C00386414
 *** Document 3?3 of 54 .. : FBIS ***
 DOCN 000188526
 CLAS UNCLAS ?XX/L  WE
 WARN WARNING: F    -- DUE TO COPYRIGHT OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS, THE
 LLOWING ITEM IS INTENDED FOR USE ONLY BY U.S. GOVERNMENT
 CONSUMERS.
 SERI SERIAL:   PM1412155092
 COUN COUNTRY: UK
 SUBJ*SUBJ:     SHETLAND UFO SIGHTING PROMPTS SPY PLANE SPECULATION
 SOUR SOURCE;   LONDON THE GUARDIAN IN ENGLISH 14 DEC 92 P 1
 TEXT TEXT:
 *    //((SIMON TISDAL REPORT:  "FAST-MOVING UFO SPIED AS 5,500 MPH
 SECRET TAKES OFF"))
 ((TEXT)) WASHINGTON -- THE MYSTERIOUS APPEARANCE OF A FAST-MOVING
 *UFO OFF THE SHETLAND ISLANDS AT THE WEEKEND, WHICH PROMPTED SEASONAL
 SPECULATION ABOUT THE. SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, H AS COINCIDED WITH
 REPORTS IN THE US THAT AN ULTRA-TOP-SECRET AMERICAN PLANE HAS GONE
 OPERATIONAL WITH A TOP SPEED OF 5,500 MPH.
 SHETLAND POLICE, THE COASTGUARD AND THE LERWICK OBSERVATORY
 RECORDED 1'7 SIGHTINGS OF A "LARGE, 'WHITE OBJECT TRAVELLING LOW AND
 VERY FAST" AT ABOUT. 9PM ON SATURDAY.
 "WE JUST HAVEN'T A CLUE WHAT IT COULD BE," A PUZZLED LERWICK
 *OBSERVATORY SCIENTIST WHO REPORTED THAT THE UFO HAD BEEN MOVING. SO
 FAST THAT HE HAD MISSED IT COULD ONLY SAY: "I HOPE IT COMES ROUND
 AGAIN."
 IT MAY DO JUST THAT.  ACCORDING TO REPORTS IN WASHINGTON, DEFENCE
 INDUSTRY SPECIALISTS AND WRITERS ARE GOING INTO EXCITEMENT OVERDRIVE
 ON REPORTS THAT THE US MILITARY HAS BEGUN TESTING THE SUCCESSOR TO
 THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD SPY PLANE.
 THE PLANE WITH NO NAME IS SAID TO HAVE A TOP SPEED OF MACH 8, OR
 EIGHT TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND.   IT IS SO FAST THAT IT COULD REACH
 ANYWHERE ON THE GLOBE WITHIN THREE HOURS.
 FOR THIS VERY REASON, TESTS CANNOT BE RESTRICTED TO US AIRSPACE,
 BY THE TIME THE PLANE HAS WARMED UP, IT COULD BE OVER, FOR EXAMPLE,
 SCOTLAND.   IT WOULD ALSO TAKE SEVERAL COUNTRIES TO COME TO A STOP.
 THE PENTAGON, PREDICTABLY, IMPOSED A NO-COMMENT ZONE OVER THE
 PLANE YESTERDAY.
 (ENDALL)  14 DEC                 14/1946Z DEC
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 Approved for Release
 We.
 MAY   2000