Within Military Skies
Why strange lights appear beyond Phoenix
Night exercises over the Barry M.
On this page
- Where the Goldwater Range sits in relation to Phoenix
- Which night exercises produce unusual lights
- How distance and mountains distort what witnesses see
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Introduction
Many of the “mystery lights” reported south and west of Phoenix have a straightforward connection to one of the largest military training areas in the United States: the Barry M. Goldwater Range. Stretching across a vast section of Arizona desert between Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma, the range hosts day and night training for fighter aircraft from Luke Air Force Base, Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and visiting military units. The combination of powerful illumination flares, high-performance aircraft, dark desert skies and long viewing distances can create displays that look highly unusual to people watching from cities and towns far away.[af.mil]luke.af.mil56th Range Management OfficeLuke Air Force BaseThe 56th Range Management Office is a unit at Luke Air Force Base that oversees the Barry M. Goldwater Range East and…
Within Arizona’s UFO history, the Goldwater Range matters because it provides one of the strongest documented explanations for recurring reports of strange lights. The most famous example is the later phase of the 1997 Phoenix Lights event, which military officials linked to flare drops over the range. Understanding how these exercises appear from a distance helps explain why sincere witnesses can report extraordinary objects even when the underlying cause is conventional military activity.[deseret.com]deseret.comflares not ufos caused light show military saysDeseret NewsFlares, not UFOs, caused light show, military says26 Jul 1997 — Military flares - rather than UFOs - might be behind those my…
Where the Goldwater Range sits in relation to Phoenix
The Barry M. Goldwater Range occupies roughly 1.9 million acres of desert in south-western Arizona. It lies south-west of the Phoenix metropolitan area and forms part of an enormous military training complex used by Air Force, Marine Corps and allied aircraft. The range is large enough to support simultaneous training activities across multiple air-to-ground and air-to-air sectors.[Wikipedia]WikipediaBarry M. Goldwater Air Force RangeBarry M. Goldwater Air Force Range
For observers in Phoenix, the geometry is important. Aircraft and flares may be operating many tens of miles away over remote desert, yet still remain visible above the horizon. In clear desert conditions, bright lights can be seen at surprisingly long distances. Because viewers often cannot see the terrain beneath the lights, it is easy to misjudge both distance and altitude. A flare hanging over the range may appear to be floating near the city, while aircraft manoeuvring far away can seem much closer than they really are.[A Stamp A Day]stampaday.wordpress.comA Stamp A Day The Phoenix LightsA Stamp A DayThe Phoenix Lights - A Stamp A Day13 Mar 2019 — Military flares such as these can be seen from hundreds of miles given ideal…
This separation between the observer and the activity creates a classic setting for UFO reports. Witnesses see lights but lack the visual cues needed to judge scale, speed and position accurately.
Which night exercises produce unusual lights
The range is authorised for day and night operations and supports a wide variety of combat-training activities. Fighter pilots use the area for air-to-ground attack practice, tactical manoeuvres and realistic combat exercises. Aircraft commonly operating there have included A-10s, F-16s, F-35s and Marine Corps aircraft, along with visiting American and allied units.[wikipedia.org]WikipediaBarry M. Goldwater Air Force RangeBarry M. Goldwater Air Force Range
Several types of training activity can generate UFO-like reports:
Illumination flares
The most important source of unusual lights is the use of military illumination flares. These devices are released from aircraft and descend slowly under parachutes while producing intense light. From many miles away, individual flares can appear stationary because their downward motion is difficult to perceive against a dark sky. As they burn out one by one, witnesses may see lights vanish suddenly, a characteristic often reported in UFO sightings.[deseret.com]deseret.comflares not ufos caused light show military saysDeseret NewsFlares, not UFOs, caused light show, military says26 Jul 1997 — Military flares - rather than UFOs - might be behind those my…
Formation flying
Aircraft flying in formation at night may present only their navigation lights to distant observers. Without visible aircraft bodies, separate lights can appear connected into a single large shape. Human perception naturally links points of light into patterns, producing reports of triangles, boomerangs or giant V-shaped craft.[Wikipedia]WikipediaPhoenix LightsBoth sightings were due to aircraft participating in Operation Snowbird, a pilot training program operated in winter by the…
Training over a dark background
The Sonoran Desert provides exceptionally dark viewing conditions compared with urban areas. Bright lights operating over the range therefore stand out sharply against the night sky. A light that would look ordinary near an airport can appear far more dramatic when viewed against a featureless desert horizon.[Wikipedia]WikipediaBarry M. Goldwater Air Force RangeBarry M. Goldwater Air Force Range
How distance and mountains distort what witnesses see
One reason Goldwater Range activity generates persistent UFO reports is that human depth perception performs poorly at night.
During daylight, people estimate distance using terrain, buildings and other landmarks. At night, those references largely disappear. A witness may see a bright light without knowing whether it is a few miles away or fifty miles away. This uncertainty encourages dramatic interpretations of size and movement. A flare descending slowly over the range can seem like a gigantic object hovering motionless above the horizon.[A Stamp A Day]stampaday.wordpress.comA Stamp A Day The Phoenix LightsA Stamp A DayThe Phoenix Lights - A Stamp A Day13 Mar 2019 — Military flares such as these can be seen from hundreds of miles given ideal…
Arizona’s mountain ranges further complicate the picture. Peaks and ridgelines can obscure the lower portions of descending flares, making them appear suspended in mid-air. As the flare sinks behind terrain, it may seem to extinguish instantly or accelerate downward, even though it is simply disappearing behind a distant ridge. Similar effects occur when multiple flares are released in sequence. From Phoenix, the lights can appear arranged in a line, creating the impression of a single structured object.[Deseret News]deseret.comflares not ufos caused light show military saysDeseret NewsFlares, not UFOs, caused light show, military says26 Jul 1997 — Military flares - rather than UFOs - might be behind those my…
Atmospheric conditions also matter. Heat layers, haze and variations in air density can make lights shimmer, brighten or appear to move slightly. A stationary light viewed through unstable air can look as though it is changing position or behaving erratically.
The Phoenix Lights connection
The Goldwater Range entered UFO history most prominently through the events of 13 March 1997. Although the Phoenix Lights remain debated in some respects, military officials and later investigations identified the later series of lights seen south-west of Phoenix as illumination flares dropped during training exercises over the range. Reports at the time noted that the lights matched the expected location and timing of flare operations.[deseret.com]deseret.comflares not ufos caused light show military saysDeseret NewsFlares, not UFOs, caused light show, military says26 Jul 1997 — Military flares - rather than UFOs - might be behind those my…
The distinction between the earlier V-shaped formation reports and the later stationary lights is important. Even many researchers who question aspects of the earlier sightings accept that the later lights are consistent with military flares. The Goldwater Range therefore became a key reference point whenever unusual lights are reported around Phoenix.[Reddit]reddit.comWhat is the general opinion on the Phoenix LightsWhat is the general opinion on the Phoenix Lights
The episode demonstrated how a military training area can generate observations that appear extraordinary to thousands of people simultaneously. It also showed that an explanation does not require witnesses to be dishonest or mistaken about seeing lights. The lights were real; the dispute concerned what produced them and how distance altered perception.
Why the range remains relevant to Arizona UFO reports
The Barry M. Goldwater Range continues to host intensive military training and remains one of the most important pieces of context for evaluating Arizona UFO sightings. Its size, its proximity to major population centres and its approval for night operations mean that unusual lights will continue to be visible from surrounding communities.[af.mil]luke.af.mil56th Range Management OfficeLuke Air Force BaseThe 56th Range Management Office is a unit at Luke Air Force Base that oversees the Barry M. Goldwater Range East and…
That does not mean every unexplained sighting in Arizona originates from the range. However, when reports involve bright lights hovering, fading one by one, appearing in lines or formations, or occurring south-west of Phoenix during evening hours, investigators routinely consider Goldwater Range activity among the first conventional explanations. In the history of Arizona UFO reports, few locations have contributed more to the appearance of mysterious lights in the night sky.[deseret.com]deseret.comflares not ufos caused light show military saysDeseret NewsFlares, not UFOs, caused light show, military says26 Jul 1997 — Military flares - rather than UFOs - might be behind those my…
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Endnotes
1.
Source: luke.af.mil
Title: 56th Range Management Office
Link:https://www.luke.af.mil/Units/56th-Range-Management-Office/
Source snippet
Luke Air Force BaseThe 56th Range Management Office is a unit at Luke Air Force Base that oversees the Barry M. Goldwater Range East and...
2.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_M._Goldwater_Air_Force_Range
3.
Source: deseret.com
Title: flares not ufos caused light show military says
Link:https://www.deseret.com/1997/7/26/19325702/flares-not-ufos-caused-light-show-military-says/
Source snippet
Deseret NewsFlares, not UFOs, caused light show, military says26 Jul 1997 — Military flares - rather than UFOs - might be behind those my...
4.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/ABC15/posts/on-the-night-of-march-13-1997-thousands-of-arizonans-looked-up-and-saw-something/1396998099139249/
Source snippet
On the night of March 13, 1997, thousands of Arizonans...The event became one of the most famous mass UFO sightings in U.S...
Published: March 13, 1997
5.
Source: Wikipedia
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights
Source snippet
Phoenix LightsBoth sightings were due to aircraft participating in [Operation Snowbird]({{ 'snowbird-flights/' | relative_url }}), a pilot training program operated in winter by the...
6.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Luke Air Force Base
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Air_Force_Base
7.
Source: flymag.dk
Title: Barry M. Goldwater Range – Live firing
Link:https://flymag.dk/barry-m-goldwater-range-live-firing/
8.
Source: reddit.com
Title: 1997 mysterious drone sighting in phoenix arizona
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1h7qjlw/1997_mysterious_drone_sighting_in_phoenix_arizona/
9.
Source: reddit.com
Title: What is the general opinion on the Phoenix Lights
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/189wk23/what_is_the_general_opinion_on_the_phoenix_lights/
10.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/BarryMGoldwaterRangeEast/
11.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/fox6news/posts/several-airborne-sightings-of-at-least-one-very-bright-unidentified-flying-objec/10156240337351523/
12.
Source: reddit.com
Title: phoenix lights ufo event in 1997 what really
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/UFObelievers/comments/svqeaj/phoenix_lights_ufo_event_in_1997_what_really/
13.
Source: youtube.com
Title: REAL EVIDENCE OF ALIEN PRESENCE ON EARTH || NOT ALONE || Ep. 1
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSSaRplNs4I
Source snippet
The Phoenix Lights - 17 years later...
14.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Phoenix Lights
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SUJTh6Hs-I
Source snippet
Military activity or paranormal orbs?...
15.
Source: stampaday.wordpress.com
Title: A Stamp A Day The Phoenix Lights
Link:https://stampaday.wordpress.com/2019/03/13/the-phoenix-lights/
Source snippet
A Stamp A DayThe Phoenix Lights - A Stamp A Day13 Mar 2019 — Military flares such as these can be seen from hundreds of miles given ideal...
Additional References
16.
Source: clui.org
Link:https://clui.org/ludb/site/barry-m-goldwater-range
Source snippet
Barry M. Goldwater Range, ArizonaGoldwater Range covers nearly 2 million acres of southwestern Arizona, much of it next to the Mexican bo...
17.
Source: mcasyuma.marines.mil
Link:https://www.mcasyuma.marines.mil/Staff-and-Agencies/Conservation/Recreation/
Source snippet
RecreationThe Barry M. Goldwater Range is the third largest land-based military range in the United States. Since its establishment in 19...
18.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Phoenix Lights: Unravelling the Greatest UFO Mystery in History
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=978heKmAXW0
Source snippet
Air Force Pilot Breaks His Silence on the Phoenix Lights Craft | James Fox...
19.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Air Force Pilot Breaks His Silence on the Phoenix Lights Craft | James Fox
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBlJlBQdv5w
Source snippet
REAL EVIDENCE OF ALIEN PRESENCE ON EARTH || NOT ALONE || Ep. 1...
20.
Source: alamy.com
Link:https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/barry-m-goldwater-range.html
21.
Source: instagram.com
Link:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVtrecgD-2l/
22.
Source: dema.az.gov
Title: MAC RCP Luke AFB Aux JLUS Part 2 GBAFAF BMGR 2005 February reduced
Link:https://dema.az.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/MAC-RCP_Luke-AFB-Aux_JLUS-Part-2-GBAFAF_BMGR_2005-February-reduced.pdf
23.
Source: aerotechnews.com
Title: the unbelievable luke fighters soar beautifully over gila bend
Link:https://www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/2024/03/01/the-unbelievable-luke-fighters-soar-beautifully-over-gila-bend/
24.
Source: azdeq.gov
Title: barry m goldwater range east site history
Link:https://azdeq.gov/barry-m-goldwater-range-east-site-history
25.
Source: discoveryuk.com
Title: the phoenix lights phenomenon an unsolved ufo mystery
Link:https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-phoenix-lights-phenomenon-an-unsolved-ufo-mystery/