boeing was planning to redesign the pilot's display in the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
“they're, they're getting ready to redesign that Boeing is.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:33:46.6-00:33:49.3 observation first hand
149
The F/A-18F Super Hornet's networked digital link fuses sensor data across multiple aircraft, showing crews the positions of friendly and enemy aircraft in real time.
“It's sending it out through the link, so all the airplanes are talking to each other through this digital network... that airplane says hey i'm over here and it tells us and we go oh he's right there”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:34:32.8-00:34:42.4 observation first hand
150
The automation in the F/A-18F Super Hornet's flight controls is a control loop enabled by digital flight controls, designed to make the aircraft easier to fly.
“The AI piece would be more of a control loop because of the digital flight controls. So the airplane actually, they had to make the airplane easier to fly.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:35:27.5-00:35:35.3 opinion first hand
151
David Fravor considers flight simulators unrealistic because pilots feel no fear of death and will do things in a simulator they would never do in real flight.
“In flight sim, you have no apparent fear of death. You'll do things on a simulator that you would never do in real life.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:35:42.3-00:35:46.4 opinion first hand
152
In the F/A-18F Super Hornet, a joint helmet-mounted cueing system maps the magnetic field in the cockpit to track where the pilot's head is looking.
“you've got a joint helmet mounted queuing system on that basically maps the magnetic field in the cockpit so it can tell where your head's at looking.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:36:00.0-00:36:05.9 observation first hand
153
In the F/A-18F Super Hornet, turning the pilot's head slews the radar and targeting pod to look in the same direction.
“So if I turn my head to the right, the radar will actually look to the right, the targeting flare will look to the right.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:36:06.9-00:36:11.0 observation first hand
154
In the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the back-seat weapon systems operator also wears a helmet that can independently slew whichever sensor he is controlling.
“the back seater has a helmet on too, so he can look to the left and he can do things. So depending on what sensor he's controlling. So if he's got control of the targeting pod and he looks left, the targeting pod looks left.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:36:13.0-00:36:23.7 observation first hand
155
The F/A-18F Super Hornet has a phased-array radar that does not need to mechanically scan.
“because it's a phased array radar now, it doesn't really scan.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:36:30.6-00:36:33.4 observation first hand
156
Using the helmet-cueing system and JDAM in the F/A-18F Super Hornet, David Fravor can slew sensors and transfer targeting coordinates to weapons within seconds, compared to a process that used to take minutes.
“i can literally slew my sensors this fast, and then mash a button and transfer high-quality coordinates from a system into a joint JDAM... and then let that thing fly. And I'm solving this problem in seconds, vise minutes.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:36:53.9-00:37:10.1 opinion first hand
157
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a GPS-guided bomb.
“mash a button and transfer high-quality coordinates from a system into a joint JDAM, which is a joint direct attack munition that is the GPS bombs that you see all the time”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:36:57.2-00:37:07.8 observation first hand
158
David Fravor considers AI systems for controlling aircraft to be typically based on logical, black-and-white rules with defined bounds.
“AI systems are usually black and white. When you write the algorithm for an AI system, it's really, it's basically you're taking thought and turning it into a giant math problem is really what you're doing, right?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:38:18.0-00:38:30.2 opinion first hand
159
David Fravor observes that humans can operate in ambiguous grey areas that a strict logical AI system cannot.
“a very finite line, you know, but you can go up to the line where a human, we all have gray areas where we go, eh, maybe yeah i'll try it um so humans can operate within that grade”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:38:37.2-00:38:49.8 opinion first hand
160
David Fravor states that most AI systems for controlling an aircraft are designed to keep the airplane within a controlled flight envelope rather than allowing it to depart controlled flight.
“typically AI, you don't want the airplane to leave controlled flight, right? You want to maintain it so that it is flying in a controlled envelope”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:39:22.4-00:39:28.6 opinion first hand
161
During World War I, pilots intentionally departed their aircraft from controlled flight in order to gain a combat advantage.
“you can go back to World War I, where people intentionally departed the airplane from controlled flight, in order to obtain an advantage”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:39:31.0-00:39:38.8 testimony first hand
162
David Fravor observed that the digital flight control logic in modern aircraft is extremely forgiving, allowing manoeuvres that surprise even the pilot flying the aircraft.
“especially since the flight control logic in modern airplanes with digital flight controls, they're extremely forgiving. So you can literally, I've done things in Super Hornets that literally even as a pilot inside the airplane, you're just like, wow, I cannot believe it just did that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:39:48.4-00:40:05.1 observation first hand
163
David Fravor considers that a human pilot will attempt manoeuvres at the edge of a jet's flight envelope that an AI system will not.
“I still think that when you get to the edges that may or may not give you an advantage, there are things that a human will do that AI won't.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:40:12.0-00:40:22.6 opinion first hand
164
During the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, Sully and his first officer had met for the first time only shortly before the flight.
“when Sully flew, when his first officer, that's the co-pilot, showed up, you know, first time they'd met.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:41:14.0-00:41:18.6 testimony second hand
165
United Airlines employs between 6,000 and 7,000 pilots.
“You know, there's 6,000, 7,000 pilots at United Airlines.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:41:21.2-00:41:23.8 measurement first hand
166
David Fravor states that, unlike commercial airline pilots, United States Navy pilots are crewed with a consistent primary and secondary Weapon Systems Operator (WSO) who fly with them for an entire deployment.
“Where in the Navy, we were crewed. So I had a primary and a secondary WISO that flew with me.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:41:26.9-00:41:32.5 testimony first hand
167
During US Airways Flight 1549, after the bird strike, the first officer silenced the cockpit alarm and began going through the emergency procedures checklist while Sully flew the aircraft.
“And the first officer already knows, hey, silence the alarm. They silence the alarm. The first officer is pulling out the book. He's going through the procedures while Sully's actually flying the airplane, knowing that they've lost their motors.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:42:42.5-00:42:51.5 testimony second hand
168
During US Airways Flight 1549, Sully decided to land the aircraft in the Hudson River after determining that reaching an airport in New Jersey was not possible.
“they're trying to get him to go into an airport into New Jersey. And he realizes not happening. We're going to put this thing... he made a decision soon enough so that he could prepare everyone on the airplane that he was going to put this thing in the Hudson River.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:42:53.8-00:43:04.7 testimony second hand
169
Every person aboard US Airways Flight 1549 survived the landing on the Hudson River, and the aircraft itself was the only casualty.
“I mean, every single person walked away from that wreck. The only thing that didn't survive was the airplane, you know, and it got fished out of the Hudson.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:43:07.2-00:43:13.0 testimony second hand
170
David Fravor considers aviation a self-correcting profession in which pilots who make bad decisions have historically died as a result.
“aviation is a self-cleaning oven. So if you make bad decisions, and the list is long and distinguished of those who have died by making bad decisions.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:43:27.1-00:43:34.8 opinion first hand
171
David Fravor describes Sully's decision-making during the emergency as following an '80 percent solution' approach, eliminating clearly wrong options quickly to converge on the best available choice.
“This is that 80% solution where you go, these are not, it's like a multiple choice test when you go, oh my God, I don't really know the answer, but I know A and D are wrong.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:44:12.8-00:44:21.4 opinion first hand
172
Commercial airline pilots undergo simulator training every six months in which the simulated aircraft is deliberately made to fail with compounding emergencies.
“it's every six months for commercial, they go back and they do research in the airplane in the simulator where they train to the airplane being broken.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:45:18.2-00:45:26.7 testimony first hand
173
United States Navy aviators referred to this style of stressful, compounding-failure simulator training as 'the pain cave'.
“we used to refer to it in the Navy as the pain cave where you're going to get in.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:45:34.8-00:45:37.6 testimony first hand
174
David Fravor considers that under extreme stress the higher cognitive functions of the brain shut down and a person relies on ingrained instinct, an effect informally called 'stem power'.
“we like to joke it's going to stem power, where the functional part of your brain shuts down and you are literally on instinct like an animal.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:46:28.0-00:46:34.5 opinion first hand
175
David Fravor considers that during a life-threatening emergency there is not time to think about fear of the consequences, only to act on training.
“there was so much going on at the cockpit in that time... his mindset was probably, I can do this, I'm trained, I'm gonna do the procedures, I've practiced this before”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:47:07.8-00:47:18.3 opinion first hand
176
David Fravor states that he has experienced fear during flight, particularly early in his career during nighttime carrier landings in poor weather.
“I wouldn't say I was never afraid... especially Navy carrier pilots, it's just, it's usually, especially when you're new and you gotta go out and it's nighttime and there's no moon and the weather sucks and the deck's moving.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:48:30.9-00:48:45.1 testimony first hand
177
During the Vietnam War, pilots were sometimes physiologically monitored, and the highest anxiety and heart rates recorded were during landings back aboard an aircraft carrier rather than during combat missions.
“They did it during Vietnam. You know, guys would go fly missions... People were getting shot down a lot. The highest anxiety and heart rates were coming back to land on board an aircraft carrier.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:49:01.2-00:49:12.3 testimony
178
David Fravor states that at night on an aircraft carrier, the runway (deck) appears to a pilot as fixed but is actually moving up, down, and side to side due to the ship's motion.
“What you think is fixed, the runway is actually moving. up and down and left to right”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:50:09.8-00:50:15.7 testimony first hand
179
David Fravor states that aircraft carriers use two landing aid systems: an automatic system stabilised via the ship's inertial navigation, and the Instrument Landing System (ILS) style optical/beam system.
“we have two systems... there was a there's an automatic system that's actually uh it stabilizes with the inertials on the ship And then there's the ILS.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:50:20.4-00:50:30.3 testimony first hand
180
David Fravor states that, unlike the precision Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach used by civilian pilots, the aircraft carrier landing approach is a non-precision, non-stabilised beam-based system.
“Now, civilian pilots will tell you that ILS is a precision approach... On the carrier, it's not. It's really just a beam that goes out and it's considered a non-precision approach. It's not stabilized at all.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:50:30.8-00:50:42.2 opinion first hand
181
David Fravor observed that a ship in the ocean exhibits pitch (bow rising and falling), roll, and heave motion simultaneously while an aircraft is attempting to land on it.
“the bow goes up and down in the tail like you normally see a ship. And then there's, so that's pitch. And then it has roll. So it's doing this. And then it has heave. So the whole boat is going up and down while it's pitching and rolling.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:50:56.8-00:51:07.2 observation first hand
182
David Fravor flew an A-6 Intruder together with Chris Sato aboard the USS Ranger during a night landing off San Diego in poor weather during an El Nino year.
“i remember landing as i was with chris uh sato and uh chris and i we were off the uss ranger which is now decommissioned it's sitting getting turned into razor blades um we're flying the old a6 and we come in and it was off of san diego”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:51:13.1-00:51:25.4 testimony first hand
183
The USS Ranger has been decommissioned and is being scrapped.
“we were off the uss ranger which is now decommissioned it's sitting getting turned into razor blades”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:51:17.3-00:51:21.5 administrative first hand
184
David Fravor states that the marine layer cloud ceiling off San Diego is typically around 370 metres, and on the night in question it was lower than that, with heavy rain and thunderstorms.
“san diego always has a marine layer that is about 1200 feet was lower than that that night and it was pouring down rain it was an el nino year and there's thunderstorms all around it was just craziest night i've ever seen out of san diego”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:51:27.2-00:51:36.7 observation first hand
185
David Fravor observed that after landing on the carrier that night, his adrenaline was so high that he could not stop his hands from shaking.
“your adrenaline is so high that you're shaking i mean you literally can't stop”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:51:40.2-00:51:43.4 observation first hand
186
David Fravor watched Chris Sato's EA-6B Prowler make a rough landing catching the number-one wire, the least desirable of the carrier's arresting wires to catch.
“this this this ea6b comes in know ugly pass he ends up catching a one wire which is the first one you never want to catch the first one which means you were not really high above the back of the ship when you landed”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:51:58.8-00:52:09.7 observation first hand
187
David Fravor observed that the exhaust from an aircraft such as an A-6 Intruder points downward and, on landing in heavy rain, blew standing water off the carrier deck so heavily that visibility across the deck was obscured.
“the exhaust on any a6 or an a6 actually points kind of down and it blows and it's blowing all the standing water on the aircraft that's how hard it's raining and you literally could not see across”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:52:12.5-00:52:21.4 observation first hand
188
David Fravor told Chris Sato immediately after the landing that a 3,000-metre runway looked appealing at that moment, while shaking uncontrollably from fear.
“i looked over at chris and i said oh my god i go hey dude man 10 000 foot runway looks really good right now and i go and i'm shaking my hands like this and i said i'm not even this is i'm not faking this dude i go that's literally i cannot stop shaking i said that scared the avalanche out of me”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:52:29.9-00:52:44.1 testimony first hand
189
David Fravor considers that during a dangerous landing, a pilot does not have time to feel fear until afterward.
“but you but it scares you afterwards You don't, during it, you're not... you don't have time to think about that. You're doing it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:52:45.8-00:52:52.7 opinion first hand
190
David Fravor considers flying a fighter jet the greatest job on the planet.
“I said, the greatest job on the planet.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:53:44.1-00:53:46.5 opinion first hand
191
David Fravor states that the F/A-18F Super Hornet is rated for 7.5 G but will not overstress until 8.1 G, depending on fuel weight.
“the jet's rated at seven and a half, but it'll pull up to 8.1 before it overstresses, depends on fuel weight.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:54:14.2-00:54:18.8 measurement first hand
192
David Fravor states that in the F/A-18F Super Hornet he routinely experienced accelerations of around 8 G.
“So, I mean, you routinely get up there towards eight G's.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:54:19.8-00:54:21.8 measurement first hand
193
David Fravor states that sustained high-G flight has taken a physical toll on his body, including limiting his neck mobility.
“to be able to do that to your body i mean it takes a toll like i can't really turn my head real good anymore and stuff like that”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:54:24.6-00:54:29.6 testimony first hand
194
After completing his first Super Hornet cruise, David Fravor visited the Boeing factory in St. Louis, Missouri, where his squadron's new F/A-18F Super Hornets were being built.
“We had went to the Boeing factory in St. Louis, where they were building my new jets that I was going to get.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:54:52.2-00:54:56.2 testimony first hand
195
David Fravor signed the inside of the wing of one of his new F/A-18F Super Hornets while it was being assembled at the Boeing factory.
“And I actually signed the inside of one of the wings while they were putting it together.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:54:56.3-00:54:59.6 testimony first hand
196
David Fravor states that after reaching the rank of O5 and taking a command billet, a naval aviator's flying hours decrease significantly, including for an air wing commander (Carrier Air Group commander, or CAG).
“once you get through your o5 command your flying really starts to tag to come down you know even if you go and you're an air wing commander which is we call them CAG carrier group commander um you're not flying as much as like the normal pilots nor should you be”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:55:21.6-00:55:35.8 testimony first hand
197
David Fravor has friends whose children are now flying F/A-18F Super Hornets in the United States Navy.
“Like currently, I have friends of mine that we serve together. Their kids are flying super hornets, right?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:55:40.9-00:55:47.8 testimony first hand
198
A former neighbour named Joey was a Top Gun instructor.
“Joey, who lived down the street from us, was a Top Gun instructor.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:55:56.6-00:56:01.6 testimony first hand
199
David Fravor's son is colour-blind, which disqualifies a person from being a pilot or a Navy SEAL.
“the only reason that my son is not doing it is he's colorblind so it it disqualifies you for being a pilot being a seal”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:56:15.5-00:56:21.8 testimony first hand
200
David Fravor's daughter is a doctor.
“my daughter is a doctor”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:56:32.0-00:56:32.6 testimony first hand
201
David Fravor's son is in his third year, following in a military-related field.
“my son's in his third year, so.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:56:33.5-00:56:35.1 testimony first hand
202
David Fravor considers the handover of his flying experience to the younger generation of pilots bittersweet.
“there's a, I suppose, I mean, from my perspective, a bittersweet handover of this incredible experience of flying to the younger generation.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:56:36.2-00:56:44.9 opinion first hand
203
David Fravor still misses flying on some days, particularly when he hears jets flying overhead.
“There are days I do. When I hear jets, like if I'm around a base or a jet flies over,”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:56:50.9-00:56:55.5 testimony first hand
204
The F-35 Lightning II programme is over budget and seven years late.
“we just did f-35 it's over budget it's seven years late there's all kinds of issues”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:57:22.3-00:57:27.3 opinion first hand
205
The United States Air Force is working on smaller, cheaper, attritable aircraft platforms.
“you look at some of the new stuff that's coming out that the air force is working on with smaller cheaper uh attritable platforms”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:57:29.3-00:57:36.5 testimony first hand
206
David Fravor trained three female fighter pilots, and a fourth who later stopped flying.
“I had three female, actually four, one of them didn't fly anymore.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:57:56.2-00:58:01.2 testimony first hand
207
One of the female pilots David Fravor trained moved into aircraft maintenance after she could no longer fly.
“She ended up going into aircraft maintenance when she couldn't fly anymore.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:58:03.5-00:58:07.0 testimony first hand
208
Sarah, one of the female pilots David Fravor trained, is the vice president of Amazon Air.
“She is the vice president of Amazon Air. You can see her on TV. Her name's Sarah.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:58:15.9-00:58:18.9 testimony first hand
209
Paige, one of the female pilots David Fravor trained, took command and became a commanding officer after leaving fighters for other platforms.
“I had Paige who ended up taking command. She got out of fighters and went into other platforms. And she was a commanding officer.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:58:21.2-00:58:28.8 testimony first hand
210
The original integration of women into military fighter aviation was not handled well by the United States Navy and the military more broadly.
“we can talk about the original integration and stuff which was not done well by the military nor the navy”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:58:50.1-00:58:54.9 opinion first hand
211
David Fravor considers that women can fly fighter aircraft as well as men.
“women can fly as good as the guys”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:58:56.2-00:58:57.5 opinion first hand
212
David Fravor served as operations officer and training officer at Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122), the West Coast Super Hornet replacement air group training squadron.
“there's one on the west coast which is vfa 122... I ended up going there and i ended up being the operations officer and training officer”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 00:59:33.6-00:59:40.6 testimony first hand
213
Trainee pilots are evaluated for adaptability by flying Piper Warrior aircraft before entering primary flight training.
“you actually go fly uh piper warriors low wing to see can you are you adaptable to this and there's an evaluation that goes through”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:00:47.0-01:00:54.8 testimony first hand
214
David Fravor considers human perception in everyday life to be largely two-dimensional compared to that of an aviator.
“we live in three dimensions like this table is not... where it's really relative to aviation we are two-dimensional very two-dimensional”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:01:10.8-01:01:17.8 opinion first hand
215
One World Trade Center in New York is approximately 550 metres tall.
“Let's look at one World Trade Center in New York, because everyone knows what it looks like, big, tall building. It's what, maybe 1,800 feet tall?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:01:33.2-01:01:40.7 opinion first hand
216
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is approximately 600-700 metres tall.
“even the Burj Al Dubai, which is like, what, 20-some hundred feet tall?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:01:42.4-01:01:45.1 opinion first hand
217
An A-6 Intruder required approximately 2,700 metres to perform the same split-S manoeuvre that a Super Hornet performs in about 760 metres.
“For example, the A6 in order to do that was about 9,000 feet.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:02:13.0-01:02:15.5 measurement first hand
218
Vertical displacement manoeuvres in fighter aircraft can take an aircraft from approximately 10,700 metres down to approximately 6,100 metres altitude in a matter of seconds.
“going from 35,000 feet down to 20,000 feet in a matter of seconds and maneuvering the airplane”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:02:25.7-01:02:30.2 measurement first hand
219
Gaining an advantage in air-to-air combat comes from working in the vertical dimension rather than staying level.
“how you really get an advantage when you're fighting another airplane is to work in the vertical.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:02:37.3-01:02:41.6 opinion first hand
220
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor had approximately 16 years of flying experience.
“it's kinda like when I talk about when we were chasing the Tic Tac... i've been doing this for, at the time, 16 years.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:03:16.3-01:03:22.8 testimony first hand
221
A pilot performing a split-S manoeuvre entering at approximately 370 kilometres per hour will typically exit the manoeuvre at approximately 370 kilometres per hour despite having lost approximately 760 metres of altitude, converting potential energy to kinetic energy and back.
“if i enter the split s at 200 knots and i do it right i'm going to come out at the bottom at probably 200 knots although i lost 2500 feet of potential energy”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:04:30.2-01:04:37.8 measurement first hand
222
An aircraft travelling at approximately 740 kilometres per hour will pull away from and outmanoeuvre an aircraft travelling at approximately 200 kilometres per hour within about 30 seconds, despite the slower aircraft appearing to have the advantage.
“if this jet is at 400 knots and this jet is at 110 knots, this jet's just going to pull away, drive around and kill him in about 30 seconds.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:04:55.4-01:05:01.8 measurement first hand
223
David Fravor considers the SR-71 Blackbird, from a pure-speed perspective, an engineering marvel, developed in the 1950s by Kelly Johnson at Lockheed Skunk Works.
“From pure speed, I would say SR-71, I think it's an engineering marvel that was actually developed in the 50s by Kelly Johnson, you know, Skunk Works.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:05:36.5-01:05:42.8 opinion first hand
224
The Central Intelligence Agency created around six shell companies to buy titanium from the Soviet Union to build the SR-71 Blackbird, an aircraft made largely of titanium designed to fly over the Soviet Union.
“the CIA actually made like six companies in order to buy the titanium from Russia to bring it back and build an airplane out of titanium that we would fly over Russia.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:05:49.2-01:05:57.4 testimony first hand
225
At high altitude, an aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird can show an indicated airspeed of around 560 kilometres per hour while actually travelling around 4,000 kilometres per hour over the ground, because the air is much thinner at altitude.
“you may only be showing like 300 knots but at 300 knots you're really doing 2500 miles an hour over the ground”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:06:41.1-01:06:48.3 measurement first hand
226
Maintenance check flights on Navy fighter aircraft were flown up to approximately 15,000 metres altitude.
“we would take the airplanes up to 50 000 feet when we had to do full the maintenance check flights on them”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:06:50.2-01:06:54.8 testimony first hand
227
The SR-71 Blackbird flew at altitudes above approximately 21,000 metres, where the thin air reduces relative aerodynamic stress on the airframe despite high true airspeed.
“when you look at an SR-71 that's flying upwards of, you know, 70 plus thousand feet, the air is so thin... So the stresses on the airframe are not like they would be if you were down low.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:07:19.9-01:07:25.8 opinion first hand
228
During a check flight with Vice Admiral Weitzel, David Fravor reached Mach 1.78 in a Super Hornet, off the coast of Big Sur and Pebble Beach, California.
“the fastest i ever got was i was with the uh well soon to be vice admiral white so we had taken a check flight and uh and i got it up to 1.78 i got a super horn up to mach 1.78 and it was and we were struck by pebble beach too”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:07:43.6-01:07:57.7 measurement first hand
229
At Mach 1.78 in an F/A-18F Super Hornet with no ejection seat safety margin, David Fravor realised he would not be able to eject if something went wrong, as the ejection itself would kill him at that speed.
“there's no out if something happens i can't eject the ejection would kill me”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:08:07.3-01:08:11.5 observation first hand
230
David Fravor's Mach 1.78 flight was still accelerating when he stopped, limited by fuel and by the available airspace off the coast of California.
“it was literally still accelerating when i stopped but i had it was fuel limited and space limited, because I'm off the coast of California, Big Sur”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:08:20.2-01:08:28.6 testimony first hand
231
During his Mach 1.78 flight, David Fravor was travelling at nearly 29 kilometres per minute.
“you're doing almost 18 miles a minute.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:08:34.3-01:08:36.4 measurement first hand
232
The Super Hornet flown by David Fravor during his Mach 1.78 flight was unarmed, with no external pylons or pods.
“the airplane didn't have anything on it. It was a slicked-off Super Hornet, so it was basically just the airplane. No pylons, no pods, no nothing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:08:41.3-01:08:46.3 testimony first hand
233
The F/A-18F Super Hornet does not have functioning speed brakes at high supersonic speed, because the flight controls deform and the speed brakes cease to function.
“the super horn, it really doesn't have speed brakes. It, it deforms the flight controls. they don't function”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:08:58.9-01:09:04.1 observation first hand
234
A 7g turn at Mach 1.5 requires a very large turning radius, making manoeuvring difficult at that speed.
“a 7g turn at 1.5 mach is a pretty big turn”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:09:08.9-01:09:12.8 measurement first hand
235
NASA flew SR-71 Blackbird aircraft out of Palmdale, California, on loop flights up towards Washington State and Montana.
“NASA was flying them out of Palmdale and they would take off and they'd go up towards Washington State and Montana and they do a loop.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:09:59.2-01:10:05.1 testimony first hand
236
SR-71 Blackbird aircraft descending from above approximately 18,000 metres produced visible contrails.
“they descend out of, you know, above 60,000, you'd see them, they get contrails, you know, the white lines behind airplanes.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:10:06.7-01:10:11.5 observation first hand
237
SR-71 Blackbird aircraft would refuel from a tanker aircraft after descending from altitude and then climb back up.
“They'd come down and hit the tanker and then they'd go back up.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:10:12.1-01:10:14.1 observation first hand
238
The U-2 and the SR-71 Blackbird were the aircraft doing high-altitude reconnaissance work in the 1950s before satellites became widely used.
“you got to remember when those things started in the 50s sputnik wasn't flying around you know it was it was the u2 and the sr-71 that were out there doing that work”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:10:33.2-01:10:39.7 opinion first hand
239
David Fravor is not certain there is a continuing need for an aircraft capable of the SR-71 Blackbird's speed, given current capabilities in space-based reconnaissance.
“is there a need to pass that i go i don't know we got stuff in space so”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:10:51.0-01:10:53.7 opinion first hand
240
David Fravor considers that future high-speed aircraft development is moving toward uncrewed hypersonic vehicles.
“I think the next one is you get into the hypersonics where you don't have to put a person in, it does all kinds of crazy stuff.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:10:57.0-01:11:01.6 opinion first hand
241
The USS Princeton is a guided-missile cruiser, not an aircraft carrier, and has a helicopter landing pad rather than a fixed-wing flight deck.
“That's a cruiser. It's a cruiser... It has a helicopter pad on the back.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:11:52.8-01:11:54.5 testimony first hand
242
The USS Princeton is equipped with an AN/SPY-1 phased array radar system with four panels that look in quadrants.
“It's got an incredible SPY-1 system, phased array, four panels. So it looks in quadrants.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:12:04.2-01:12:08.9 testimony first hand
243
On 2004-11-14, flying from the USS Nimitz, David Fravor witnessed a white object shaped like a Tic Tac, approximately 12 metres long, with no wings, manoeuvring in ways he had never thought possible.
“I guess it's from the USS Nimitz, you flew and witnessed a 40 foot long white tic-tac shaped object with no wings, flying in ways you've never thought possible”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:12:41.2-01:12:55.2 testimony
244
In a prior interview, David Fravor said the object he encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was "not from this world."
“in some interview somewhere you said, I think it was not from this world.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:12:57.3-01:13:00.9 hearsay second hand
245
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor and three other crew members flew two F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, two people in each jet, when their training mission was cancelled.
“So originally it was the four of us. There's two jets, two people in each jet. They're F-18Fs.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:07.6-01:15:11.9 testimony first hand
246
There is no video recording of the initial sighting during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“There is no video from our event.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:15.2-01:15:17.2 testimony first hand
247
Chad Underwood recorded video of the object after he and his pilot subsequently took off, following David Fravor's account of the initial sighting during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“when Chad and his pilot took off, that's when Chad got the video of it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:21.6-01:15:24.9 testimony second hand
248
The USS Princeton is an Aegis-class guided-missile cruiser.
“this is a USS Princeton so this is a Sieges cruiser”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:37.3-01:15:39.3 administrative first hand
249
Before the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, a controller aboard the USS Princeton asked David Fravor's flight what ordnance they had on board.
“we're talking to one controller um who is like hey sir first you ask what ordinance we have on board”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:40.4-01:15:48.0 testimony first hand
250
United States Navy fighter aircraft typically do not carry live ordnance during training missions.
“we don't carry live ordinance in training typically because bad stuff happens usually someone forgets to put a switch on and then the missile comes off and hits a good airplane”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:48.8-01:15:55.5 testimony first hand
251
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor's aircraft carried a CATM-9 training missile, an inert missile fitted with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile infrared seeker.
“So we had what's called a CATM-9, which is really just a blue tube with the AIM-9 seeker on the front of it, which is an IR missile.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:15:58.0-01:16:03.5 testimony first hand
252
A CATM-9 training missile can only be removed from an aircraft's launch rail using a sledgehammer, or with a wrench that unlocks the retaining lugs.
“You can beat it off with a sledgehammer. You can take this thing and you put a wrench in it and it unlocks the lugs and pulls the lugs back in that holding on.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:16:06.6-01:16:12.4 testimony first hand
253
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the USS Princeton informed David Fravor's flight that they had real-world tasking instead of continuing their training mission.
“So they said, hey, well, we have real-world tasking.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:16:21.2-01:16:23.3 testimony first hand
254
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the USS Princeton gave David Fravor's flight bearing, range, and altitude calls indicating an unidentified radar contact at ranges of approximately 80, 64, and 48 kilometres.
“they're calling ranges, they're called BRA calls, bearing range and altitude. And they're telling us, hey, it's at 40 miles or 50 miles and 40 miles and 30 miles.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:16:37.3-01:16:44.7 measurement first hand
255
The AN/APG-73 radar used on Navy fighter aircraft at the time of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was a mechanically scanned radar.
“we had uh we had uh mechanically scanned radars at the time apg-73”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:16:50.7-01:16:53.6 administrative first hand
256
David Fravor considers the AN/APG-79 radar a significantly better piece of equipment than the AN/APG-73 radar.
“apg-79 new ones way better”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:16:55.9-01:16:57.9 opinion first hand
257
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, USS Princeton radar operators had a radar contact on their scopes that they could not identify, appearing only as a blip.
“They're telling us they have a contact on their radar. They don't know what it is. They just have a blip.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:17:06.7-01:17:09.6 testimony second hand
258
USS Princeton radar operators had been tracking the unidentified radar contacts for about two weeks before the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I said, sir, we've been tracking these things for about two weeks. That's we had been at sea for two weeks.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:17:15.4-01:17:18.2 testimony second hand
259
The 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident marked the first time the USS Princeton had aircraft airborne specifically to investigate the previously tracked unidentified radar contacts.
“He goes, this is the first time we've had planes airborne. We want you to go see what these are.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:17:18.7-01:17:22.4 testimony second hand
260
In Navy radar terminology, "merge plot" describes a situation when two radar contacts fall within the same resolution cell and can no longer be distinguished as separate returns.
“you get to a point where they call merge plot, which means we are inside of the resolution cell of the radar, because radars don't see everything.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:17:35.4-01:17:41.2 administrative first hand
261
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the USS Princeton was too far from the object, approximately 97 kilometres, for its radar to detect something near the ocean surface.
“the ship is like probably 60 miles away, so it can't see the surface.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:18:22.5-01:18:25.8 measurement first hand
262
The 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident occurred on a clear day with unrestricted visibility, no clouds, and calm seas.
“this is a it's a clear day there's no clouds and there's no white caps it's just a calm... It's 50, it's unrestricted visibility.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:18:45.5-01:18:55.7 observation first hand
263
The 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident took place off the coast of San Diego, California, near Mexico.
“If you look at a map and you go San Diego and then inside of Mexico, we're kind of in between that”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:19:13.8-01:19:18.5 observation first hand
264
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the crew did not see any object beneath the ocean surface, only the white water disturbance itself.
“We don't see an object because there's all kinds of, oh, they saw another craft below the wave. We didn't see anything below the water. We just saw whitewater.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:21:09.8-01:21:17.1 observation first hand
265
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor and the other crew members first noticed white water on the ocean surface, in a cross-like shape approximately the size of a Boeing 737, appearing to be caused by something roughly 5 to 6 metres below the surface.
“the white water and i like to shape it you can say it was a cross i say it's about the size of a 737 so it looks like if you took a 737 put it about 15 20 feet below the water”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:21:18.2-01:21:27.2 observation first hand
266
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, Jim, the weapon systems operator in the other aircraft, was the first to draw attention to the white water on the ocean surface below.
“the back seater in the other airplane, Jim, says, this is that talking in parcels again. He says, hey, Skipper, do you?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:21:36.7-01:21:42.9 observation first hand
267
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor observed a small white Tic Tac-shaped object below his aircraft while flying approximately 6,100 metres above it.
“then we see this little white tic-tac, because we're about 20,000 feet above it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:21:56.7-01:22:00.9 observation first hand
268
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the Tic Tac-shaped object moved abruptly between directions with no gradual deceleration, unlike a helicopter's motion.
“It's very abrupt. So it's not like a helicopter... This thing's not. It's like left, right, left, right, with no...”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:22:05.7-01:22:12.8 observation first hand
269
David Fravor ruled out the Tic Tac-shaped object being a helicopter during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident because it produced no visible rotor wash on the water surface.
“So you see it and you go, well, there's no rotor wash. What is that thing?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:22:53.3-01:22:57.0 observation first hand
270
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor descended toward the Tic Tac-shaped object while his wingman remained at higher altitude to observe from a different perspective.
“So she's up here and I'm down here as I'm descending. She can watch because right now all I'm watching is the Tic Tac. She can watch me and the Tic Tac.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:23:35.3-01:23:44.4 testimony first hand
271
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, all four crew members in both aircraft lost sight of the Tic Tac-shaped object at the same time.
“We all lost it at the same time.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:24:05.6-01:24:06.8 observation first hand
272
David Fravor descended toward the Tic Tac-shaped object at an airspeed of approximately 556 kilometres per hour during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I'm doing about 300 knots, which is a really good airspeed for the airplane for maneuvering”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:24:11.1-01:24:15.1 measurement first hand
273
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the Tic Tac-shaped object appeared to react to David Fravor's approach, turning to point west and beginning to ascend.
“as the Tic Tac's doing this, it literally, it's like it's aware of us and it just goes bloop and it kind of points out towards the West and starts coming up.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:24:22.2-01:24:28.9 observation first hand
274
The 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident sighting, from first noticing the white water to the object's disappearance, lasted approximately five minutes.
“this whole thing is like, this is like five minutes. This is not like a, we saw it and it was gone.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:24:37.7-01:24:41.0 observation first hand
275
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor's aircraft descended to approximately 4,600 metres while his wingman's aircraft remained at approximately 6,100 metres.
“I'm probably at about 15K... So they're still about 20,000 feet.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:24:57.0-01:24:59.9 measurement first hand
276
David Fravor held the position of squadron commanding officer, referred to as "skipper," at the time of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“He's like, go for it, skip, because I was a skipper.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:25:31.7-01:25:33.5 administrative first hand
277
David Fravor approached the Tic Tac-shaped object to within approximately 0.8 kilometres during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I'm probably about a half mile away, which you think, well, a half mile is pretty far.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:25:44.9-01:25:47.4 measurement first hand
278
The acceleration and disappearance of the Tic Tac-shaped object during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident occurred at an altitude of approximately 3,700 metres, roughly 2,400 metres below the other aircraft.
“this happens at around estimating about 12,000 feet. So they're at 20. So they've got about 8,000 foot of altitude above us when this happens.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:26:09.2-01:26:14.9 measurement first hand
279
After the Tic Tac-shaped object disappeared during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the white water on the ocean surface also disappeared, leaving no visible trace.
“we're looking for the whitewater and we can't even, the whitewater's gone. There's nothing. It's literally all blue.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:26:36.0-01:26:40.9 observation first hand
280
David Fravor considers the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident unlike anything else he encountered in his flying career.
“I'm pretty weirded out because this is, I mean, you know, I had at the time like 30-some hundred hours of flying.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:26:46.9-01:26:52.3 opinion first hand
281
At the time of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor had approximately 3,100 hours of flight experience accumulated over 18 years of flying.
“I had at the time like 30-some hundred hours of flying. I'd been doing it for 18 years.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:26:49.7-01:26:53.5 administrative first hand
282
Legacy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft carry less fuel than F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft.
“the little hornets the legacy hornets f-18s don't have as much gas as the super hornets”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:27:25.5-01:27:29.9 testimony first hand
283
After the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, USS Princeton radar operators reported that the Tic Tac-shaped object had reappeared at David Fravor's flight's combat air patrol point, approximately 97 kilometres away.
“hey, sir, you're not going to believe this, but that thing is at your cap. it showed back up it just popped up you know this is like 60 miles away it just reappears”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:28:33.9-01:28:40.4 testimony second hand
284
After being told the Tic Tac-shaped object had reappeared at their combat air patrol point, David Fravor's flight searched for it using radar but never saw it again.
“we get out there we never see it we never see it again”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:28:45.0-01:28:46.8 testimony first hand
285
Following the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, films shown aboard the aircraft carrier included Independence Day.
“Well, the movies became, it was Men in Black, Aliens, Independence Day,”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:29:26.1-01:29:32.6 testimony first hand
286
David Fravor does not know how the Tic Tac-shaped object appeared at his flight's combat air patrol point, since the location was not broadcast, though he speculates it may have known because the same point was used daily.
“We don't tell it. We don't broadcast it. We have a waypoint in the system. But I don't know, maybe it knew where we were going, because we used the same one day after day after day.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:30:20.9-01:30:29.7 opinion first hand
287
Chad Underwood recorded the FLIR video during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“Chad, when he took off, when he got the video, we landed, we told them, hey, look, we just chased this thing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:30:34.9-01:30:40.2 testimony first hand
288
Only the FLIR targeting-pod tape from the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident has been publicly released; other recorded data from the incident has not.
“When you look at his video and this is the stuff that isn't out that they don't see because not all the all you see is the FLIR tape.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:30:54.0-01:30:59.3 observation first hand
289
The targeting pod used during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident is the forward-looking infrared (FLIR) receiver.
“That's the targeting pod, the forward looking infrared receiver.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:30:59.6-01:31:02.0 observation first hand
290
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the aircraft radar provided two displays: one showing azimuth and range, the other showing azimuth and elevation.
“He has azimuth and range on the right one, and he has azimuth and elevation on the left one.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:31:12.4-01:31:16.6 observation first hand
291
David Fravor considers actively jamming another aircraft's radar to be technically an act of war.
“As you said on Rogan, by the way, that jamming is an act of war. / When you actively jam another platform, yes, it's technically an act of war.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:32:51.2-01:32:57.9 opinion first hand
292
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, active jamming of another platform's radar occurred.
“When you actively jam another platform, yes, it's technically an act of war.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:32:55.3-01:32:57.9 observation first hand
293
The weapon systems operator's side-stick controller allows a switch, called the castle switch, that moves the display from the radar's azimuth-elevation screen to the targeting pod's video feed.
“He has the ability to just move one switch real quick and it will go from that azimuth elevation on the radar to the targeting pod... it's a switch, it looks like a castle switch, let's say castle.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:33:11.9-01:33:23.2 observation first hand
294
When the targeting pod is switched to track the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object, the tracking becomes passive infrared tracking, receiving infrared energy from the object rather than emitting radar energy at it.
“He's just receiving IR energy from the tic-tac, and then the system itself will track the pixels and the contrast differences.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:33:47.5-01:33:54.5 observation first hand
295
The targeting pod tracking system used during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident is vision-based, tracking pixels and contrast differences.
“It's doing some vision-based tracking. / That's exactly what it is.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:33:59.6-01:34:02.8 observation first hand
296
The FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object shows the targeting pod cycling through narrow, medium, and wide zoom modes, and switching from infrared mode to TV mode.
“so there's a narrow medium and wide so wide is far away medium and then narrow and then there's the tv mode and he goes from ir mode to the tv mode”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:34:09.5-01:34:17.6 observation first hand
297
The TV mode of the targeting pod used during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident has better zoom capability in narrow mode than infrared mode does.
“the cool thing with the tv mode is narrow ir mode is only medium tv mode so you can actually get closer with narrow tv mode it's got a better zoom capability when you go into tv mode”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:34:18.4-01:34:30.2 observation first hand
298
The FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object was publicly available on YouTube for years before the United States government officially released it.
“Granted, so the video's been out, it actually was on YouTube for years before the government released it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:34:44.0-01:34:50.5 observation first hand
299
The FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object leaked online around 2008 to early 2009, after David Fravor had retired from the Navy and was working in San Diego.
“It was leaked in 2007? / About, no... so this is about 2008 early 2009.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:34:50.7-01:34:54.4 testimony first hand
300
A former colleague of David Fravor sent him an email around 2008 to early 2009 with a link to strangeland.com showing the FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object.
“he sends me a link to strangeland.com which is not suitable for work... um and he says hey i can remember the email hey skip does this look familiar”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:35:08.1-01:35:21.8 testimony first hand
301
The FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object first appeared publicly on strangeland.com before being uploaded to YouTube.
“So next thing you know, it ends up on YouTube.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:35:29.9-01:35:31.9 testimony first hand
302
Matt was the crew member in the right seat of David Fravor's A-6 Intruder during Fravor's first night carrier landing.
“so i was sitting with my friend matt so matt and i did our my he was the guy in my right seat of the a6 when i did my very first night trap right”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:36:01.0-01:36:08.4 testimony first hand
303
David Fravor's friend Chris works at Apple Inc.
“these are guys that literally, you know, I don't talk to them on a regular basis, like Chris, who works at Apple.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:36:21.0-01:36:25.5 administrative first hand
304
David Fravor told Matt the story of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident while out to dinner.
“so i'm out to dinner with matt um and i'm telling him this story and he's like get out of here”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:36:51.7-01:36:56.9 testimony first hand
305
Matt subsequently told Paco about David Fravor's encounter during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“so he goes back and he tells our friend paco”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:36:57.7-01:36:59.6 testimony first hand
306
Paco runs fightersweep.com, a blog site about fighter aviation.
“paco has uh fightersweep.com it's a blog site”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:37:01.0-01:37:03.9 administrative first hand
307
Paco has a strong personal interest in UFOs.
“So Paco's obsessed, like he is way into UFOs.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:37:05.4-01:37:08.4 observation first hand
308
Paco called David Fravor while hosting a dinner party and put the call on speakerphone at the dinner table so his guests could hear the story of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“i'm having a dinner party you got to tell the story so he's literally having a dinner party with his cell phone in the middle of the table as i tell a tic tac story”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:37:34.2-01:37:40.9 testimony first hand
309
Nasty was a department head in another squadron aboard the USS Ranger and was known for performing the "shit hot break" carrier landing manoeuvre while flying an F-14 Tomcat.
“one of the department heads of the other squadron is a guy nasty. And Nasty was notorious for coming in in a Tomcat and cranking off the shit hot break, right?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:38:01.5-01:38:08.5 testimony first hand
310
Mav was one of the landing signals officers for the air wing that David Fravor served in.
“And there's another guy, or Mav was our, uh, one of our landing signals officers for the air wing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:38:12.8-01:38:18.2 administrative first hand
311
Before David Fravor spoke about it publicly, his wife did not fully know the story of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“My wife didn't even really know the whole story.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:38:37.1-01:38:38.4 testimony first hand
312
For about two days after the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the Air Wing's flight schedule featured joke comics on its back page referencing the encounter, styled after Men in Black and naming David Fravor and Chad Underwood as protecting the Nimitz battle group.
“For about two days, they played the Goofy movies. There's a comic on the back of the Air Wing schedule... the second one was me and the guy in my back seat, and it was men in black, but it had our names, you know, protecting the world, protecting the Nimitz battle group type stuff.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:38:46.8-01:39:00.5 testimony first hand
313
David Fravor did not consider the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident to be a big deal at the time it occurred.
“So to me, it wasn't that big of a deal.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:39:03.7-01:39:06.0 opinion first hand
314
No government officials arrived in person, whether by helicopter, by airplane, or in suits, to speak with David Fravor about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“No one ever came out in suits to talk to us... No, no one came out on a helicopter. No one came out on an airplane.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:39:15.4-01:39:25.4 testimony first hand
315
David Fravor denied a rumour that unidentified personnel arrived by helicopter aboard the USS Nimitz and USS Princeton after the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident to confiscate recorded data related to it.
“there's a story that both on the Nimitz and the Princeton, folks in a helicopter landed, they showed up, they took the data... No, no one came out on a helicopter.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:39:50.2-01:40:00.6 testimony first hand
316
The tapes used to record the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident were classified secret because of the data recorded on them.
“the tapes are actually classified secret because of the data that's on them”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:40:47.1-01:40:49.7 testimony first hand
317
Intelligence officers from the Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC) aboard the USS Nimitz came to collect the tapes related to the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident from David Fravor's squadron.
“the secure the intelligence guys the intel officers came down from what's called civic cvic which is carrier intel center came down and said, hey, we need the tapes.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:40:53.0-01:41:03.2 testimony first hand
318
A person claiming to know that the intelligence officers who requested the tapes related to the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident were playing a joke on David Fravor.
“someone came to me and said, you know, they're messing with you, they're playing a joke.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:41:16.8-01:41:19.7 hearsay second hand
319
David Fravor personally went to the Carrier Intelligence Center aboard the USS Nimitz to retrieve the tapes related to the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, threatening to "start tearing this place apart" if the tapes were not returned to him within 30 seconds.
“you have about 30 seconds to get me my tapes before I start tearing this place apart. That's literally what I told him.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:41:40.6-01:41:45.9 testimony first hand
320
The tapes related to the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident were stored in an unlocked filing cabinet at the Carrier Intelligence Center, not a safe.
“then he literally walked right over to a filing cabinet opened it up they weren't a safe he opened up a filing cabinet and pulled him out and handed him to me”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:41:54.8-01:41:59.8 observation first hand
321
After retrieving the original tapes, David Fravor copied the FLIR footage of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object onto two new Video8 tapes.
“So I took two brand new eight mil tapes and I copied the sections that I want.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:42:15.2-01:42:19.4 testimony first hand
322
The original FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object is approximately 90 seconds long, contrary to a rumour that it is 10 minutes long.
“So there's a rumor too that, oh, the original FLIR video is 10 minutes long... The original video is about a minute, 30 seconds long.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:42:19.6-01:42:24.7 measurement first hand
323
The publicly released FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object is the entire original recording, not an excerpt.
“What you see on the release video is the entire video.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:42:28.4-01:42:31.4 testimony first hand
324
David Fravor viewed the FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object in 2005 on a television screen roughly 48 to 51 centimetres (19 to 20 inches) across in the ready room.
“I'm looking at it on like a 19-inch because it was still normal TVs back there... It was maybe 20... This is 2005.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:43:59.2-01:44:03.2 observation first hand
325
The 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object had two small protrusions visible on its underside, resembling antennas.
“There's two little things out of the bottom.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:44:52.0-01:44:53.2 observation first hand
326
The 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object had nothing visible on its top.
“There's nothing on the top.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:44:53.7-01:44:54.4 observation first hand
327
The 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object showed no exhaust plume.
“There was no plume, no IR, no visible propulsions, even heat signature.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:44:54.7-01:44:59.2 observation first hand
328
The 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object showed no visible infrared emission consistent with propulsion.
“There was no plume, no IR, no visible propulsions, even heat signature.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:44:54.7-01:44:59.2 observation first hand
329
The 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object showed no visible propulsion mechanism.
“There was no plume, no IR, no visible propulsions, even heat signature.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:44:54.7-01:44:59.2 observation first hand
330
The 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac object showed no heat signature.
“There was no plume, no IR, no visible propulsions, even heat signature.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:44:54.7-01:44:59.2 observation first hand
331
The publicly released FLIR video of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident does not include the aircraft's radar display, because that footage would reveal a higher classification level about how the radar behaved while being jammed.
“the other thing that people didn't see is they didn't see the the radar display uh which that that really raises a classification level especially to see what the radar does when it's being jammed”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:45:01.7-01:45:10.5 testimony first hand
332
Around 2009, approximately five years after the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, a government employee called David Fravor to tell him they were going to investigate the incident.
“i'd gotten a call on my cell phone from a guy who government employee and said, hey, he told me who he was. He's still in the government. I'm friends with him. And he said, hey, we're gonna investigate your Tic Tac thing. This is literally five years later.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:45:21.1-01:45:37.3 testimony first hand
333
The government investigation into the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident around 2009 produced a document that David Fravor calls the Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident, because it was never made formally official.
“I call it the unofficial official report because It was really never official.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:45:42.3-01:45:47.5 testimony first hand
334
The investigator who produced the Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident sent David Fravor the report and asked him not to distribute it.
“He sent me the report. And all he said is, hey, I'm going to send you this report. Please don't distribute this report.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:45:55.5-01:46:00.0 testimony first hand
335
Harry Reid provided the Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident to George Knapp, making the report public.
“The report is now out because Harry Reid got it to George Knapp.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:02.6-01:46:05.2 testimony first hand
336
The publicly circulated version of the Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident was redacted, but unredacted versions of it also exist.
“And they were good enough to redact it, but there's a few versions of it unredacted.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:06.2-01:46:08.6 testimony first hand
337
Jim has spoken publicly in the past about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident but is now unreachable and does not speak to anyone about it.
“So Jim has talked, but he's off the grid. He doesn't talk to anyone now.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:13.2-01:46:16.4 testimony first hand
338
The female pilot involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident has spoken publicly about it without her name being officially released, although some people have begun identifying her.
“The pilot of his airplane, she has come out unidentified, but they don't release her name, although people are starting to do it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:17.4-01:46:23.1 testimony first hand
339
The female pilot involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident has experienced strange occurrences at her home since coming forward, and she has children.
“And she's had weird shit happen around her house. She's got kids.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:23.2-01:46:25.4 testimony first hand
340
George Knapp knew the identities of the people involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident because he obtained the Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident from Senator Harry Reid.
“But George knew who the names were because he got the report from Senator Reid.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:37.8-01:46:41.4 testimony first hand
341
The pilot of the aircraft carrying Chad Underwood during the recording of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident does not have a vivid recollection of the event and did not consider it a big deal at the time.
“the pilot of the airplane that took the video that chad was in if you talk to that individual they really don't have the recollection they were just out flying that day and it wasn't a big deal”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:46:45.0-01:46:56.0 testimony first hand
342
David Fravor estimated he has spoken to approximately 23 people in total about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, including journalists.
“I think you're about the 23rd person that I've talked to total. And that includes the newspapers and stuff.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:47:06.2-01:47:13.1 testimony first hand
343
David Fravor declined a request from Russian television to be interviewed about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I mean, I turned down Russian TV.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:47:15.0-01:47:18.0 testimony first hand
344
The Russian television reporter who contacted David Fravor about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident also called his wife, daughter, son, and son-in-law.
“She not only called me, she called my wife, she called my daughter, she called my son, and she called my son-in-law.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:47:21.6-01:47:25.8 testimony first hand
345
Tom DeLonge became interested in UFOs after reading a book about the subject while touring with his band.
“he goes oh when i was traveling around with blink 182 he goes you read a lot of books when you're laying in a van as you're driving to your next gig before you make it big and he goes and he read he was reading books and he read one of them on UFOs”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:48:08.2-01:48:20.0 hearsay second hand
346
Chris Mellon is an Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
“if you talk to chris mellon who is an under secretary of defense for intelligence”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:48:32.5-01:48:35.8 administrative first hand
347
Chris Mellon is part of the Mellon family associated with Carnegie Mellon University.
“he's part of the mellon you know dynasty you know from carnegie mellon type”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:48:36.7-01:48:40.6 administrative first hand
348
David Fravor had turned down requests to appear on Tucker Carlson Tonight a couple of times before eventually agreeing.
“Because I had turned Tucker down a couple of times before and his producer had called me and I'm like, all right, I'll do it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:49:05.7-01:49:13.3 testimony first hand
349
The initial reports following the Roswell incident described a crashed flying saucer, before the explanation changed the next day to a weather balloon with pieces of mylar shown as evidence.
“so the first reports that came out of roswell was we have this crash flying saucer that's literally what came out and then magically the next day it's a weather balloon and they're showing your pieces of mylar”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:50:41.9-01:50:51.4 opinion first hand
350
Project Blue Book investigated UFO sightings and worked to debunk and disprove them, at times to the point of discrediting witnesses.
“then you get into project blue book you know so there's that whole series about project blue book but the bottom line of project blue book is it really did two things it investigated sightings and it did everything it could to debunk and disprove to the point where it actually went to discredit”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:50:55.3-01:51:07.5 opinion first hand
351
David Fravor does not consider himself a UFO enthusiast.
“With ours, because I'm not a UFO guy, I'm not a junkie.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:51:18.9-01:51:22.8 opinion first hand
352
David Fravor believes it is statistically very unlikely that Earth is the only planet in the universe with life.
“If you ask me, do I believe that there's life outside of Earth, I would say you probably have a better chance of winning the mega ball lottery then we're the only planet that has life on it in the universe.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:51:23.2-01:51:35.8 opinion first hand
353
The USS Gerald R. Ford uses electromagnetic catapults, unlike older aircraft carriers which used steam-powered catapults.
“Catapults on ships were steam powered and the new Gerald Ford is electromagnetic.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:52:43.5-01:52:47.0 opinion first hand
354
Some theories proposed by Albert Einstein, once considered fanciful, have recently been experimentally proven with the technology now available.
“You know, we are just now proving, you know, recently theories that Einstein had where people actually joked about them.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:53:00.4-01:53:06.9 opinion first hand
355
It has been experimentally proven that gravity can bend light, a prediction of Albert Einstein's general relativity.
“And now we actually have the technology to prove that gravity can bend light. You know, we have proven that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:53:07.0-01:53:11.3 opinion first hand
356
Steve Justice is part of the group working with Luis Elizondo on UAP disclosure efforts.
“And I've talked to Lou Elizondo about this and the group that they're working with, which is incredible. I mean, they've got Steve Justice who used to run Skunk Works”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:54:22.7-01:54:30.8 administrative first hand
357
Steve Justice previously ran Lockheed Skunk Works.
“I mean, they've got Steve Justice who used to run Skunk Works where they built projects.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:54:28.6-01:54:31.9 administrative first hand
358
Luis Elizondo ran the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) at the Pentagon.
“He ran the AATIP program at the Pentagon.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:54:36.5-01:54:38.1 administrative first hand
359
The author of the Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident was an original member of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).
“the guy who wrote the unofficial official report was actually an original member of AATIP.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:54:48.9-01:54:52.5 administrative first hand
360
The original material produced by the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
“And the original stuff that AATIP did was FOIA exempt.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:54:53.6-01:54:55.9 administrative first hand
361
David Fravor personally saw a signed Department of Defense memo confirming that the original Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) material was FOIA exempt.
“i go because i stood there with the memo in my hand that said these are it literally i watched the dod memo that said it and it was signed”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:54:58.3-01:55:04.6 testimony first hand
362
Shortly before an article about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident appeared in The New York Times, a Navy commander called David Fravor regarding a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for material about the incident.
“I actually got called by the Navy. I had a commander in a Navy call me about right before the article came out in the New York Times. This was starting to come back, and she had called me because there was a FOIA request for stuff about the Nimitz incident.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:55:21.7-01:55:35.0 testimony first hand
363
David Fravor considers official situation reports filed after events aboard a ship to be third-hand accounts, prone to inaccuracies as information is passed along and written up by others.
“And you know, and you got to remember when the situation report comes off the ship, that's like third hand. So we tell someone, they tell someone, that person has to write it up. So there's all kinds of inaccuracies in it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:55:43.3-01:55:52.4 opinion first hand
364
The Unofficial Official Report on the Nimitz Tic Tac incident is fairly well written, though it contains some errors; David Fravor did not help write it.
“But then there's the unofficial official report that's actually pretty well written. There's some errors in it, but it was, you know, I didn't help write it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:55:54.1-01:55:59.3 testimony first hand
365
When David Fravor has been interviewed for television, camera crews have filmed him at his home for around two hours, but the aired segment is edited down to about five minutes.
“We typically don't like talking to the press because if I talk to you, especially when I do, even the TV shows, because I've been on a couple of shows, when you look at it, they come to my house and they film me for two hours. And then what you see on the screen is five minutes.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:56:47.8-01:57:02.7 testimony first hand
366
Some of the top physicists in the world initially dismissed Albert Einstein's theories, before he was proven correct.
“I mean, when he started coming up with some of his theories, some of the top physicists in the world were like, dude, you're a nut job. And he's literally proving them”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 01:58:56.4-01:59:04.9 opinion first hand
367
The unidentified object David Fravor observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was smooth and white in appearance.
“No. Smooth, white, tic-tac”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:00:37.1-02:00:40.2 observation first hand
368
The unidentified object David Fravor observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident had no visible wings.
“there's no no wings no visible propulsion no windows no probes that we could see”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:00:42.6-02:00:50.2 observation first hand
369
The unidentified object David Fravor observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident had no visible propulsion.
“there's no no wings no visible propulsion no windows no probes that we could see”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:00:42.6-02:00:50.2 observation first hand
370
The unidentified object David Fravor observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident had no visible windows.
“there's no no wings no visible propulsion no windows no probes that we could see”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:00:42.6-02:00:50.2 observation first hand
371
The unidentified object David Fravor observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident had no visible probes.
“there's no no wings no visible propulsion no windows no probes that we could see”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:00:42.6-02:00:50.2 observation first hand
372
Small surface details on the unidentified object filmed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident are only visible when zoomed in on the video footage in TV mode, and are typically not visible in the versions circulated on YouTube.
“we don't see the little things on the bottom of it until we see the video in the tv mode when it's zoomed in right before it's shortly you kind of seem zoom in you don't see it typically on the youtube stuff that's out there”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:00:51.8-02:01:03.1 observation first hand
373
The original tape of the video footage from the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident has basically no video degradation, unlike the copies circulated online.
“But remember, we're looking at the original tape, so there's basically no degradation.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:01:05.3-02:01:09.5 observation first hand
374
David Fravor saw no appendages on the object during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident when he observed it directly with his own eyes.
“But when you saw with your eyes, there's no kind of appendages. No, none.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:01:10.2-02:01:13.1 observation first hand
375
David Fravor did not feel any aerodynamic wake despite flying close to the unidentified object during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“you chased it, so you flew close to it, relatively speaking. Did you feel any wake? Did you feel it in any way in terms of your interaction, like aerodynamically? No. Nothing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:01:22.9-02:01:37.2 observation first hand
376
David Fravor believed the unidentified object during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident became aware of his aircraft's presence when it arrived, comparing it to a deer noticing a person approaching in a field.
“so one i think it i think it knew we were there when we showed up it's just it's me uh it's kind of like an animal if you've ever been around deer in a field”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:02:20.2-02:02:29.2 opinion first hand
377
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, once David Fravor's aircraft began to descend, the unidentified object reoriented its longitudinal axis and began mirroring the ascent of Fravor's aircraft.
“once we started to descend and it actually reoriented its longitudinal axis and it started mirroring us coming up”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:03:12.4-02:03:17.6 observation first hand
378
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor's aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 6,100 metres while the unidentified object ascended to approximately 3,700 metres.
“you figure I'm at 20 and it's coming up and it ends up getting up to 12.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:03:20.6-02:03:23.9 measurement first hand
379
David Fravor described part of the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident as a two-circle fight, a term used for a manoeuvre when fighting another aircraft.
“uh where i cut across a circle i think it was very aware that we were there because it interacted we call it a two circle fight when you're fighting another airplane”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:03:25.3-02:03:32.2 observation first hand
380
David Fravor felt curiosity rather than fear during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“was it was were we afraid i don't think so i mean and to me it was more curious curiosity overcomes any fear that you would have”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:03:37.0-02:03:44.9 opinion first hand
381
David Fravor felt totally comfortable and safe inside his aircraft during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“i felt totally it was like a safe zone i mean i felt totally comfortable inside the airplane”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:03:54.5-02:04:00.0 opinion first hand
382
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the unidentified object was able to climb from the surface and accelerate rapidly as if it were no significant effort.
“and then you get something that you know, can climb from the surface up and then accelerate like it did, like it was like no big deal.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:04:21.8-02:04:27.9 observation first hand
383
An aircraft flying at approximately 185 kilometres per hour cannot instantly begin a climb, requiring the pilot to first lower the nose and accelerate, unlike the object observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, which appeared to climb instantly.
“just get me at 100 knots. above the water and for me to you can't just start a climb i'd have to lower the nose i'd have to accelerate and then i'd have to start coming up and this thing just like just did it like it was like no big deal”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:04:32.3-02:04:45.1 observation first hand
384
David Fravor believes the object observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was a real physical object rather than a light projection.
“I don't think it was a projection. I think it was a real object.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:05:31.7-02:05:33.5 opinion first hand
385
David Fravor believes all four pilots involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident would confirm that the object was a physical object rather than a light projection.
“I think all four of us will tell you the same thing. It wasn't, it wasn't, this was not because you go, okay, let's just go on. It's a light projection.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:05:39.2-02:05:45.4 opinion first hand
386
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, there was an altitude difference of approximately 2,400 metres between David Fravor's aircraft and the other observing aircraft, ruling out the possibility that both crews were viewing a light projection from the same angle.
“And I go, OK, there's the in theory you can have that. But with an 8000 foot altitude difference flying, you know, and there, you know, she's probably not directly above me.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:05:51.4-02:05:59.6 observation first hand
387
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the bright white object was seen against a deep blue ocean, providing high contrast, before it disappeared.
“you got a bright white object over a deep blue ocean you got pretty high contrast and for this thing just to disappear”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:06:15.7-02:06:21.7 observation first hand
388
The pilots involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident share the same general recollection of what happened, though some details differ due to the amount of time that has passed.
“We all have the same recollection of what happened. There's some details because it's so long ago, but for the most part, we know what we saw, and we all came back and looked at each other like, what the hell was that?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:06:29.8-02:06:40.1 testimony first hand
389
The aircraft that disappeared in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappearance was a Boeing 777.
“the Malaysia airplane, the, the triple seven, it was a triple seven that crashed”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:07:32.2-02:07:35.2 observation first hand
390
During the search for the aircraft lost in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappearance, only debris that had floated to the surface was found, with no large pieces of the aircraft recovered.
“they haven't found anything except what floated”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:07:48.4-02:07:49.7 observation first hand
391
David Fravor does not think the object he encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was an ice cloud, because ice clouds do not fly around and react to an observer.
“it's definitely, I don't think it's an ice cloud, because ice clouds don't fly around and react to you”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:08:41.3-02:08:45.8 opinion first hand
392
David Fravor does not think the object he encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was a light or plasma phenomenon, based on how it appeared and behaved when he watched it.
“Do I think it was a light? I'd say no, because of the aspects and what we looked and watched it do, I'd say no... Like a light ball... I don't think so.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:08:47.4-02:08:55.1 opinion first hand
393
David Fravor considers the object he encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident to have been a hard, solid object rather than a phenomenon or illusion, based on his experience at the time.
“it looked, from all my experience, and I had quite a bit of it when this happened, no, I think it was a hard object”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:09:17.5-02:09:26.0 opinion first hand
394
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the object appeared aware that David Fravor's aircraft was present.
“It was aware that we were there.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:09:26.8-02:09:28.1 observation first hand
395
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the object reacted the way another aircraft would if it had to respond to David Fravor's approach, effectively mirroring his movements.
“It reacted exactly like if I was another airplane and I had to come up and do something, exactly what I would do. You know, it mirrored me.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:09:28.6-02:09:35.8 observation first hand
396
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the object was never aggressive or offensive toward David Fravor's aircraft.
“It wasn't aggressive... It was never offensive on us. It never did that. It just mirrored us.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:09:36.2-02:09:41.4 observation first hand
397
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, when David Fravor approached too closely, the object departed abruptly, performing a manoeuvre he had never seen before.
“when i got too close to it you know it decided i'm out of here and then it it did something that we've never seen”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:10:16.3-02:10:21.6 observation first hand
398
David Fravor's aircraft had a helmet-mounted camera during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, but it was not switched on because the footage it produced was normally too nauseating to watch.
“we have a camera in our helmet in the joint helmet there's a little camera but we never use it because it's nauseating to watch”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:10:31.0-02:10:35.6 observation first hand
399
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor was unable to lock the object on radar despite trying.
“because I tried to lock it up because I can move the radar with my head, but I couldn't, it wouldn't lock. The radar wouldn't lock.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:10:51.6-02:10:56.8 observation first hand
400
As of the interview, approximately 16 years had passed since the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“so we're coming up on 16 years ago”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:11:26.0-02:11:27.8 observation first hand
401
David Fravor believes the object involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident did not have a conventional propulsion system.
“let's assume that it didn't have a conventional propulsion system in it, because I don't think it did”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:11:34.2-02:11:37.9 opinion first hand
402
During the encounters that produced the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, objects were observed descending from altitudes above approximately 24,000 metres.
“these things were coming down when the cruiser tractor from above 80,000 feet, which is space”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:12:19.8-02:12:23.3 observation first hand
403
During the encounters that produced the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, objects descending from high altitude would come straight down and then hover at approximately 6,100 metres.
“they would come down and they would come straight down. They'd hang out at like 20,000 feet.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:12:24.3-02:12:27.3 observation first hand
404
During the encounters that produced the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, objects that descended and hovered would go back up after three or four hours.
“three or four hours later, they'd go back up”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:12:28.4-02:12:29.8 observation first hand
405
The objects observed during the encounters that produced the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident held a stationary position while hovering, rather than drifting with the wind as a balloon would.
“they're not drifting like a balloon. They're just sitting there.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:12:36.6-02:12:38.6 observation first hand
406
An air traffic controller told David Fravor that up to ten of the objects associated with the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident had been tracked.
“When I talked to the controller, he's like, we've seen up to 10 of these things.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:12:42.2-02:12:45.2 testimony second hand
407
The F-117 Nighthawk, described by David Fravor as the original stealth fighter (not the B-2), flew for a significant period before it was acknowledged by the United States government.
“That's the stealth fighter, the original stealth fighter, not the B-2, but the stealth fighter... It flew for this long before it was actually acknowledged by the United States government.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:13:40.7-02:13:49.2 observation first hand
408
David Fravor considers Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Stanford University, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Carnegie Mellon University, and Naval Postgraduate School to be among the top-tier universities from which leading-edge technology research typically emerges.
“So you've got MIT, you've got Caltech, you've got Stanford, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, I'm just naming schools, Naval Postgraduate School is another one.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:14:16.5-02:14:25.2 opinion first hand
409
David Fravor does not believe he has seen research papers describing development of a gravity-based propulsion system.
“I don't think there's a whole bunch of papers on developing a gravity-based propulsion system”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:14:31.4-02:14:36.0 opinion first hand
410
David Fravor does not believe humans have developed the technology behind the object involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I don't think we've developed it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:15:40.2-02:15:41.2 opinion first hand
411
A friend of David Fravor was one of the original employees of SpaceX.
“I know one of the guys that was, he was one of the original employees at SpaceX.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:16:32.2-02:16:36.1 testimony first hand
412
A friend of David Fravor who was an original SpaceX employee worked on the entire Falcon 1 rocket project as one of its lead engineers.
“he actually worked on the entire Falcon 1 project. He's one of the lead guys on that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:16:43.2-02:16:46.1 testimony first hand
413
Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of the military-industrial complex around 1962, according to David Fravor.
“I said, you know, in I think it was 62 when Eisenhower warned of the industrial defense complex”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:17:05.0-02:17:09.5 opinion first hand
414
David Fravor considers the military-industrial complex to have become everything Dwight D. Eisenhower warned about.
“which it has become everything he warned us of, you know, it has become”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:17:11.2-02:17:15.4 opinion first hand
415
David Fravor considers Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing to be the big three companies in the United States defence industry.
“there's the big three in defense, which is really, you know, Northrop, Lockheed, and Boeing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:17:17.4-02:17:22.7 opinion first hand
416
David Fravor considers Raytheon a large defence company, comparable in scale to Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.
“Raytheon's kind of right, like a subset of that, but they're, Raytheon's pretty big too.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:17:25.6-02:17:29.6 opinion first hand
417
David Fravor considers Elon Musk's SpaceX to have delivered a project that Boeing had been contracted to do, but in less time and for half the cost.
“Elon did what Boeing has contracted to do in less time for half the money.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:18:15.8-02:18:20.5 opinion first hand
418
SpaceX's rocket boosters return and land intact, unlike the Space Shuttle's solid rocket boosters which landed in saltwater and had to be disassembled and rebuilt before reuse.
“because he can reuse the boosters, because they come back and land, and you don't have to, like Morton Thichol, we reused them on the space shuttle, but they had to take them all apart and do a bunch of stuff, because they landed in saltwater, and then you had to put them all back together.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:18:22.1-02:18:33.1 opinion first hand
419
According to a friend of David Fravor who worked at SpaceX, the company's recovered rocket boosters are cleaned and reused without being taken apart.
“He goes, no, actually they clean them up and they can use them again. They're reusable systems.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:18:39.0-02:18:42.0 testimony second hand
420
David Fravor has friends who are astronauts who were required to learn Russian for their missions.
“I have some friends that are astronauts uh they all have to learn russian”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:19:04.3-02:19:07.6 testimony first hand
421
David Fravor's astronaut friends had to pass a Russian-language proficiency test conducted as a phone call.
“they have to do, it's what, level five where the test is a phone call, where they call you up”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:19:09.6-02:19:14.5 testimony first hand
422
David Fravor attended the pinning ceremony for two of his friends who became astronauts.
“So I went to the pinning, two friends of mine. The one actually had a mission date, the one got one later.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:19:16.7-02:19:21.5 testimony first hand
423
David Fravor watched a friend of his perform a spacewalk at the International Space Station via a NASA broadcast.
“I was in a meeting one day and I've got NASA on... And I saw one, he's in the space station while they're doing a spacewalk.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:19:28.0-02:19:34.9 testimony first hand
424
David Fravor considers the Moon a stepping stone toward eventually sending humans to Mars.
“if they're really gonna go you know in years from now go to Mars I think that the moon is the stepping stone to go back to start proving some of the technology”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:04.4-02:20:10.5 opinion first hand
425
The Apollo 11 Moon landing was achieved using onboard computing power less than that of a modern compact computer.
“we did this on a less than a compact computer in the 60s”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:18.4-02:20:21.3 opinion first hand
426
David Fravor's fascination with the Apollo 11 Moon landing, achieved with limited onboard computing power, is a reason he became a pilot.
“which is the whole reason that I flew, because I'm obsessed.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:21.7-02:20:23.9 testimony first hand
427
David Fravor owns a large Lego model of the Apollo lunar module.
“I have the giant Lego Apollo at home and the lander”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:24.8-02:20:28.5 administrative first hand
428
David Fravor's father built him a model of the Apollo lunar lander in 1969, shortly after the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
“I have one that my dad built me in 1969 right after that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:29.2-02:20:31.1 administrative first hand
429
Neil Armstrong was from Ohio, the same US state David Fravor is from.
“Neil Armstrong's an Ohio boy, and so am I.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:33.8-02:20:35.5 administrative first hand
430
David Fravor has a photograph of Neil Armstrong riding in a car during a parade in Wapakoneta, Ohio held after Armstrong walked on the Moon, because Armstrong's parents lived near David Fravor's aunt and uncle, who attended the parade.
“I have a picture of him in a car in Wapakoneta, Ohio at the parade after he walked on the moon, because his parents didn't live far from my aunt and uncle in Wapakoneta, and they were out at the parade.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:36.5-02:20:44.0 testimony first hand
431
David Fravor would go to space in a second if given the opportunity.
“Me, if I had the opportunity, I'd go in a second.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:20:55.7-02:20:57.7 opinion first hand
432
David Fravor has known his wife since high school.
“I've known her since high school, so she knows how I am.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:21:36.7-02:21:39.6 administrative first hand
433
Mick West has suggested that David Fravor may have miscalculated the size and distance of the object he observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“He has some explanations of the things that you've seen with the Tic Tac, like with your own eyes. Like he says that it's possible that you miscalculated the size and the distance of the thing”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:31:21.0-02:31:35.7 hearsay second hand
434
David Fravor judged the size of the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident (the Tic Tac) to be about 12 metres long, based on 16 years of experience flying against other airplanes and comparing it to the size of an F/A-18 Hornet.
“How did you know it was about 40 feet long? I go, okay, so 16 years flying against other airplanes, know what stuff looks like... so that's that's why i said 40 feet because it's about hornet size”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:31:43.9-02:31:55.9 observation first hand
435
David Fravor was at approximately 6,000 metres altitude when he saw the object referred to as the Tic Tac (the object involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident).
“I know when we saw the Tic Tac, I was at 20,000 feet-ish, right around there.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:31:56.6-02:32:01.1 observation first hand
436
David Fravor considers pure experience and professional observer training relevant to the reliability of his account of the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“so i would argue the fact of, you know, pure experience there's, you know, professional observers, which is what we're actually trained to do.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:32:23.5-02:32:31.4 opinion first hand
437
Everyone who observed the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident came back with a consistent estimate that it was about the size of an F/A-18 Hornet.
“no, it was, and everyone came back with the same thing. They're like, yeah, it was about the size of a hornet.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:32:35.5-02:32:39.2 testimony first hand
438
Naval aviators are trained to trust their flight instruments over their own visual and physical senses, because the brain and eyes can be deceived, particularly when landing on a ship at night.
“we are actually trained to do the opposite of that especially when you instrument fly because your brain and eyes can tell you one thing but you got to trust your instruments let's go back to landing at night”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:33:03.8-02:33:15.8 observation first hand
439
When flying visually and landing on an aircraft carrier, a pilot's brain incorrectly assumes the deck is fixed when it is actually moving, which can be fatal if the pilot relies on visual cues alone rather than instruments.
“your eyes assume that the runway and your brain assumes that the runway is fixed but you know that the runway is moving so if i try and do stuff visually i would you die every time well not every time but you die close to every time trying to land on a boat”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:33:19.2-02:33:33.7 observation first hand
440
Naval aviators are trained on a device called the Multi-Spatial Disorientation Device (MSDD), also known as the Spin and Puke, which resembles a giant carousel and induces false sensations of climbing or descending while the trainee is actually only rotating slowly.
“They have this thing, I think they still use it, it's called the MSDD Multispatial Disorientation Device, or the Spin and Puke. it looks like a giant carousel and you're in these little modules”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:33:41.1-02:33:53.2 observation first hand
441
When David Fravor observed the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, he was cross-checking his heads-up display, which showed his own aircraft's status, against his visual observation of the object.
“You know, when I'm flying the airplane, even as I'm looking at the Tic Tac, I've got a heads up display that tells me what my airplane's doing.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:34:36.2-02:34:41.2 observation first hand
442
Fighter pilots cannot use clouds as fixed navigational reference points during a dogfight over water because clouds move.
“And you can't use clouds because clouds do move.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:36:05.1-02:36:06.6 observation first hand
443
David Fravor learned air combat manoeuvring from a fellow naval aviator, referred to as Tom, who had recently left his post as the training officer at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun).
“So Tom took me out and taught me how to fight because Tom had just left Top Gun. He was the training officer at Top Gun, so that's the guy.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:38:19.2-02:38:27.2 testimony first hand
444
David Fravor came from flying the A-6 Intruder, a bomber, and did not have significant air-to-air combat experience before transitioning to the F/A-18 Hornet, where he needed to learn dogfighting as part of the fighter-attack mission.
“So Tom, when I learned, because I come out of A6 and we really don't fight because it was a bomber. So I get in F-18s and I want to learn how to fight because it's a whole other side of the mission.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:38:32.4-02:38:40.8 testimony first hand
445
David Fravor estimates he is 99.9% confident that his eyes were not deceived when he observed the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I am 99.9%. So 0.1% my eyes deceive me.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:39:36.8-02:39:40.0 opinion first hand
446
David Fravor reasons that for his visual account of the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident to be wrong, the observation would also have had to deceive the other four people who witnessed it with him, making the combined probability of misperception lower still.
“But remember, if it deceived me, it had to deceive the other four people. So the percentage is even lower.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:39:40.2-02:39:45.0 opinion first hand
447
David Fravor disputes Mick West's tracking-loss explanation for why the object appears to fly off screen at the end of the 2004 USS Nimitz FLIR video, based on repeated review of the original tapes.
“looking at your face you do not so can you maybe comment to that uh to that debunking... i can't tell you how many times i watched it off the original tapes”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:42:04.4-02:42:17.7 opinion first hand
448
When the object filmed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident began to move, the tracking gate (bars on the FLIR display) started to open up, which is visible when reviewing the original footage closely.
“It actually, when the vehicle starts to move, the bars, the tracking gate starts to open up”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:43:02.6-02:43:07.2 observation first hand
449
David Fravor states that Raytheon built the targeting pod used to film the object during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“the people at Raytheon could probably add to this because they built the pod.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:43:07.5-02:43:09.7 testimony first hand
450
David Fravor states that the targeting pod used to film the object in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident has physical gimbal rate limits on how fast it can move, and could not move fast enough to keep tracking the object as it left the frame so quickly.
“But the thing, when it leaves so fast off the screen, the pod can't move fast enough. It has gimbal rates on how fast that thing can move around.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:43:13.3-02:43:19.6 opinion first hand
451
David Fravor personally knows the pilot who filmed both the Go Fast video and the Gimbal video.
“No, because what Mick West doesn't see is so when they take, because I've talked to the one of them actually I work with, so I know him, I know I talk to him all the time.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:44:31.0-02:44:39.7 testimony first hand
452
The Go Fast video and the Gimbal video were shot by the same person.
“The go fast and the gimbal were shot by the same person, okay?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:44:47.9-02:44:50.0 testimony first hand
453
The aircraft involved in filming the Gimbal video were F/A-18F Super Hornets equipped with the AN/APG-79 phased array radar made by Raytheon.
“the airplanes they're flying, still Super Hornets, but they have the APG-79, which is the new phased array radar that's made by Raytheon”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:44:59.2-02:45:05.2 testimony first hand
454
Pilots initially thought the radar contacts associated with the Gimbal video were ghost tracks before confirming a heat signature with a targeting pod.
“So at first they thought they were ghost tracks when they started seeing stuff, and then they actually threw one of the targeting pods out there.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:45:11.4-02:45:15.8 testimony first hand
455
The object filmed in the Gimbal video rotates in place while appearing to move against the wind, without changing aspect the way a turning airplane would.
“This thing doesn't change aspect, it just rotates. It's just rotating.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:45:37.4-02:45:39.2 observation first hand
456
During the encounter recorded in the Gimbal video, five other objects were seen flying in a V formation in front of the tracked object and turned on their radar and flew away while being filmed.
“There's five other, I think it's five, they're kind of in a V, you know, like a geese would fly that are out in front of it and they're actually coming, they're out in front of it and they actually turn on the radar and go the other way while they're filming the gimbal video.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:45:56.3-02:46:07.9 testimony first hand
457
At least 60 people saw the unidentified objects associated with the Gimbal and Go Fast videos on radar off the coast near Whidbey Island.
“there's at least 60 people that have seen these things on radar off the vacates”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:46:24.1-02:46:28.2 testimony first hand
458
David Fravor called an acquaintance running a fighter wing to ask what was being done about the unidentified objects being tracked, and was told a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) had been issued because of these objects in the warning area.
“I called a buddy of mine who was running the wing at the time, the fighter wing. I said, dude, what are you guys doing about this? He goes, well, we got a NOTAM out, which is a notice to airmen, which means there's these objects out there.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:46:30.2-02:46:39.5 testimony first hand
459
A Notice to Airmen for the warning area does not prohibit aircraft such as a Piper Warrior from flying through it, only warns of high military traffic and training.
“in the warning area so anyone can you can fly a cessna through the warning area it's all the warning area tells you is that there's high military traffic and training out here it's probably best not to be here but there's nothing that prohibits you from going in there”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:46:40.6-02:46:50.6 testimony first hand
460
The object observed in the encounters remained stationary in approximately 130 kilometres per hour winds, which David Fravor argues rules out a balloon explanation.
“balloons float balloons don't sit in in in 70 knots of wind and stay in the same location”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:46:58.0-02:47:02.5 opinion first hand
461
One of the objects reported by Navy pilots appeared to be a cube shape inside of a translucent sphere.
“There's also, they talk about, it looks like a cube that's inside of a sphere. A translucent sphere.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:47:08.1-02:47:12.2 testimony first hand
462
An object described as a cube inside a translucent sphere passed between two Navy aircraft, coming within approximately 30 metres of one of them, and was reported as a near mid-air collision.
“this thing passed between two airplanes and it was, I think it was like 100 feet or something like that of the airplane that almost hit it”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:47:39.1-02:47:44.9 testimony first hand
463
After a near mid-air collision with an unidentified object, Navy pilots sent out a Notice to Airmen and filed a hazard report to the Naval Safety Center describing the encounter.
“So they send out a NOTAM again, and they do what's called a hazard report that says, hey, there's these objects out there. We almost hit one. And that gets sent off to the Naval Safety Center.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:47:54.0-02:48:01.9 testimony first hand
464
Radar operators observed some unidentified objects hovering and then suddenly travelling at very high rates of speed.
“they've seen them, they've picked them up like hovering on radar, and then all of a sudden they're traveling at really high rates of speed”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:48:10.9-02:48:15.3 testimony first hand
465
David Fravor believes that a new, valuable secret technology is typically not tested in an uncontrolled operational area where it could be damaged or cause casualties.
“You typically don't take your cool new toy out into an area where the cool new toy could get damaged. Or what if the airplane would have actually hit your cool new toy and you got two people that are ejecting or dead and you got a $80 million airplane that's now in the bottom of the Atlantic.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:49:12.2-02:49:24.8 opinion first hand
466
A SpaceX rocket launched from Kwajalein Atoll suffered a fuel line rupture, ran out of fuel before reaching full altitude, and fell back down near the atoll.
“they had a rocket go off, they were out in Kwajalein, and when the rocket went up, a fuel line ruptured in the rocket and it ran out of fuel before it got all the way up and it came falling back down... it actually crashed next to the ATOL”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:49:42.8-02:49:54.7 testimony second hand
467
Elon Musk was unhappy about the failed rocket test at Kwajalein Atoll and blamed the engineer responsible.
“Elon wasn't happy and threw this guy under the bus”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:50:04.4-02:50:07.5 testimony second hand
468
David Fravor considers it implausible that the object encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was a secret government test, because such tests are not conducted with unwitting pilots in operational areas.
“Well, secret government things typically just don't come out and test to where there's gonna be- Unknowing pilots, we can't control a lot of things.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:50:16.8-02:50:23.8 opinion first hand
469
Before an aircraft with digital flight controls ever leaves the ground, engineers manipulate the pitot-static system readings while the aircraft is on jack stands to test how the flight controls respond as if the aircraft were flying.
“Like an airplane with digital flight controls, before it even leaves the ground, they've got things over the pitostatic system that are changing what the airplane thinks is the airspeed... it's probably up on jack, so the gear up... they're just changing the pressure on the pedostatic system so they can actually make the flight controls move and they can get all the data back”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:50:49.0-02:51:09.0 opinion first hand
470
David Fravor considers it more likely that a real secret test would not have been conducted in the middle of a military exercise area where personnel were operating.
“Throwing shit out in the middle of where people are doing exercises is, the most preposterous thing that I've heard. Is it possible? Yes. It's more likely they're not doing that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:51:17.4-02:51:32.7 opinion first hand
471
David Fravor believes that if the object encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident had displayed a Russian or Chinese flag, it would have received significant attention from the US military and government.
“If you would have put a Chinese flag on the side of it or a Russian flag on the side of it, and I said, yeah, it had a big Russian flag on the side of it, dude, then it would have got a lot of attention. It would have went high order.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:51:56.4-02:52:05.7 opinion first hand
472
The deployment during which the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident occurred was a two-month joint workup at sea, longer than the typical one-month deployment cycle.
“Normally, we go out for a month, go come back, do stuff, go out for a month. This was a two-month at sea period where we actually had to beg for them to let us when the ship pulled in at Thanksgiving so we could run home up to the Central Valley, have Thanksgiving with our family, and then run back down and do this”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:52:21.4-02:52:33.1 testimony first hand
473
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, David Fravor had commanded his squadron for only one month and was the most junior commanding officer for an O5 command in the United States Navy at the time.
“I had just taken over. I had had the squadron for a month, right? So I'm a brand new CO. I'm the most junior guy as far as a commanding officer goes... And actually at the time, I think it was the most junior CO for 05 Command in the Navy, right?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:52:37.2-02:52:53.5 testimony first hand
474
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident deployment, David Fravor was responsible for 17 aircrew and 300 sailors in his squadron.
“I have 17 air crew and 300 sailors that I'm responsible for.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:53:07.2-02:53:11.3 testimony first hand
475
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident deployment, the commanding officer of the USS Princeton held a major command position senior to the squadron commanding officers.
“you got the CEO of the Princeton, who is a major command guy. And that's really your big major command.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:53:36.1-02:53:41.4 testimony first hand
476
Following the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, neither the captain of the ship, the admiral, nor their staff ever discussed the incident with David Fravor.
“the captain of the ship never said anything to me the admiral never saying to me the people on his staff that i was friends with never saying to me the other co's that i talked to on a daily basis never said anything to me and no one ever came and talked to me and i'm the guy that chased it”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:54:34.3-02:54:45.4 testimony first hand
477
David Fravor was paid to travel to Los Angeles for a five-minute talk about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“I got paid to go out and spend 21 hours of my day going to LA and do a five-minute talk for someone.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:54:53.3-02:54:57.7 testimony first hand
478
David Fravor was paid to attend the McMinnville UFO Festival with his wife.
“I got paid to go to the McMinnville Fest because my wife and I got to go because it just looked like fun because the whole town gets involved.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:55:03.0-02:55:09.8 testimony first hand
479
The McMinnville UFO Festival was the only occasion on which David Fravor spoke publicly in front of a large audience about the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident.
“it's the only time I've ever spoken publicly in front of a large audience about this because it was fun and I got asked”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:55:10.8-02:55:16.5 testimony first hand
480
George Knapp attended the McMinnville UFO Festival the year before David Fravor did.
“Jeremy and George Knappen went the year before, so I went with Bob Lazar.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:55:17.0-02:55:19.9 testimony first hand
481
David Fravor attended the McMinnville UFO Festival together with Bob Lazar.
“so I went with Bob Lazar.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:55:18.7-02:55:19.9 testimony first hand
482
At the McMinnville UFO Festival, David Fravor and his wife spent time socialising with Bob Lazar and his wife without discussing UFO topics.
“I got to hang out with Bob and his wife and his wife and my wife and we all hung out kind of talking, not about UFO stuff, but just getting to know each other as people”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:55:21.1-02:55:29.2 testimony first hand
483
David Fravor considers Bob Lazar's public notoriety over his UFO-related claims to have damaged Bob Lazar's life.
“The stuff that he talks about is not the center of his life. If anything, it ruined his life.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:55:32.7-02:55:35.8 opinion first hand
484
Luis Elizondo asked David Fravor what he thought the unidentified craft encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident were doing there.
“Lou asked me this when we were talking to Lou Elizondo, and he said, what do you think they were here for?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:58:58.5-02:59:01.6 testimony first hand
485
David Fravor considers it possible that a more advanced civilisation checks in on humanity because a less advanced civilisation becomes a threat once it develops enough to become equal or superior to them.
“maybe there's a more advanced civilization out here and they just check in on us because the threat to an advanced civilization is when a civilization that's inferior to them actually develops enough and fast enough to become equal or above”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:59:14.3-02:59:26.2 opinion first hand
486
David Fravor considers it possible that an advanced observing civilisation has a tendency to be present around nuclear technology.
“they always have a tendency to hang out around nuclear, right?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 02:59:33.4-02:59:35.7 opinion first hand
487
David Fravor considers it highly possible that a foreign or the US government secretly possesses an out-of-this-world aircraft or beings.
“I would say this, I think it's very, it's highly possible because if you go, if you just look at all the sightings...”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:00:40.9-03:00:45.9 opinion first hand
488
Approximately 10 to 15 percent of the UFO sightings investigated by Project Blue Book remain unexplained by the government.
“just look at project blue book, go, it was what the, I forget how many thousands of sightings that there's a percentage. It's like 10 or 15% of them. They, they still can't explain.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:00:47.8-03:00:54.8 hearsay second hand
489
The United States government has publicly stated it does not know what the object encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident was.
“our tic-tac is one of them that, you know, they basically, the government has come out and said, we don't know what that was.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:00:55.9-03:00:59.3 testimony second hand
490
David Fravor considers it plausible that at least one unidentified craft has crashed and been recovered somewhere on Earth, given the large absolute number of unexplained sightings even at a small percentage of the total.
“What are the chances that not one of them crashed somewhere on the globe? and was recovered.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:01:07.7-03:01:12.5 opinion first hand
491
David Fravor considers Bob Lazar a straightforward, sane, normal, and very intelligent person.
“I'll tell you, Bob is a straightforward, very sane, normal, super smart guy.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:02:42.5-03:02:47.1 opinion first hand
492
Bob Lazar has said that he understood he was under an oath of secrecy but felt the technology he encountered could benefit all of mankind and should not be locked away.
“If you ask Bob, why did you say something? His answer was, I understand there's an oath, but I felt that the technology could benefit all of mankind and it shouldn't be locked away.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:03:02.7-03:03:13.0 hearsay second hand
493
David Fravor worked for the United States government for 24 years.
“I agree with that because I worked for the government for 24 years of my life.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:04:14.2-03:04:17.2 testimony first hand
494
David Fravor considers Bob Lazar a propulsion specialist.
“So Bob is a propulsion guy.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:07:20.2-03:07:22.5 opinion first hand
495
Bob Lazar has a bicycle fitted with a rocket motor.
“Bob has a bicycle with a rocket motor.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:07:24.4-03:07:25.8 testimony first hand
496
Bob Lazar built a rocket car.
“He built a rocket car.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:07:26.2-03:07:26.9 testimony first hand
497
At the time he was recruited into the programme David Fravor describes, the propulsion expert had been working at USA, New Mexico, Los Alamos.
“So you go, wait, here's a guy who at the time was working at Los Alamos, which they have proven, who is big into propulsion.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:07:52.4-03:07:59.6 testimony first hand
498
In the 1960s the United States developed a Mach 3 compression-lift bomber called the XB-70 Valkyrie.
“The US in the 60s developed a bomber. It was a Mach 3 compression lift bomber called the XB-70.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:14:50.4-03:14:55.3 testimony first hand
499
Only three XB-70 Valkyrie aircraft were ever built.
“Okay, there was three of them built, three of them ever built.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:14:56.8-03:14:59.2 measurement first hand
500
The XB-70 Valkyrie could fly at an altitude of approximately 18,000 metres at Mach 3.
“It was a like 60,000 foot high, you know, Mach 3.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:14:59.9-03:15:03.2 measurement first hand
501
The last remaining XB-70 Valkyrie is preserved in a museum in USA, Ohio, Dayton.
“And there's actually the last one remaining is in Dayton, Ohio at the museum.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:15:05.7-03:15:08.2 testimony first hand
502
The XB-70 Valkyrie's wingtips would fold during flight.
“You know, it would go, the wingtips would fold on.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:15:08.6-03:15:10.6 testimony first hand
503
When the Soviet Union learned that the United States was developing the XB-70 Valkyrie, the Soviet Union developed the MiG-25 as a high-altitude interceptor to counter it, building an entire fleet of MiG-25s.
“When that got out that we were developing it, the Soviet Union developed the MiG-25, literally a high altitude interceptor to counter that bomber. and they built an entire fleet of MiG-25s.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:15:15.4-03:15:27.6 testimony first hand
504
After building three XB-70 Valkyrie aircraft, the United States scrapped the programme because the aircraft had become obsolete.
“We built three XB-70s and we scrapped the program. Because now you go, well, the technology is cool, we proved it, but now it becomes obsolete, so it's not even worth building a whole fleet of these things.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:15:29.6-03:15:42.1 testimony first hand
505
Jeff Bezos is worth over $100 billion.
“that's worth over $100 billion.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:17:21.6-03:17:22.4 measurement first hand
506
Jeff Bezos's ex-wife donated a large portion of her share of their fortune to the Gates Foundation.
“Bezos' ex-wife actually donated a huge chunk of her half into the Gates Foundation.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:17:34.3-03:17:38.9 testimony first hand
507
SpaceX tests rockets at Marshall Islands, Kwajalein Atoll.
“You go out to Kwajalein and you test it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:20:02.7-03:20:04.1 testimony first hand
508
David Fravor knows someone who worked at SpaceX.
“i'll guarantee that uh what is it blue origin isn't that amazon yeah you know that they're doing some cool stuff because they have funny and i joke with the guy i know that worked at spacex”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:20:19.3-03:20:29.0 testimony first hand
509
A friend of David Fravor's, who has done government contract work and worked with SpaceX, told him that Elon Musk owns a property of approximately 160 hectares near USA, Texas, Waco.
“his like 400-acre thing, I think it's about 400 acres, down by Waco, Texas... I worked with, he goes, because he's done government contract, he goes, there's government contract, and then there's working at SpaceX with Elon money.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:20:36.4-03:20:49.2 hearsay second hand
510
A friend of David Fravor's told him that SpaceX bought out a tool-and-die machine shop that supplied high-precision parts for its rockets, after the shop's owner was close to going out of business, with the deal completed within an hour or two of meeting Elon Musk.
“they go in the boardroom and and he said literally within like a you know an hour or two Elon has bought the guy's company.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:21:44.8-03:21:53.1 hearsay second hand
511
A friend of David Fravor's told him that the former owner of the machine shop acquired by SpaceX became a senior vice president running his former company within SpaceX.
“That guy is now a senior VP running his company.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:21:53.6-03:21:56.2 hearsay second hand
512
David Fravor considers the SpaceX Dragon capsule to be fully automated but equipped with a manual flight mode.
“Because you've got a fully automated capsule that has a manual mode that they got to fly around in.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:23:13.5-03:23:17.8 opinion first hand
513
David Fravor considers that the SpaceX Dragon capsule mission worked perfectly, going up, staying in orbit, returning, and splashing down successfully.
“it worked like a champ it went up it hung out it came back it splashed down it worked perfectly”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:23:18.7-03:23:24.4 opinion first hand
514
Unlike the Apollo capsules, which were retired to museums after use, SpaceX plans to refurbish and reuse the Dragon capsule that splashed down by repainting it and launching it again on another rocket.
“unlike the apollo capsules that were used and then put to museums they're going to reuse that dragon capsule it came down they're going to dust it off put a new coat of paint on it slap it on top of another rocket and away it goes”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:23:27.8-03:23:38.3 opinion first hand
515
David Fravor suggested that the government should release physical evidence, such as the Roswell wreckage, to demonstrate publicly that recovered craft technology exists.
“just come out with this, find the relic of a spaceship, like pull out the Roswell wreckage if you have it. Pull out the Roswell wreckage and do it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:24:42.6-03:24:50.9 opinion first hand
516
During the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident, United States military personnel who witnessed the event received radiation burns.
“what is it, Rameshon Forest in England, the U.S. guys that saw stuff and actually got radiation burns.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:26:03.6-03:26:08.9 hearsay
517
One of the United States military witnesses to the 1980 Rendlesham Forest incident was medically disabled, and John McCain's office helped him get his disability status reestablished after it had initially been denied.
“One guy was medically disabled, but they weren't going to give it, and he got help from John McCain. His office helped get the guy's disability reestablished.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:26:09.6-03:26:18.6 hearsay
518
Of the six people involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, four personally saw the object, while the other two were in a separate aircraft that filmed video footage of it.
“the four of us that actually saw it plus the other two that were in the airplane that shot the video, none of us are UFO obsessed people.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:27:45.7-03:27:52.2 testimony first hand
519
David Fravor considers that none of the six people involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident were people who were obsessed with UFOs.
“none of us are UFO obsessed people.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:27:50.8-03:27:52.2 opinion first hand
520
A story from during the existence of the Soviet Union describes Soviet forces shooting at and shooting down an unidentified flying object, after which orders were reportedly given never to shoot at or chase such objects again, only to observe them.
“there's a story back when the Soviet Union existed that they actually would chase these things and one of them shot at some, you know, it shot at it because they said, shoot at it and it shot at it and then it got shot down. And then they said, don't ever shoot at them again and don't chase them.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:28:41.6-03:28:55.7 hearsay second hand
521
David Fravor considers the 1997 Phoenix Lights to be unexplainable.
“So the Phoenix Lights is unexplainable, although I know the Air Force had said something about it.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:29:39.9-03:29:43.4 opinion first hand
522
The United States Air Force attributed the 1997 Phoenix Lights to flares dropped by an A-10 aircraft.
“It was an A-10 drop in flares.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:29:43.5-03:29:44.3 hearsay second hand
523
David Fravor disputes that flares explain the 1997 Phoenix Lights, noting that flares do not burn as long as the lights were reported to have lasted.
“No, I don't think so. You know, flares don't burn that long. They just come out and they, you know, they detract and they go away.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:29:44.6-03:29:50.6 opinion first hand
524
David Fravor lived in central California for 18 years.
“So I lived in central California for 18 years.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:29:54.4-03:29:56.5 administrative first hand
525
United States intercontinental ballistic missile tests launched from Vandenberg fly across the ocean and land in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where their displacement and accuracy can be checked.
“they were doing ICBM tests at one time where they shoot from Vandenberg and they fly across, then they go land in the atoll at Kwajalein. You know, and then they can check the displacement, the accuracy and all that stuff.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:30:03.4-03:30:12.8 observation first hand
526
David Fravor used to watch missile launches from Vandenberg from his driveway, located about a three-hour drive away.
“Because we used to sit in our driveway and Vandenberg, it was a three hour drive, but you could sit and watch it go.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:30:53.6-03:30:57.7 observation first hand
527
David Fravor considers that rocket exhaust plumes create unusual cloud shapes in the sky after launch, which people who did not see the launch from the beginning often mistake for something unexplained.
“If you don't see anything, what you see is the weird clouds from the exhaust plume, what's left, the residue that's sitting in the atmosphere and the wind starts blowing it. So you get these really kind of weird shapes in the sky.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:31:02.5-03:31:11.6 opinion first hand
528
When To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science was founded, its mission was to reframe UFOs as a technology to be studied and reverse-engineered using physics-based knowledge, rather than as extraterrestrial "little green men".
“When they started, their mission was to try and don't look at this as little green men, but let's look at this as a technology and let's try and almost reverse engineer and figure out how these things operate and how can we explain this from using our knowledge, physics-based knowledge to go, how would something like this operate?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:31:59.5-03:32:19.1 opinion second hand
529
David Fravor's likeness was used without his permission in a UFO-related television production, and he told the producer to take it down or face legal action.
“there was a guy who put something out and I was in it and I told him, you can take it down and you can talk to lawyers because I'm not supporting you.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:32:57.9-03:33:03.4 testimony first hand
530
The Government of Italy gave To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science files that had been property of the Italian government.
“The Italian government gave them all kinds of files that had been property of their government.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:33:47.5-03:33:52.8 hearsay second hand
531
David Fravor believes the Government of Argentina may have given To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science records from its files.
“It might've been Argentina gave them all kinds of stuff, like here's all our records, what can you do with it?”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:33:55.5-03:34:00.0 hearsay second hand
532
Approximately a month before this conversation, the United States government stated that it has material whose origin it cannot explain.
“Well, the US government came out a month ago and said, we have material that we cannot explain the origin. They have said that.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:34:27.8-03:34:35.6 hearsay second hand
533
David Fravor considers it appropriate for the United States government to declassify and release the Roswell wreckage, noting it is over 70 years old.
“They just haven't released the wreckage from the Roswell thing, which I keep joking about. I'm like, come on, it's 70-some years old. Classify it, let it out.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:34:36.0-03:34:43.1 opinion first hand
534
David Fravor's grandfather worked as a beer delivery driver in Toledo, Ohio.
“huge funeral, beer delivery guy, was delivering beer in the 60s riots where the guys in the black neighborhoods where white people didn't go... he had told me... his funeral in Toledo, Ohio”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:40:45.5-03:40:58.1 testimony first hand
535
David Fravor's grandfather was Sicilian and was one of the first members of his family born in the United States.
“my grandfather's Sicilian. He was one of the first ones in his family born in the United States.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:40:56.3-03:40:59.3 testimony first hand
536
The head of the Black Panthers attended the funeral of David Fravor's grandfather in Toledo, Ohio.
“the head of the Black Panthers was at his funeral in Toledo, Ohio”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:41:14.4-03:41:17.7 testimony first hand
537
Mafia members attended the funeral of David Fravor's grandfather in Toledo, Ohio.
“The mafia guys were at his funeral in Toledo, Ohio.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:41:18.5-03:41:20.8 testimony first hand
538
David Fravor's father was a fireman.
“My dad was a fireman.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:41:32.3-03:41:32.8 testimony first hand
539
David Fravor grew up in a paycheck-to-paycheck household.
“It was a paycheck to paycheck living is how I grew up.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:41:34.9-03:41:36.8 testimony first hand
540
David Fravor believes no one is inherently better than anyone else and that everyone deserves respect and dignity regardless of wealth or circumstance.
“he goes, you know, David, he goes, they're no better than you, and you're no better than anyone else... treat everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserve.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:41:56.9-03:42:04.8 opinion first hand
541
On 1969-07-20, at four years and eleven months old, David Fravor watched Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon during the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
“So when I'm four years and 11 months old in 1969, you know, and I'm watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:42:54.6-03:43:00.5 testimony first hand
542
David Fravor was accepted into a natural resources programme at Ohio State University before he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
“when I was gonna go to college before I enlisted in the Marine Corps, I was accepted into natural resources at Ohio State.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:43:16.8-03:43:22.0 administrative first hand
543
David Fravor was fascinated by Jacques Cousteau growing up.
“it was that or be an oceanographer because I was fascinated with Jacques Cousteau.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:43:31.0-03:43:33.4 testimony first hand
544
David Fravor holds an undergraduate degree in oceanography.
“I have an oceanography degree.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:43:39.3-03:43:40.2 administrative first hand
545
David Fravor earned an MBA from the University of Houston.
“I got an MBA from University of Houston.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:43:40.8-03:43:42.3 administrative first hand
546
David Fravor's son Nate is colour-blind.
“So when Nate was about five, six years, we knew Nate was colorblind.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:44:09.5-03:44:11.5 testimony first hand
547
Nate could not become a pilot because of his colour-vision issues.
“So he couldn't fly... I said, because you got eye issues.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:44:40.3-03:44:42.6 testimony first hand
548
David Fravor stopped flying at age 42.
“it was because I stopped flying, I was 42 years old.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:44:57.2-03:44:59.7 administrative first hand
549
David Fravor's daughter is a doctor doing a residency in internal medicine.
“my daughter is a doctor doing residency in internal medicine right now”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:45:45.9-03:45:49.0 administrative first hand
550
David Fravor's son is in his third year of medical school.
“my son is in his third year. And they're both gonna be doctors.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:45:50.0-03:45:52.7 administrative first hand
551
David Fravor's grandfather died of a massive heart attack at age 65.
“he died at 65 he had a massive heart attack”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:46:19.4-03:46:21.1 testimony first hand
552
The funeral procession for David Fravor's grandfather in Toledo, Ohio was approximately 4.8 kilometres long.
“it literally, it was like three miles long”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:46:40.5-03:46:42.0 testimony first hand
553
David Fravor believes kindness costs nothing and will get a person a long way in the world.
“one be nice kindness will get you i'm a big believer in karma kindness will get you a long way in the world you know it's easy it's it's it's easy to be nice it doesn't cost you anything”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:47:05.4-03:47:16.4 opinion first hand
554
David Fravor believes people should determine their own capabilities themselves and not let anyone else tell them what they can and cannot do.
“you know inside your heart don't let anyone ever tell you what you can and can't do you have to determine that yourself and go for it”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:47:35.4-03:47:41.0 opinion first hand
555
David Fravor believes in God, based on things he has witnessed that he cannot otherwise explain.
“I will tell you that I do believe in God. I've just seen too many things in the world that I can't explain.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:48:39.8-03:48:45.1 opinion first hand
556
David Fravor was stationed in Atsugi, Japan, with a friend he refers to as John.
“i had a good friend of mine that i used to fly with we were stationed in japan together... I'll call him John.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:48:52.9-03:48:55.7 testimony first hand
557
There was a high cancer rate among personnel who served at the base in Atsugi, Japan, attributed to dioxins from a base incinerator.
“japan had this incinerator that put all kinds of dioxins so there's a real high cancer rate for those that served on the base in atsugi japan”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:48:56.8-03:49:04.1 testimony first hand
558
John's son died of cancer just before his 18th birthday.
“him and his wife had one son um and their son passed away just before his 18th birthday of cancer”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:49:07.6-03:49:13.0 testimony first hand
559
John was diagnosed with throat cancer.
“he got diagnosed with throat cancer.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:49:55.5-03:49:56.9 testimony first hand
560
Approximately two months before he died, John told David Fravor that he was okay with dying, except for not being with his wife.
“He goes, Dave, dude, we're all gonna die... he goes with the exception of not being with my wife who he loved dearly he goes i'm okay with dying i've had a really good life”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:50:19.1-03:50:33.7 testimony first hand
561
The night before John died, David Fravor had a dream in which John, wearing his Navy dress whites, told him it was all going to be okay.
“he was there and he was actually in his uniform. He was in his whites... He's like, Dave, it's all going to be okay.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:51:14.8-03:51:18.2 testimony first hand
562
John served in the United States Navy.
“he was actually in his uniform. He was in his whites and, uh, cause he was a Navy”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:51:15.3-03:51:18.4 testimony first hand
563
David Fravor learned of John's death two days after having the dream about him.
“And literally two days later, I find out that he passed.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:51:54.4-03:51:56.4 testimony first hand
564
David Fravor said he would drop everything and travel immediately if his cousins Ray or Chad ever needed him.
“I said, if one of those, if Ray or Chad ever needs me, if something happens... It's I'm booking the ticket and I don't give a shit what it costs because I will be there”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 03:54:34.0-03:54:43.4 opinion first hand
565
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident, the Tic Tac-shaped object accelerated and disappeared from view in less than half a second as David Fravor closed in to intercept it.
“it goes, it just accelerates and disappears... it accelerates in literally in less than, you know, probably less than a half second. It just goes, and it's gone.”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 221-226 observation first hand
566
David Fravor grew up with his cousins Chad and Ray, along with two other family members, and considers them like brothers.
“there's my cousin Chad, and I got two boys, there's 14 of us, but there's only two boys, there's three of us together... my cousins who are like my brothers”
David Fravor: UFOs, Aliens, Fighter Jets, and Aerospace Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #122 2020-09-08 240-243 testimony first hand
567
David Fravor is a graduate of Top Gun Naval Flight School.
“David Fravor, a graduate of the Top Gun Naval Flight School”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:06:42.6-00:06:45.8 administrative
568
David Fravor was the commander of the F/A-18 squadron aboard the USS Nimitz during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“commander of the F-18 squadron on the USS Nimitz”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:06:46.6-00:06:49.9 administrative
569
Alex Dietrich flew at David Fravor's wing during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter and had never spoken publicly about it before this interview.
“flying at his wing, Lieutenant Alex Dietrich, who has never spoken publicly about the encounter”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:06:50.6-00:06:56.2 administrative
570
On 2004-11-14, David Fravor and Alex Dietrich, each with a weapons systems officer in the back seat, were diverted to investigate the USS Princeton's radar contacts.
“On November 14, Fravor and Dietrich, each with a weapons system officer in the backseat, were diverted to investigate.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:07:39.4-00:07:46.0 administrative
571
David Fravor observed a small white tic-tac-shaped object moving above the area of white water during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“And we saw this little white tic-tac-looking object. And it's just kind of moving above the whitewater area.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:08:06.3-00:08:11.6 testimony first hand
572
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, Alex Dietrich circled above while David Fravor descended for a closer look at the unidentified object.
“As Dietrich circled above, Fravor went in for a closer look.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:08:12.3-00:08:16.3 testimony
573
David Fravor observed the unidentified object pointing north-south, then turning abruptly and beginning to mirror his aircraft's movements as he descended.
“The tic-tac's still pointing north-south. It goes and just turns abruptly and starts mirroring me. So as I'm coming down, it starts coming up.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:08:18.6-00:08:26.6 testimony first hand
574
David Fravor believed the unidentified object was aware of his aircraft's presence during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“Yeah, it was aware we were there.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:08:28.9-00:08:29.8 opinion first hand
575
David Fravor observed that the unidentified object encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was about the size of his F/A-18, with no markings, no wings, and no exhaust plumes.
“He said it was about the size of his F-18, with no markings, no wings, no exhaust plumes.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:08:30.6-00:08:36.6 observation first hand
576
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the unidentified object disappeared abruptly when David Fravor approached it closely.
“And when it gets right in front of me, it just disappears... It had sped off.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:08:41.0-00:08:48.8 observation first hand
577
Four aviators watched the unidentified object for approximately five minutes during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“There was four of us in the airplanes literally watching this thing for roughly about five minutes.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:09:04.2-00:09:08.2 testimony first hand
578
David Fravor said other people have told him that recounting the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter makes him sound crazy.
“I've had some people tell me, you know, when you say that, you can sound crazy.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:09:34.0-00:09:36.5 testimony first hand
579
David Fravor does not consider himself a UFO enthusiast.
“I'm not a UFO guy.”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:09:38.0-00:09:38.6 opinion first hand
580
David Fravor believes something was present during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter with capabilities better than his own aircraft.
“there's something out there that was better than our airplane”
Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs 2021-05-17 00:09:52.3-00:09:55.7 opinion first hand
581
David Fravor saw a white oblong object resembling a tic-tac zigzagging over the surface of the water during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“He saw this white oblong object, which he said looked like a tic-tac, kind of zigzagging around over the surface of the water.”
The UFO Phenomenon | Full Documentary 2021 | 7NEWS Spotlight 2021-09-06 00:12:34.1-00:12:40.2 testimony second hand
582
David Fravor was airborne at the time of the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter and was ordered to intercept and visually identify the unidentified objects.
“And Commander Fravor happened to be airborne. Intercepting VID, visually ID it.”
The UFO Phenomenon | Full Documentary 2021 | 7NEWS Spotlight 2021-09-06 00:15:21.6-00:15:23.2 administrative
583
As David Fravor closed the gap toward it during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the object identified as a tic-tac appeared to recognise and react to his movements.
“And as he began to close the gap, the Tic Tac recognized and began to react to his movements.”
The UFO Phenomenon | Full Documentary 2021 | 7NEWS Spotlight 2021-09-06 00:15:28.4-00:15:32.8 observation
584
Luis Elizondo considers the object encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter to have responded intelligently to David Fravor's actions.
“It is absolutely intelligent responding to his actions.”
The UFO Phenomenon | Full Documentary 2021 | 7NEWS Spotlight 2021-09-06 00:15:53.9-00:15:56.1 opinion first hand
585
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the object took evasive manoeuvres to maintain distance from David Fravor's closing F/A-18 Super Hornet, showing no difficulty keeping pace with the aircraft.
“and it began to take evasive maneuvers to counter and maintain distance between his aircraft that was closing in, by the way, an F-18 at the time, Super Hornet, one of the most premier aircraft on the planet at the time, and this thing had no problem keeping pace.”
The UFO Phenomenon | Full Documentary 2021 | 7NEWS Spotlight 2021-09-06 00:16:02.8-00:16:16.3 observation
586
David Fravor considers the flight performance of the Tic Tac object to be beyond current human material science.
“Commander FRAVOR. The performance. Absolute performance... No. I think it is far beyond, actually, our material science that we currently possess.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 34-40 opinion first hand
587
David Fravor said pilots know where classified information about UAP is located but will not divulge it due to classification levels.
“I would say and I have told people that you have to know where to look. They are not going to divulge it to you because of the classification levels. But if you know where to look and who to talk to, which is exactly where Mr. Grusch can point you then you have them.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:100696-100958 opinion first hand
588
David Grusch, Ryan Graves, and David Fravor each agreed with John Kirby's statement that UAP are having an impact on U.S. training ranges.
“Mr. GRUSCH. Yes. Mr. GRAVES. Yes. Commander FRAVOR. Yes.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:101861-101915 opinion
589
David Fravor's flight of two F/A-18F aircraft was designated Blue Air and was being controlled by the USS Princeton (CG-59).
“My flight of 2 F/A-18Fs was the Blue Air, the good guys, and we were being controlled by the USS Princeton, CG-59.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1035-1146 testimony first hand
590
David Fravor said radar data is not typically collected to corroborate UAP sightings reported by pilots.
“Right now, you get the report. Someone says, I saw something, but no one collects the radar data to back it up and do research.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:104520-104638 opinion first hand
591
David Fravor considers UAP-related information to be generally over-classified.
“in my opinion, I will say things are over-classified.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:105522-105564 opinion first hand
592
Images of UAP taken with an iPhone off the East Coast of the United States that appeared in a 2020 report were originally classified as Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
“A buddy of mine was one of the senior people there and he said they originally classified it TS/SCI, and my question then was what is TS/SCI about these? They are an iPhone literally off the vacapes.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:105763-105954 hearsay second hand
593
David Fravor said the disabling of aircraft sensor and collection systems during encounters like the Eglin Air Force Base UAP incident is disheartening and raises national security concerns.
“I think this goes to that national security side. You can go back through history of things showing up in certain areas and disabling our capabilities, which is disheartening”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:113884-114045 opinion first hand
594
During the Eglin Air Force Base UAP incident, the object completely disabled the aircraft's radar, and the pilots could only see the object passively, which is how the image was captured.
“it completely disabled the radar on the aircraft when they tried to do it and the only way we could see it is passively, which is how he got that image.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:114093-114239 opinion first hand
595
The F/A-18F is a two-seat aircraft with the pilot in the front seat and the Weapons System Officer (WSO) in the back seat.
“Keep in mind the F/A-18F's are 2 seat aircraft with the pilot in the front and the WSO (Weapons System Officer) in the back seat.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1150-1274 administrative first hand
596
Ryan Graves and David Fravor said they did not face repercussions from their superiors when they reported their UAP experiences.
“when you reported your experiences with a UAP did any of you face any repercussions with your superiors? Yes or no. Mr. GRAVES. No. Commander FRAVOR. No.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:117407-117559 testimony first hand
597
David Fravor believes Project Blue Book previously represented an active disinformation campaign to deny the existence of UAP, but he does not speak for the U.S. Government's current position.
“Previously with, like, Project Bluebook, yes, but currently I do not speak for the U.S. Government.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:117910-117998 opinion first hand
598
David Fravor, as an expert naval aviator, has never seen an object other than the Tic Tac object that looked and moved the same way.
“As an expert naval aviator have you ever seen an object that looked and moved like the Tic Tac UAP? Commander FRAVOR. No.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:118659-118778 opinion first hand
599
David Fravor believes the Tic Tac object moved in a way that defied the laws of physics, as it is understood.
“Did the Tic Tac UAP move in such a way that defied the laws of physics? Commander FRAVOR. The way we understand them, yes.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:118843-118962 opinion first hand
600
David Fravor said the U.S. Government does not typically test advanced weapons systems next to multimillion-dollar jets without informing the pilots, since dedicated test ranges exist for that purpose.
“does our government typically test advanced weapons systems right next to multimillion-dollar jets without informing our pilots? Commander FRAVOR. No. We have test ranges for that.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:119090-119266 opinion first hand
601
It took over 15 years for footage of David Fravor's Tic Tac object encounter to be declassified.
“It took over 15 years for your encounter with the Tic Tac to be declassified.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:119283-119347 administrative
602
David Fravor believes the footage of his Tic Tac object encounter was not deliberately kept from lawmakers, but was simply ignored and left unreported in a file after the encounter occurred.
“No. I just think it was ignored when it happened, and it just sat somewhere in a file. Never got reported.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:119473-119570 opinion first hand
603
David Fravor was an enlisted Marine before becoming a Naval Academy graduate.
“I was an enlisted Marine, Naval Academy graduate, Navy, flew for 18 years.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:122630-122698 administrative first hand
604
David Fravor flew for the United States Navy for 18 years.
“Navy, flew for 18 years.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:122680-122698 administrative first hand
605
David Fravor earned a Master's degree from the University of Houston.
“Got a Master's from University of Houston”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:122705-122739 administrative first hand
606
On 2004-11-14, David Fravor and his squadron were conducting a work-up integrating ships and the carrier air wing off the coast of San Diego, California.
“we were doing an air to air defense to hone not only our skills but those of the USS Princeton when they had been tracking them for 2 weeks.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:123271-123405 testimony first hand
607
The USS Princeton had been tracking unidentified objects for two weeks before David Fravor's 2004 encounter, without a manned aircraft airborne during that tracking.
“the USS Princeton when they had been tracking them for 2 weeks. The problem was that there was never manned aircraft airborne when they were tracking them and this was the first day and, unfortunately, we were the ones airborne and went and saw it.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:123348-123593 testimony first hand
608
The weather off San Diego on 2004-11-14 was clear with light winds, no whitecaps, and no clouds.
“it was a perfect day, light winds, no whitecaps, clear skies. Not a cloud.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:123795-123863 observation first hand
609
David Fravor observed a Tic Tac object shaped like a giant flying propane tank, approximately 12 metres long.
“a 40-foot flying Tic Tac shaped object? ... That is correct. For some people that cannot—know what a Tic Tac is it is a giant flying propane tank.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:123967-124123 observation first hand
610
The USS Princeton tracked the Tic Tac object on radar during the 2004 encounter.
“The Princeton tracked it.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124249-124271 observation first hand
611
The USS Nimitz tracked the Tic Tac object on radar during the 2004 encounter.
“The Nimitz tracked it.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124275-124294 observation first hand
612
The E-2 Hawkeye tracked the Tic Tac object on radar during the 2004 encounter.
“The E2 tracked it.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124298-124313 observation first hand
613
David Fravor's own F/A-18 Hornet fire control radar never picked up the Tic Tac object during the 2004 encounter.
“We never saw it on our radars. Our fire control radars never picked it up.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124317-124388 observation first hand
614
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the wingman's aircraft radar briefly locked onto the Tic Tac object before it jammed the radar and spat the lock, prompting the pilot to switch to the targeting pod.
“The other airplane that took the video did get it on a radar. As soon as it tried to lock it, it jammed the radar, spit the lock and he rapidly switched over to the targeting pod, which you can do in the F–18.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124393-124599 observation first hand
615
David Fravor observed no infrared exhaust plume from the Tic Tac object during the 2004 encounter.
“there is none. There is no IR plume coming out”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124873-124916 observation first hand
616
Chad, who took the video of the Tic Tac object, reviewed electro-optical and infrared imaging modes and found no visual signs of propulsion.
“Chad, who took the video, went through all the EO, which is black and white TV and the I&R modes and there is no visual signs of propulsion.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:124924-125053 observation second hand
617
The Tic Tac object was sitting motionless at approximately 6,100 metres altitude during the 2004 encounter.
“It is just sitting in space at 20,000 feet.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125065-125103 observation first hand
618
David Fravor has never in his career seen a propulsion system that creates no thermal exhaust, other than the Tic Tac object.
“In your career have you ever seen a propulsion system that creates no thermal exhaust? ... No.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125126-125232 opinion first hand
619
The Tic Tac object manoeuvred abruptly and appeared aware of the aircraft's presence, accelerating from a stop to match the aircraft's speed almost instantly.
“Abruptly, very determinant. It knew exactly what it was doing. It was aware of our presence and it had acceleration rates—I mean, it went from zero to matching our speed in no time at all.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125318-125502 observation first hand
620
David Fravor considers that even the fastest plane on Earth, if trained to do the manoeuvres he observed the Tic Tac object perform, would not be capable of matching them.
“if the fastest plane on Earth was trained to do these maneuvers that you saw, would it be capable of doing that? ... No, not even close.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125529-125674 opinion first hand
621
The Tic Tac object had no wings.
“this object had no wings, correct? ... No wings.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125719-125776 observation first hand
622
David Fravor's F/A-18 Hornet was not armed during the 2004 Tic Tac encounter, and he never felt threatened.
“was it armed? ... No, and never felt threatened at all.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125843-125909 observation first hand
623
David Fravor considers that no aircraft in possession of the United States could have shot down the Tic Tac object, based on its performance.
“do you believe that your aircraft or any aircraft in possession of the United States could have shot the Tic Tac down? ... I would say no, just on the performance. It would have just left in a split second.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:125957-126171 opinion first hand
624
David Fravor considers that the Tic Tac object defies current material science and the ability to develop the amount of propulsion it displayed, and is aware physicists have performed calculations concluding this is beyond current capability.
“I think it defies current material science and the ability to develop that much propulsion and I know there has been some physicists that have done calculations, which is beyond anything that we have.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:126491-126686 opinion first hand
625
David Fravor considers the 2004-11-14 Tic Tac encounter probably the most credible UFO sighting in history, based on the sensors tracking it and the visual confirmation obtained.
“it has been said it is probably the most credible UFO sighting in history, based on all the sensors that were tracking it and then for us to get visual.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:127077-127222 opinion first hand
626
Four sets of human eyeballs witnessed the Tic Tac object during the 2004-11-14 encounter.
“there is four sets of human eyeballs.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:127318-127346 observation first hand
627
Of the six people involved in the 2004-11-14 Tic Tac encounter, including those in the video, each went on to serve 20-plus years in the military in responsible positions.
“Of the six of us that were involved in the thing, including the video, every one of us is going to do 20-plus years in the military in very responsible positions.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:127383-127536 testimony first hand
628
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter training exercise, the Red Air role was flown by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232).
“The Red Air was being flown by our Marine F/A-18 squadron VMFA-232.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1280-1343 testimony first hand
629
Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor all indicated there is some possibility that UAP are collecting reconnaissance information on United States military capabilities.
“is there any indication that these UAPs could be essentially collecting reconnaissance information? ... Mr. GRAVES. Yes. ... Mr. GRUSCH. Fair assessment. ... Commander FRAVOR. It is very possible.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:128469-128689 opinion
630
Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor all consider it possible that UAP are probing United States military capabilities.
“is it possible that these UAPs would be probing our capabilities, yes or no? ... Mr. GRAVES. Yes. ... Mr. GRUSCH. Yes. ... Commander FRAVOR. Definitely.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:128768-128913 opinion
631
Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor consider it possible that UAP are testing for vulnerabilities in current United States military systems.
“Is it possible that these UAPs are testing for vulnerabilities in our current systems? ... Mr. GRAVES. Yes. ... Mr. GRUSCH. Yes. ... Commander FRAVOR. Possible.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:128985-129127 opinion
632
Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor consider it potentially possible that UAP pose an existential threat to United States national security.
“that these UAPs provide an existential threat to the national security of the United States? ... Mr. GRAVES. Potentially. ... Mr. GRUSCH. Yes, sir, potentially. ... Commander FRAVOR. Same answer, potentially. I would say definitely potentially.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:129236-129472 opinion
633
Ryan Graves, David Grusch, and David Fravor indicated there is some evidence that UAP are interested in United States nuclear technology and capabilities.
“is there any indication that these UAPs are interested in our nuclear technology and capabilities? ... Mr. GRAVES. Yes. ... Mr. GRUSCH. By external observation, sure, that could be a fair assessment. Yes. ... Commander FRAVOR. Yes.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:129800-130068 opinion
634
As David Fravor's flight launched from the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and checked in with the air controller on the USS Princeton (CG-59), they were told the training exercise was being suspended for real-world tasking and were directed toward a contact to the west of their Combat Air Patrol (CAP) point.
“As we launched off the USS Nimitz, we checked in with the air controller on the USS Princeton, we were told that training was going to be suspended for real world tasking. My wingman joined up and we proceeded towards a contact to the west of our CAP (Combat Air Patrol) point.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1349-1620 testimony first hand
635
The 2004-11-14 Tic Tac encounter was the first time David Fravor encountered a UFO or UAP.
“I wonder was this the first time that you encountered a UFO or a UAP in 2004? ... Yes.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:136002-136099 testimony first hand
636
Before his 2004 Tic Tac encounter, David Fravor believed humanity was not alone given the number of planets in existence, but was not a dedicated ufologist and did not follow shows like the History Channel or MUFON.
“I never felt that we were alone with all the planets out there. But I was not a UFO person. I was not watching History Channel and Mufon and all that.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:136230-136375 opinion first hand
637
David Fravor has not had any UFO or UAP encounters since the 2004-11-14 Tic Tac incident.
“have you had experiences or encounters since that happened? ... No.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:136398-136477 testimony first hand
638
David Fravor considers what he experienced in the 2004 Tic Tac encounter to be well beyond the material science and capabilities available at the time, currently, or expected within the next 10 to 20 years.
“I think what we experienced was, like I said, well beyond the material science and the capabilities that we had at the time, that we have currently, or that we are going to have in the next 10 to 20 years.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:136609-136808 opinion first hand
639
A friend pestered David Fravor into testifying, telling him he was the one person that could not be discredited and would add credibility to the New York Times article.
“I was pestered by a friend, and I asked why and he said, you are the one person that they cannot discredit, and you will add credibility to the New York Times article. And so after about six times I said OK.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:140266-140472 testimony first hand
640
David Fravor worked as an accident investigator.
“For me, you know, I was an accident investigator.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:142568-142604 testimony first hand
641
David Fravor considers that witnesses to unusual events should stick to the facts and avoid exaggerating what they observed.
“the biggest thing that you learn, and I think that witnesses need to do is, one, do not try and make the fish bigger than it was. Stick to the facts.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:142622-142765 opinion first hand
642
David Fravor considers that witnesses should write down facts without speculating about what an observed phenomenon is, because speculation will sway their recollection.
“Write it down and do not speculate what you think it is because it will sway your decision. Just write the facts down.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:142773-142886 opinion first hand
643
The Combat Air Patrol (CAP) point during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was located roughly 64 kilometres south of the ship.
“The CAP point is where we would hold prior to commencing our training runs, roughly 40 miles South of the ship.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1627-1733 measurement first hand
644
As David Fravor's flight proceeded west while the air controller counted down the range, they had no radar contact and did not know what they would encounter.
“As we proceeded to the west and as the air controller counted down the range, we had nothing on our radars and were unaware of what we were going to see when we arrived.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1740-1901 testimony first hand
645
The air controller aboard the USS Princeton (CG-59) had been observing the Tic Tac object on the Aegis Combat System for the previous two weeks before the 2004-11 encounter.
“The air controller on the ship also had no idea but had been observing these objects on their Aegis combat system for the previous 2 weeks.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:1910-2043 testimony second hand
646
The objects observed on the Aegis Combat System had been descending from above approximately 24,000 metres down to approximately 6,000 metres, would remain there for hours, and then return straight back up.
“They had been descending from above 80,000ft and coming rapidly down to 20,000ft would stay for hours and then go straight back up.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2050-2178 measurement second hand
647
When David Fravor's flight arrived at approximately 6,000 metres altitude during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the controller called Merge Plot, indicating their radar blip was in the same radar resolution cell as the contact.
“When we arrived at the location at 20,000 ft, the controller called Merge Plot, which means that our radar blip was now in the same radar resolution cell as the contact.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2183-2344 testimony first hand
648
David Fravor's flight noticed white water in the ocean off their right side during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“As we looked around, we noticed some white water off our right side.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2353-2416 observation first hand
649
The weather during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was clear with light winds and calm seas with no whitecaps, making the white water stand out against the ocean.
“The weather on the day of the incident was as close to a perfect day as you could ask, clear skies, light winds, calm seas (no whitecaps from the waves) so the white water stood out in the large blue ocean.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2422-2622 observation first hand
650
David Fravor and his flight saw a small white Tic Tac object with its longitudinal axis oriented north-south, moving abruptly over the white water.
“As all 4 looked down we saw a small white Tic Tac shaped object with the longitudinal axis pointing N/S and moving very abruptly over the white water.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2629-2773 observation first hand
651
David Fravor is a retired Commander in the United States Navy.
“My name is David Fravor and I am a retired Commander in the U.S Navy.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:265-329 administrative first hand
652
The Tic Tac object had no rotors, no rotor wash, and no visible flight control surfaces such as wings.
“There were no Rotors, No Rotor wash, or any visible flight control surfaces like wings.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2780-2861 observation first hand
653
As David Fravor's flight began a clockwise turn to observe the Tic Tac object, David Fravor and his WSO descended to get closer while the other aircraft remained in high cover to observe both them and the object.
“As we started a clockwise turn to observe the object, My WSO and I decided to go down to get closer and the other Aircraft stayed in High cover to observe both us and the Tic Tac.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:2868-3043 testimony first hand
654
David Fravor is a retired United States Navy Commander and former commanding officer who has his own UAP experience known as the Tic Tac event.
“finally, retired Navy Commander David Fravor, squadron leader who worked as a naval aviator for 18 years. Mr. Fravor has his own UAP experience known as the Tic Tac event.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:30237-30402 administrative first hand
655
David Fravor worked as a naval aviator for 18 years.
“squadron leader who worked as a naval aviator for 18 years”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:30283-30336 administrative first hand
656
About 90 degrees into their descending clockwise turn, the Tic Tac object suddenly shifted its longitudinal axis to align with David Fravor's aircraft and began climbing in a clockwise climbing turn.
“We proceeded around the circle about 90 degrees from the start of our descent and the object suddenly shifted it longitudinal axis, aligned it with my aircraft and began to climb in a clockwise climbing turn.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:3048-3251 observation first hand
657
In 2004-11, David Fravor was the Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41), nicknamed the Black Aces.
“In Nov 2004, I was the Commanding Officer of Strike Fighter Squadron Forty-One, the World Famous Black Aces!”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:335-438 administrative first hand
658
David Fravor's aircraft was at approximately 4,600 metres altitude while the Tic Tac object was at approximately 3,700 metres when he manoeuvred to pull nose onto it.
“Our altitude at this point was approximately 15,000ft with the Tic Tac at about 12,000ft.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:3427-3510 measurement first hand
659
As David Fravor pulled nose onto the Tic Tac object at approximately 0.8 kilometres range with the object just left of his nose, it rapidly accelerated and disappeared right in front of his aircraft.
“As we pulled nose onto the object at approximately 1/2 of a mile with the object just left of our nose, it rapidly accelerated and disappeared right in front of our aircraft.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:3517-3682 observation first hand
660
David Fravor testified at the 2023-07-26 House hearing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena as a retired Commander and Former Commanding Officer in the United States Navy.
“Commander David Fravor (Ret.), Former Commanding Officer, United States Navy, Oral Statement”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:3614-3696 administrative second hand
661
David Fravor's wingman, roughly 2,400 metres above him, also lost visual contact with the Tic Tac object when it disappeared.
“Our wingman, roughly 8,000ft above us, also lost visual.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:3692-3741 observation first hand
662
After the Tic Tac object disappeared, David Fravor's flight turned to investigate the white water and found that it had also disappeared.
“We immediately turned to investigate the white water only to find that it was also gone.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:3749-3832 observation first hand
663
As David Fravor's flight turned back towards their Combat Air Patrol point roughly 97 kilometres to the east, the air controller reported that the Tic Tac object had reappeared on the USS Princeton (CG-59)'s AN/SPY-1 radar at that CAP point.
“As we turned back towards our CAP point, roughly 60 miles east, the air controller let us know that the object had reappeared on the Princeton's Aegis SPY 1 radar at our CAP point.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:3838-4012 observation second hand
664
David Fravor is a retired Commander in the United States Navy.
“my name is David Fravor. I am a retired Commander in the United States Navy.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40116-40187 administrative first hand
665
The Tic Tac object travelled approximately 97 kilometres in less than a minute during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“This Tic Tac Object had just traveled 60 miles in a very short period of time (less than a minute)”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4019-4110 measurement first hand
666
In 2004, David Fravor was commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 41, known as the Black Aces.
“In 2004, I was a commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 41, the world-famous Black Aces.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40193-40283 administrative first hand
667
Strike Fighter Squadron 41 was tasked to Carrier Air Wing 11 stationed aboard the USS Nimitz.
“We were tasked to Carrier Airwing 11 stationed on board the USS Nimitz”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40289-40353 administrative first hand
668
In 2004 the USS Nimitz carrier group began a two-month workup cycle off the coast of California.
“had begun a 2-month workup cycle off the coast of California”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40364-40414 observation first hand
669
On the day of the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor's flight was scheduled for a 2-versus-2 air-to-air training exercise with the USS Princeton as control.
“On this day we were scheduled for a 2 V 2 air to air training with the USS Princeton as our control.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40427-40519 observation first hand
670
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the training exercise was suspended and David Fravor's flight was directed to real-world tasking.
“We were told that the training was going to be suspended and we are going to proceed with real-world tasking.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40586-40687 observation first hand
671
A radar controller told David Fravor's flight that unidentified objects had been observed for over two weeks descending rapidly from approximately 24,000 metres to approximately 6,100 metres, remaining for hours, and then returning straight up.
“these objects had been observed for over 2 weeks coming down from over 80,000 feet, rapidly descending to 20,000 feet, hanging out for hours and then going straight back up”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:40909-41079 testimony second hand
672
David Fravor's flight arrived at the reported location at an altitude of approximately 6,100 metres, and the controller called a merge plot indicating the radar blip and the visual contact were in the same resolution cell.
“We arrived at the location at approximately 20,000 feet and the controller called merge plot, which means that our radar blip was now in the same resolution cell as the contact.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41143-41312 observation first hand
673
David Fravor considers the Tic Tac object's performance far superior to his brand-new F/A-18F and considers that it did not operate according to any known aerodynamic principles expected of objects flying in the atmosphere.
“was far superior in performance to my brand-new F/A-18F and did not operate with any of the known aerodynamic principles that we expect for objects that fly in our atmosphere.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4119-4283 opinion first hand
674
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor's crew observed whitewater disturbance on the ocean surface off the coast of San Diego.
“we noticed that we saw some whitewater off our right side”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41342-41395 observation first hand
675
Weather conditions off the coast of San Diego during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter were clear skies, light winds, calm seas, and no whitecaps.
“the weather on this day was as close to perfect as you could ask for off the coast of San Diego. Clear skies, light winds, calm seas, no whitecaps from waves.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41431-41583 observation first hand
676
David Fravor's aircraft was an F/A-18F Super Hornet carrying pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSO) in the backseat.
“we were an F–18F so we had pilots and WSO in the backseat”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41667-41716 administrative first hand
677
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor's crew observed a white Tic Tac object with its longitudinal axis pointing north-south, moving abruptly over the water like a ping pong ball.
“looked down and saw a white Tic Tac object with a longitudinal axis pointing north south and moving very abruptly over the water like a ping pong ball”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41726-41872 observation first hand
678
David Fravor observed no rotors or rotor wash on the Tic Tac object.
“There were no rotors, no rotor wash, or any sign of visible control surfaces like wings.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41879-41961 observation first hand
679
David Fravor observed no visible control surfaces, such as wings, on the Tic Tac object.
“There were no rotors, no rotor wash, or any sign of visible control surfaces like wings.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:41879-41961 observation first hand
680
David Fravor and his Weapon Systems Officer descended toward the Tic Tac object for a closer look while the other F/A-18F remained in high cover to observe.
“my WSO and I decided to go down and take a closer look with the other aircraft staying in high cover to observe both us and the Tic Tac.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42010-42142 observation first hand
681
During David Fravor's descent, roughly 90 degrees into the circle, the Tic Tac object suddenly shifted its longitudinal axis to align with his aircraft and began to climb.
“the object suddenly shifted its longitudinal axis, aligned it with my aircraft, and began to climb”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42230-42323 observation first hand
682
At the closest point of approach during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor's aircraft was at approximately 4,600 metres altitude while the Tic Tac object was at approximately 3,700 metres.
“Our altitude at this point was about 15,000 feet and a Tic Tac was about 12,000.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42415-42491 measurement first hand
683
As David Fravor's aircraft closed to within approximately 0.8 kilometres of the Tic Tac object, the object rapidly accelerated and disappeared from view.
“As we pulled nose onto the object within about a half mile of it, it rapidly accelerated in front of us and disappeared.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42496-42604 observation first hand
684
David Fravor's wingman, positioned roughly 2,400 metres above him, also lost radar contact with the Tic Tac object when it disappeared.
“Our wingman, roughly 8,000 feet above us, lost contact also.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42617-42672 observation first hand
685
When David Fravor's flight turned back to look for the whitewater disturbance, it had also disappeared.
“We immediately turned back to see where the whitewater was at, and it was gone also.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42679-42758 observation first hand
686
A radar controller told David Fravor that the Tic Tac object had reappeared at his combat air patrol point, approximately 97 kilometres away, in less than a minute.
“that thing is at your CAP point roughly 60 miles away in less than a minute”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:42942-43011 testimony second hand
687
After returning to the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), David Fravor mentioned what his flight had witnessed to one of his crews who were preparing to launch.
“We returned to Nimitz and mentioned what we had witnessed to one of my crews who were getting ready to launch.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4296-4399 testimony first hand
688
After the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor's flight crew captured a 90-second video of the Tic Tac object during a subsequent launch.
“they went out and luckily got the video that you see, that 90-second video”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:43200-43269 observation first hand
689
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the Tic Tac object jammed the APG-73 radar, and the radar tape of this jamming was never released and its location is unknown.
“the radar tape that was never released, and we do not know where it is at, of the act of jamming that the object put on an APG–73 radar”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:43300-43430 observation first hand
690
The 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was never officially investigated, and none of David Fravor's crew were ever questioned about it.
“the incident was never investigated. None of my crew were ever questioned.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:43523-43586 testimony first hand
691
In 2009, Jay Stratton contacted David Fravor to investigate the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“It was not until 2009, until Jay Stratton had contacted me to investigate.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:43692-43754 testimony first hand
692
Jay Stratton was part of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) in the Pentagon, led by Luis Elizondo.
“Unbeknownst to all, he was part of the ATIP program in the Pentagon led by Lue Elizondo.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:43767-43846 testimony first hand
693
Alex Dietrich, the other pilot involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, contacted David Fravor years later to ask whether he had been contacted about the incident.
“Years later, I was contacted by the other pilot, Alex Dietrich, and asked if I would been contacted”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:43940-44030 testimony first hand
694
The crew that David Fravor briefed after the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter took the approximately 90-second FLIR1 video that was released by the United States government in 2017.
“It was that crew that took the now famous approximately 90 second video that was released by the USG in 2017.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4407-4511 administrative first hand
695
David Fravor was contacted by Luis Elizondo and spoke with him briefly.
“I was contacted by Mr. Elizondo, and we talked for a short period of time.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:44081-44150 testimony first hand
696
Luis Elizondo left the Pentagon in protest and joined with Tom DeLonge, Chris Mellon, and Steve Justice to form To the Stars Academy.
“Lue had left the Pentagon in protest and joined forces with Tom DeLonge, Chris Mellon, Steve Justice and others to form To the Stars Academy”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:44234-44367 testimony first hand
697
The FLIR1 video is approximately 90 seconds long.
“the now famous approximately 90 second video that was released by the USG in 2017”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4434-4511 measurement first hand
698
To the Stars Academy pressed the UAP issue with industry experts and U.S. Government officials.
“an organization that pressed the issue with leading industry experts and U.S. Government officials”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:44376-44465 testimony first hand
699
Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) was attached to Carrier Airwing Eleven and stationed aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in 2004.
“We were attached to Carrier Airwing Eleven and stationed onboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:444-529 administrative first hand
700
The 2017 New York Times UAP report removed the stigma on the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO).
“it removed the stigma on the topic of UFOs”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:44620-44658 opinion first hand
701
The 2017 New York Times articles led to the Whistleblower Protection Act being included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“It also led to the Whistleblower Protection Act in the NDAA.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:44986-45041 opinion first hand
702
The radar tape from the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, which is not seen in the released footage, showed jamming of the AN/APG-73 radar in David Fravor's aircraft.
“What is not seen is the Radar tape that showed the jamming of the APG-73 radar in the aircraft”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4517-4603 observation first hand
703
David Fravor considers the 2004 Tic Tac object encountered off San Diego to have been far superior to any technology possessed at the time, at present, or expected to be developed within the next ten years.
“the Tic Tac object we engaged in 2004 was far superior to anything that we had on time, have today, or looking to develop in the next 10 years”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:45848-45985 opinion first hand
704
The targeting pod video from the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter shows that the Tic Tac object did not emit an infrared plume from a normal propulsion system as would be expected.
“we do see on the targeting pod video that the object does not emit any IR (infrared) plume from a normal propulsion system that we would expect.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4617-4754 observation first hand
705
The 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was never officially investigated, none of David Fravor's crew were ever questioned, and tapes were never taken.
“What is shocking is that the incident was never investigated, none of my crew were ever questioned, tapes were never taken, and after a couple of days, it turned into a great story to tell friends.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4763-4952 testimony first hand
706
Not until 2009 did Jay Stratton contact David Fravor to investigate what he had observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“Not until 2009 did Jay Stratton contact me to investigate what we observed.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:4961-5027 testimony first hand
707
After the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor's crew underwent only a standard debrief with the carrier intelligence centre, and no further reporting took place.
“None. We had a standard debrief where the backseaters went down to our carrier intel center and briefed would have happened and that was it. No one else talked to us”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:49689-49852 testimony first hand
708
David Fravor was ranked in the top 20 pilots in the battle group at the time of the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“I was in the top 20 in the battle group.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:49859-49893 administrative first hand
709
After the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the ship's captain and admiral were aware of the incident, but nothing further was done.
“That captain was aware. The admiral was aware. Nothing was done.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:49913-49972 testimony first hand
710
David Fravor's commanding officers provided no justification for the lack of follow-up after the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, because David Fravor himself was the squadron's commanding officer.
“No, because I was the commanding officer of the squadron. So, no.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:50076-50138 testimony first hand
711
The 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was the only UAP event David Fravor encountered during his career as a pilot.
“Was this incident the only UAP event that you encountered while you were a pilot? Commander FRAVOR. Yes, it was.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:50157-50266 testimony first hand
712
Jay Stratton was part of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), led by Luis Elizondo out of the Department of Defense (DoD).
“Unbeknownst to all of us, Jay was part of the ATIP (Anomalous Threat Identification Program) program led by Lue Elizondo out of the DOD.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:5037-5169 administrative first hand
713
David Fravor believes UAP pose a potential threat to national security because the technology encountered during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was far superior to anything possessed at the time.
“Yes, and here is why. The technology that we faced was far superior than anything that we had, and you could put that anywhere.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:50471-50589 opinion first hand
714
David Fravor believes that if the UAP technology encountered in 2004 were captured and reverse engineered, it would allow travel into space, rapid descent, and unrestricted movement with no means of stopping it.
“If you had one, you captured one, you reverse engineered it, you got it to work, you are talking something that can go into space, go someplace, drop down in a matter of seconds, do whatever it wants, and leave and there is nothing we can do about it.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:50600-50848 opinion first hand
715
Years after the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, David Fravor was contacted by Alex Dietrich, the other pilot in his flight, asking if he had ever been contacted about the incident after 2009.
“Years later I was contacted by Alex Dietrich, the other pilot in my flight asking if I had ever been contacted about the incident after 2009.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:5271-5407 testimony first hand
716
In 2004-11, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) carrier group was at the beginning of a workup cycle in preparation for a combat deployment to the Persian Gulf to support ground forces in Iraq.
“We were at the beginning of our workup cycle that would prepare us for a combat deployment to the Persian Gulf for operations supporting the ground forces in Iraq.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:534-692 administrative first hand
717
David Fravor had retired from the Navy and told Alex Dietrich that he had not been contacted about the incident since 2009, but that he was happy to meet with anyone who wanted to talk.
“I had since retired and my answer was no, but I told her if folks wanted to talk, I was happy to meet with them.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:5413-5520 testimony first hand
718
David Fravor believes it is a travesty that there is no system to correlate and investigate UAP data.
“it is a travesty that we do not have a system to correlate this and actually investigate”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:54937-55014 opinion first hand
719
Coastal radars monitor the United States' air defence identification zone extending approximately 320 kilometres off the East Coast.
“there is coastal radars out there that monitor our air defense identification zone so out there 200 miles”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:55078-55178 testimony first hand
720
David Fravor believes a centrally located repository is needed for UAP reports rather than routing them only through the Department of Defense (DoD), because the Intelligence Community tends not to share information.
“you need a centrally located repository that these reports go to. So, if you just stuck it in DoD, you would not get anything out of the Intelligence Committee because they have a tendency not to talk”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:55495-55691 opinion first hand
721
Pilots who fly between the continental United States and Hawaii over the Pacific Ocean report seeing odd lights.
“if you talk to anyone that flies from here to Hawaii over the Pacific, they see odd lights”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:55871-55955 hearsay second hand
722
David Fravor was contacted by Luis Elizondo in 2016 shortly after speaking with Alex Dietrich, and they briefly chatted with Elizondo saying he would be in contact.
“I was contacted by Mr Elizondo shortly after talking with Alex in 2016. We briefly chatted and I was told that he would be in contact.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:5647-5773 testimony first hand
723
Luis Elizondo left the Pentagon in protest and joined Tom DeLonge, Chris Mellon, Steve Justice and others to form To The Stars Academy.
“In the weeks that passed I was made aware that Lue had left the pentagon in protest and joined forces with Tom Delonge, Chris Mellon, Steve Justice and others to form To The Stars Academy.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:5783-5963 administrative first hand
724
David Fravor states that no current technology can stop in midair and reverse direction as the UAP he observed did.
“We have nothing that can stop in midair and go the other direction”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:58865-58922 opinion first hand
725
David Fravor states that no current technology can descend from space and remain stationary for three hours before returning, as the object in his encounter did.
“nor do we have anything that can, like in our situation, come down from space, hang out for 3 hours and go back up”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:58932-59044 opinion first hand
726
To The Stars Academy pressed the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) issue with leading industry experts and United States government officials.
“It was this organization that pressed the issue with leading Industry experts and USG officials”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:5972-6058 administrative first hand
727
David Fravor considers that the 2017 New York Times UAP articles removed the stigma associated with the UFO topic, which led to the current congressional hearing.
“and removed the Stigma of the UFO topic which led to us being here today.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:6215-6282 opinion first hand
728
David Fravor is not aware of any other reconnaissance platforms, such as the NORAD system, that tracked or recorded the manoeuvres of the Tic Tac object.
“Mr. BURCHETT. Are you aware of any other reconnaissance platforms have tracked or recorded the Tic Tac's maneuvers, maybe the NORAD system or any of the others? Commander FRAVOR. I am not.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:62363-62548 testimony first hand
729
David Fravor considers that the 2017 New York Times UAP articles opened a door for the government and the public that cannot be closed.
“Those articles opened a door for the Government and the public that cannot be closed.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:6290-6368 opinion first hand
730
David Fravor considers that elected officials' interest in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) is focused not on little green men but on determining what the craft are, where they are from, what technology they possess, and how they operate.
“It has led to an Interest from our elected officials who are not focused on "Little Green men" but on figuring out what these craft are, where are they from, the technology they possess, and how do they operate.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:6376-6603 opinion first hand
731
David Fravor did not directly see an object under the water during his 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, but observed whitewater that indicated something had been present and had moved before it disappeared when the crew turned around.
“I will say we did not see an object. There was something there to cause the whitewater and when we turned around it was gone. So, there was something there that obviously moved.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:64076-64247 observation first hand
732
David Fravor's crew jokingly speculated that the Tic Tac object was communicating with the object beneath the water, since the whitewater disappeared when the Tic Tac was engaged.
“No. We actually joked that the Tic Tac was communicating with something when we came back and—because the whitewater disappeared.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:64363-64480 opinion first hand
733
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the crew that launched after David Fravor's flight landed experienced significant jamming of their APG-73 radar, affecting range, velocity, and aspect data before the radar lock split and the targeting pod switched to passive mode, which is how the video was obtained.
“My crew that launched after we landed experienced significant jamming to the APG–73 radar, which was what we had on board, which is a mechanically scan very high-end system prior to the APG–79 and, yes, it did pretty much everything you could do—range, velocity, aspect—and then it split the lock, then the targeting pod is passive. That is what we were able to get the video on.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:64768-65144 observation second hand
734
David Fravor is not aware of any adversary nations possessing radar-jamming capability like that experienced during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“But are you aware of any of our enemies that have that capability? Commander FRAVOR. No.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:65194-65280 testimony first hand
735
Increased interest in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) has led to a whistleblower protection provision in a recent National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“It has also led to the Whistleblower protection act in the recent NDAA which brings us too today.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:6612-6703 administrative first hand
736
David Fravor is concerned that there is no oversight from elected officials on anything associated with the government possessing or working on craft believed not to be from this world.
“What concerns me is that there is no "Oversight" from our elected officials on anything associated with our government possessing or working on craft that we believe are not from this world.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:6856-7040 opinion first hand
737
The at-sea period of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) workup cycle was scheduled to run from early November to late December 2004.
“The at-sea period was scheduled to go from Early November to Late December.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:698-764 administrative first hand
738
David Fravor and the six people involved in the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter have retired or will retire from the military at the ranks of O-5, O-6, and had support from senior three- and four-star officers who believe there is a problem.
“Actually, I have been treated very well and the six people that were involved, myself included, all of them have or will be retiring from the military as 05s, 06s, and all my friends that are very senior, three and four stars, I have talked to them. They believe. They understand there is a problem.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:70063-70354 testimony first hand
739
David Fravor considers that the oversight issue is not about full public disclosure that could undermine national security, but about ensuring the system of checks and balances works across all government work funded by taxpayers.
“This issue is not about full public disclosure that could undermine national security, but it is about ensuring that our system of checks and balances works across all work done in our government using taxpayer funds.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:7047-7258 opinion first hand
740
David Fravor considers the technology observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, witnessed by four sets of eyes over a five-minute period, to be unlike anything else and describes it as incredible technology.
“I will tell you that what we saw with four sets of eyes over a 5-minute period still—there is nothing—we have nothing close to it. It was amazing to see. I told my buddy, I wanted to fly it. But that is—just an incredible technology.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:70639-70861 opinion first hand
741
David Fravor states that even unacknowledged waived government programmes have some level of oversight by appropriate committee members in the House and Senate, and considers that the work described in whistleblower testimonies should not be exempt from such oversight.
“Relative to government Programs, even Unacknowledged Waived programs have some level of oversight by the appropriate committee members in the House and Senate and this work that is said to be occurring from Whistleblower testimonies should not be exempt.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:7265-7512 opinion first hand
742
David Fravor considers the Tic Tac object encountered in 2004-11 far superior to anything the United States had at the time, has today, or is looking to develop in the next 10 or more years.
“the Tic Tac Object that we engaged in Nov 2004 was far superior to anything that we had at the time, have today, or are looking to develop in the next 10+ years.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:7558-7713 opinion first hand
743
David Fravor states that he could not hear a sonic boom from inside his jet when the objects he observed broke the sound barrier because it is loud inside the aircraft.
“I was in a jet. You cannot hear anything. It is kind of loud in there.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:76888-76952 observation first hand
744
David Fravor considers that if the United States has programmes that possess technology like that of the Tic Tac object, those programmes need oversight from elected representatives acting in the best interest of United States citizens.
“If we in fact have programs that possess this technology, it needs to have oversight from those people that the citizens of this great country elected to office to represent what is best for the United States and in the best interest of its citizens.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:7720-7961 opinion first hand
745
David Fravor does not believe a human could survive the acceleration rates observed in the Tic Tac object encounter using known technology.
“Commander FRAVOR. No, not for the acceleration rates that we observed.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:77348-77409 opinion first hand
746
David Fravor and his crew got within approximately 800 metres of the Tic Tac object during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“So, we got within a half mile of the Tic Tac, which people say that is pretty far, but in airplanes that is actually relatively close.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:77731-77859 measurement first hand
747
David Fravor observed the Tic Tac object to be perfectly white and smooth, with no windows and no visible seams.
“No, it was perfectly white, smooth, no windows... other than that, no windows, no seams, no nothing.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:77866-77964 observation first hand
748
When viewed on a large screen, the original forward-looking infrared (FLIR) video of the Tic Tac object showed two small objects emerging from the bottom of it.
“although when we did take the original FLIR video that is out there when you put it on a big screen it actually had two little objects that came out of the bottom of it.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:77914-78080 observation first hand
749
David Fravor thanks the House Oversight Committee for the invitation to speak on the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).
“I first want to thank you for the invitation to speak to this committee on the UAP topic that has been in the news for the past 6 years and seems to be continuing to gain momentum.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:83-254 administrative first hand
750
In 2020, the Department of Defense released several videos of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), including footage from David Fravor's experience recorded by U.S. Navy pilots.
“You know, in 2020 the Department of Defense released several videos of UAPs including Mr. Fravor's experience, U.S. Navy pilots that recorded footage.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:86492-86634 administrative second hand
751
David Fravor believes that military pilots feeling empowered to share their Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) experiences has directly impacted the scientific community's research goals on the topic.
“Commander FRAVOR. I would say yes.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:87866-87896 opinion first hand
752
Starting in 2017, when the topic of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) publicly came out, the stigma around discussing it began to lift.
“I would say that, you know, starting in 2017 when it actually came out, it took that stigma away.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:87901-87993 opinion first hand
753
David Fravor has talked to multiple Senators who told him that, prior to 2017, mentioning Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) would have gotten someone laughed off Capitol Hill.
“I mean, I have talked to multiple Senators who said prior to that if you would have mentioned UAP, you would have been laughed off the Hill and now we are sitting here today for a public testimony on what is actually going on.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:87999-88222 hearsay second hand
754
David Fravor hopes that public willingness to discuss Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) will continue to grow, becoming more transparent over time.
“You know, I am hoping that this curve will be more of an exponential and we will get more and more transparent to the level that we can.”
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency 2023-07-26 char:88226-88358 opinion first hand
755
At the time of the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the carrier group had been at sea for roughly two weeks and David Fravor was scheduled to lead a two-versus-two air-to-air training exercise.
“We had been at sea for roughly 2 weeks, and I was scheduled to lead a 2 V 2 Air to Air training exercise.”
David Fravor Statement for the House Oversight Committee 2023-07-26 char:929-1025 testimony first hand
756
The Tic Tac craft observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter moved erratically, flitting around just above the sea.
“It was moving erratically, flitting around just above the sea.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:10018-10076 observation first hand
757
David Fravor told Fox News host Tucker Carlson that the Tic Tac craft was white, about 12 metres long, hovering over the water and moved forward, back, left, and right with no rotor wash and no wings.
“'White, 40-foot long, just hovering over the water. Forward, back, left, right. There's no rotor wash, there's no wings. Nothing,' Fravor told Fox News' Tucker Carlson.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:10082-10243 observation first hand
758
As David Fravor descended toward the Tic Tac craft during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, the object began mirroring his movement and ascended, tracking his FA-18 as if on the opposite hand of a clockface.
“As Fravor descended to take a closer look, the UAP then began mirroring his movement. The Tic Tac ascended, tracking Fravor's FA-18 as if it was on the opposite hand on a clockface.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:10254-10425 observation first hand
759
David Fravor found the mirroring behaviour of the Tic Tac craft chilling because it indicated the object was intelligently responding to his fighter jet's descent.
“This was a chilling moment for Fravor because the mirroring told him that, whatever this object was, it was intelligently responding to his fighter jet's descent.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:10436-10590 opinion first hand
760
David Fravor yelled 'Oh God, I'm engaged, I'm engaged, oh shit' as he realised the Tic Tac craft was ascending to close with his fighter jet during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter.
“As Fravor realised the object was actually ascending to close with his fighter jet, he yelled: 'Oh God. I'm engaged. I'm engaged. Oh shit!'”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:10959-11092 observation first hand
761
David Fravor twice tried to lock his jet's radar onto the Tic Tac craft target during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, but his system would not lock.
“Twice, Fravor tried to lock his jet's radar onto the Tic Tac target but his system would not lock.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:12292-12385 observation first hand
762
David Fravor considers it possible that his radar was jammed by whatever or whoever was in the Tic Tac craft when it failed to lock during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter.
“It crossed his mind later that his system had been jammed by whatever or whoever was in the object.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:12391-12483 opinion first hand
763
David Fravor described the Tic Tac craft rapidly accelerating to the south in about two seconds and disappearing well above supersonic speed, from a position about 610 metres below him, after he had cut across a circle to approach it.
“And I cut across the circle and as I get within about a half mile of it, it rapidly accelerates to the south in about two seconds and disappears . . . well above supersonic. Like a bullet out of a gun, it took off,' Fravor said.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:12797-13020 observation first hand
764
David Fravor and his wingman were told by the USS Princeton to fly to a prearranged rendezvous point approximately 100 kilometres distant, known as the 'cap point', during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter.
“Fravor and his wingman were told by the Princeton to fly to a prearranged rendezvous point 100 kilometres distant, which was known as the 'cap point'.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:13143-13288 administrative
765
The 'cap point' latitude and longitude reference used by David Fravor during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter had not been transmitted to the jets on an open channel by the USS Princeton at any stage.
“This was an assigned latitude and longitude reference that Fravor had used earlier as an rendezvous position, but it was not a specific grid reference that the USS Princeton at any stage had transmitted to the jets on an open channel.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:13296-13524 administrative
766
As David Fravor and his wingman were en route to the cap point during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, the USS Princeton radioed that the Tic Tac craft was at their cap point.
“It would have been unsettling when, as they were en route, the USS Princeton radioed, 'You're not going to believe this. It's at your cap.'”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:13603-13739 observation
767
One of the unidentified objects during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter was tracked on the AEGIS radar hovering at approximately 7,300 metres, right at the spot where David Fravor and his wingman were headed.
“One of the UAPs was clearly tracked on the AEGIS radar hovering at 24,000 feet, right at the very spot where Fravor and his wingman were headed.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:13747-13911 observation
768
David Fravor believes that he and the other personnel on the flight, when they visually saw the Tic Tac craft, concluded it was something not from this world.
“'I believe,' David Fravor says, 'as do the other folks that were on the flight that, we – when we visually saw it, that it was something not from this world.'”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:14752-14902 opinion first hand
769
Once David Fravor and his wingman returned to the USS Nimitz, the swarm of unidentified objects that had descended towards the ocean during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter shot back above approximately 24,000 metres in a fraction of a second.
“Inside the USS Princeton's Combat Information Centre astonished operators watched as, once Fravor and his wingman returned to the USS Nimitz, in a fraction of a second, the swarm of other objects that had descended towards the ocean shot back above 80,000 feet.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:15562-15822 observation
770
David Fravor stated that any craft flying above approximately 24,380 metres is considered on its way to space, because that altitude is where the curvature of the Earth can be seen.
“As Commander Fravor later pointed out, any craft flying above 80,000 feet (24,380 metres) is on its way to space: 'Just think of the physics – 80,000 feet is where you can start to see the curvature of the Earth. It's considered space; they're coming from above that.'”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:16242-16504 opinion first hand
771
As David Fravor and his wingman returned to the USS Nimitz on the afternoon of 2004-11-14, a third pair of aircraft headed out, one piloted by Lieutenant Chad Underwood, whose jet was fitted with an ATFLIR pod.
“As Commander Fravor and his wingman returned to the USS Nimitz from their Tic Tac encounter that 14 November afternoon, a third pair of aircraft headed out. One of the pilots, Lieutenant Chad Underwood, had what is called an ATFLIR pod on his jet.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:16657-16902 administrative
772
En route, Chad Underwood's weapons systems officer checked the cap point where David Fravor and his wingman had last seen the Tic Tac craft, and it was waiting for them there.
“En route, Underwood's weapons systems officer checked the cap point where the previous pilots Dave Fravor and his female pilot wingman last saw the UAP and, sure enough, there it was waiting for them.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:17174-17369 observation
773
David Fravor said that when the US Navy jet flown by Chad Underwood tried to lock onto the Tic Tac craft with its radar during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, there were clear indications of deliberate jamming, which could be perceived as a hostile act, technically an act of war.
“Disturbingly, as the US Navy jet tried to lock on to the object with its radar, there were clear indications of deliberate jamming, which Commander Fravor says could be perceived as a hostile act, as technically an act of war'.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:17375-17597 opinion first hand
774
David Fravor was first questioned about the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter in 2009 by a government investigator whose identity or affiliation he did not disclose.
“Commander Fravor did not disclose who the government investigator was, or where they were from, but he said he was first questioned about the Tic Tac incident in 2009.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:22137-22299 testimony first hand
775
During the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, Strike Fighter Squadron 41 ('The Black Aces') commanding officer David Fravor was flying an FA-18F Super Hornet, with his wingman, a serving female pilot who wishes to remain anonymous, in another Super Hornet.
“Strikefighter Squadron 41 ('The Black Aces') commanding officer David Fravor was in one FA-18F Super Hornet and his wingman, a serving female pilot who wishes to stay anonymous, was in another.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:7704-7889 administrative
776
Both David Fravor and his wingman had a weapons systems officer in the backseats of their jets during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter.
“Both pilots also had a weapons systems officer in their jets' backseats.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:7898-7960 administrative
777
Thirty minutes into what David Fravor and his wingman expected to be a routine exercise on 2004-11-14, both fighters were redirected to a 'real world situation' and given a heading to intercept an object at approximately 6,100 metres altitude.
“Thirty minutes into what they expected to be a routine exercise, both fighters were told they were being redirected to a 'real world situation'; they were given a heading and told to intercept an object at 20,000 feet.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:8095-8308 observation first hand
778
David Fravor and his wingman were asked if they were carrying any ordnance before being directed to intercept the unidentified object during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, and they had none.
“The pilots were asked if they were carrying any ordnance (live weapons or munitions such as missiles). They had none.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:8314-8426 administrative
779
At the 'merge plot' target point at approximately 6,100 metres altitude, David Fravor saw white water on the ocean surface below during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter.
“When he reached the target point – the 'merge plot', where his radar signature matched the same position that the UAP was detected – and stared down from his FA-18 cockpit at 20,000 feet, Commander Fravor saw white water on the ocean surface below.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:8555-8797 observation first hand
780
David Fravor worried that a commercial airliner might have crashed into the sea because the white water disturbance he saw was roughly the size of a Boeing 737.
“Because the disturbance was roughly the size of a 737, he was worried that a commercial airliner might have crashed into the sea.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:8804-8929 observation first hand
781
During the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter, David Fravor descended and discerned a featureless giant white 'Tic Tac'-candy shaped object with what looked like two appendages below its belly, hovering just above the ocean surface over the water disturbance.
“Descending, Commander Fravor was then shocked to discern what he can only describe as a featureless giant white 'Tic Tac'-candy shaped object with what looked like two appendages below its belly; it was hovering just above the surface of the ocean over the disturbance in the water.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:9589-9865 observation first hand
782
The Tic Tac craft observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounter was roughly the length of an FA-18 jet, had no windows, no visible engines, no wings, no exhaust or smoke, and no discernible markings.
“The Tic Tac, roughly the length of his FA-18 jet, had no windows, no visible engines, no wings, no exhaust or smoke, and no discernible markings.”
In Plain Sight 2023-11-17 ch16:9872-10008 observation first hand
783
Neither Dave Fravor nor Alex Dietrich displayed any propensity to exaggerate, and their crews perceived them as the best of the best.
“Neither Fravor nor Dietrich had displayed any propensity to exaggerate. Their crews perceived them as the best of the best.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:14284-14402 opinion first hand
784
Dave Fravor was the senior pilot in the air during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter and was considered one of the best Navy pilots.
“The senior pilot in the air that day was Commander Dave Fravor, who was considered one of the best Navy pilots.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:3904-4034 administrative
785
Dave Fravor was often one of the few individuals known to run toward danger rather than away from it.
“One of a rare breed, Fravor was often one of the few individuals who were known to run toward danger, not away from it.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:4042-4158 opinion first hand
786
Dave Fravor graduated from Top Gun Naval Flight School with honours and was the skipper of the Black Aces squadron.
“Commander Fravor graduated Top Gun with honors and was now the skipper of the elite Black Aces.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:4162-4252 administrative
787
Dave Fravor's call sign "Sex" was an inside joke bestowed upon him by his colleagues upon graduating flight school.
“His call sign, “Sex,” was an inside joke bestowed upon him by his colleagues upon graduating flight school—a rich and deep military tradition.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:4258-4390 administrative
788
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter mission, Dave Fravor's aircraft used the call sign FASTEAGLE 01.
“On this particular mission, Fravor’s aircraft call sign was FASTEAGLE 01.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:4401-4471 administrative
789
Jim Slaight, call sign "Clean", was the Weapon Systems Officer in Dave Fravor's back seat during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“In his back seat was Commander Jim Slaight, call sign “Clean.””
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:4475-4530 administrative
790
Dave Fravor and Alex Dietrich were flying their aircraft at approximately 6,100 metres altitude during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter when they looked down and saw the sea below churning and roiled in one spot in the Pacific Ocean, with whitecaps and a giant patch of bubbles rising from the water.
“Fravor and Dietrich were flying their aircraft at approximately 20,000 feet when they both looked down into the sea. It was a gorgeous day, the sea calm. In this one spot in the Pacific, the water churned and roiled. It looked the way the surface of the water would look if a ship or some other vessel had sunk. There were whitecaps floating on the water and a giant patch of bubbles rising from them.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:5353-5749 observation second hand
791
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, all four pilots noticed a bizarre object darting back and forth over the whitecaps, about 15 metres above the water.
“At this moment, all four pilots noticed something even stranger. A bizarre object darted back and forth over the whitecaps, about 50 feet above the water.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:5756-5904 observation second hand
792
As Dave Fravor closed in on the Tic Tac during the 2004 encounter, the object trained itself on his fast-approaching aircraft and gained altitude as if intending to meet him, but mirrored his manoeuvre in a way that never let him get closer.
“As Fravor closed in, the Tic Tac instantly trained itself on Fravor’s fast-approaching aircraft. The Tic Tac gained altitude as if intending to meet Fravor and Slaight somewhere in the middle, but the Tic Tac mirrored Fravor’s maneuver in a way that never permitted him to get any closer.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:6355-6636 observation second hand
793
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, Dave Fravor aggressively headed directly for the Tic Tac.
“Top Gun instincts kicking in, Commander Fravor aggressively headed directly for the Tic Tac.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:6645-6733 observation second hand
794
As Dave Fravor and Jim Slaight approached the Tic Tac during the 2004 encounter, the object disappeared over the horizon in a split second, a type of performance neither pilot had encountered before.
“As Fravor and Slaight approached the Tic Tac—“poof”—it disappeared over the horizon in a split second. Never before had Fravor or Slaight encountered anything like this type of performance.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:6739-6916 observation second hand
795
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, an operator aboard the USS Princeton radioed Dave Fravor that the Tic Tac had reappeared at his combat air patrol (CAP) point.
““You’re not gonna believe this, Commander,” the operator told Fravor. “Whatever that thing is, it’s at your CAP point!””
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:7175-7286 observation second hand
796
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, the Tic Tac somehow knew the intended combat air patrol meeting point of the two F/A-18 Hornets, despite the point being sixty miles away, and reached that location within seconds after leaving Dave Fravor and Jim Slaight.
“Yet the Tic Tac somehow knew the intended meeting point of the two Hornets, though it was sixty miles away. Not only did the Tic Tac have secret information, but it managed to scramble to that location within seconds after leaving Fravor and Slaight in the dust.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:7616-7873 observation
797
Low on fuel, Dave Fravor decided to end the exercise during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, and both F/A-18 jets returned to the carrier.
“Low on fuel, Fravor wisely decided to end the exercise. Both jets zipped back to the carrier.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:7880-7965 observation second hand
798
Both Chad Underwood and Dave Fravor/Jim Slaight reported the Tic Tac's instant disappearance over the horizon during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter.
“Both Underwood and Fravor/Slaight reported the UAP disappearing over the horizon in an instant.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch15:8985-9072 observation second hand
799
Two videos of UAP were received from Fleet Forces Command, both filmed by pilots in the USS Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group using the same type of Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared Radar (ATFLIR) pod that Dave Fravor's squadron had used to capture the 2004 Tic Tac video.
“One morning during this whole process, our email inbox rewarded us with two videos we received in a bath of data from Fleet Forces Command. Both videos had been taken from the air by pilots in the Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, using the same sort of ATFLIR pod that Commander Fravor’s squadron had used to capture the 2004 Tic Tac video.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch23:14973-15308 administrative first hand
800
During the 2004 USS Nimitz Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) encounter, Dave Fravor flew an F/A-18 Hornet and circled down to confront a Tic Tac-shaped object off the coast of San Diego, California.
“Think back to Commander Dave Fravor flying that F/A-18 Hornet as he circled down to confront the Tic Tac off the coast of San Diego.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch24:7582-7708 observation
801
Brad Byers and Shari Smith requested extensive data, and asked to speak with the pilot witnesses David Fravor and Alex Dietrich along with a radar operator, in connection with briefing James Mattis on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).
“They asked for reams of data. They asked to speak to our pilot witnesses. We brought in Fravor, Dietrich, and a radar operator.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch28:1468-1613 testimony first hand
802
In July 2023, members of the United States Congress held a bipartisan hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) at which Commander Dave Fravor, Lieutenant Ryan Graves, and David Grusch testified under oath.
“members of Congress held another historic bipartisan UAP hearing. This time the hearing had highly credible military witnesses, Commander Fravor, Lieutenant Graves, and Dave Grusch, who were now testifying to the American people in Congress *under oath*”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch32:2345-2593 administrative first hand
803
During the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter, Dave Fravor observed a wingless white craft approximately 14.6 metres long from the cockpit of his F/A-18.
“the 48-feet-long, wingless white craft he observed from the cockpit of his F/A-18...”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch6:8239-8318 observation second hand
804
Dave Fravor said the craft he observed during the 2004 USS Nimitz UAP encounter was "not from this world."
“it seemed clear to this high-ranking officer and his fellow pilots that it was “. . . not from this world.””
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch6:8412-8512 opinion second hand
805
Lue Elizondo arranged for Christopher Mellon to participate in official debriefings with Dave Fravor, Alex Dietrich, and other US Navy personnel who had seen UAP up close or on military sensor systems.
“he later arranged for me to participate in official debriefings with Commander Fravor, Lieutenant Alex Dietrich, and other Navy personnel who had seen UAP up close or on military sensor systems.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs 2024-08-19 ch6:9189-9375 administrative first hand
806
There has been a lot of activity involving UAP or USO sightings near coastal Air Force bases or Navy bases, including sightings involving David Fravor and Graves.
“there has definitely been a lot of activity in the water. If you noticed coastal Air Force bases or Navy bases being a you know, involved with sightings such as, you know, Commander Fravers was and Graves.”
Journalist Leaked UAP Program "Immaculate Constellation" - DEBRIEFED ep. 10 2024-10-18 00:14:40.7-00:14:51.9 opinion first hand
807
In an account by either David Fravor or Ryan Graves, United States military personnel attempted to lock onto a UAP and it scrambled their systems.
“Was it Fravor or could have been Ryan Graves or one of the accounts where... They tried to lock onto this thing and it scrambled their systems”
The Terrible Truth About the Visitors - Whitley Strieber | ep. 96 2026-07-24 01:10:19.3-01:10:28.2 hearsay second hand

David Fravor

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