On November 23, 2019, a US reconnaissance plane caught a “rubber duck” shaped UFO on camera which was said to have hit speeds of 200mph as it was tracked for 40 minutes.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) utilizes RC-26 surveillance aircraft in collaboration with various state and federal agencies to combat drug smuggling and other illicit activities along the United States borders. The RC-26 is a modified Fairchild C-26 Metroliner equipped with advanced surveillance technologies, including radar and electro-optical sensors, enabling real-time monitoring of border areas.
These aircraft play a crucial role in supporting DHS agents by providing aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering capabilities in efforts to enhance border security.
Footage begins with the plane’s crew surveying the landscape using their thermal optics system – known as FLIR – as they were said to be on a reconnaissance mission.
Some 20 minutes into the footage, the UFO – which appears to be shaped like a rubber duck ” – comes racing into view in the clip taken at around 9pm on November 23, 2019. The shape – estimated to be around 6ft long – hurtles over the the landscape and appears to change before speed and direction as it moves. For around 40 minutes the aircraft’s FLIR camera operator tracks the object during the encounter not far from the US’s southern border with Mexico. The object appears to be moving between 90 and 200mph according to the data available in the video. After just under an hour, the video cuts off with the “rubber duck” still in view.
FLIR, or Forward Looking Infrared, refers to a technology that detects infrared radiation and converts it into a visible image. FLIR systems are widely used for various applications, including surveillance, search and rescue, navigation, and thermal imaging. These systems utilize infrared sensors to capture heat signatures emitted by objects, providing valuable information even in low-light or adverse weather conditions. FLIR technology is employed in diverse fields, such as military,
law enforcement, firefighting, and industrial inspections. The use of FLIR enhances situational awareness and enables the detection of hidden objects or individuals based on their thermal emissions. Specific FLIR systems may include infrared cameras,
thermal imaging scopes, and sensors. FLIR expert Dave Falch weighed in on the video and confirmed he believes the object remains unexplained – and it is likely not to be a plane, balloon or drone.
Further Reading
Sources
- The US Sun “EMPIRE STRIKES QUACK Leaked US spy plane footage shows ‘rubber duck shaped UFO flying at 200mph’ while being tracked for 40 minutes” https://www.the-sun.com/news/3810819/us-plane-ufo-footage-rubber-duck/
- Wikipedia “Teledyne FLIR” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teledyne_FLIR
- Teldyne FLIR https://www.flir.com/
