Tampa, Florida UFO sighting, reports?

Originally posted by titian
Siesta Key, ah the memories. We would play beach volleyball there each weekend while in high school. This may sound morbid; but when all the retirees pass away there that area is going to skyrocket.

I lived on Siesta Key for a couple of years, back among the canals, and it was beautiful. It's a bird sanctuary, you know, and it wasn't unusual to see all sorts of exotic birds flitting around, from flocks of green parakeets to the rare Sand Hill Crane and many others. I pretty much spent every day on the beach — just walking distance from my house.

Funny to read these complaints about Florida from the northerners, because I'd guess that a good 75% of the residents in Florida are originally from Long Island. Another 24% are from Canada, and maybe 1% are native born.

As for the retirees passing away and leaving it all to the youth, I don't think that's going to happen. Sarasota itself is a major retiree community, and a lot of the retirees who are there now inherited their custom double-wide lots (with landscaping) from their retiree parents — the "legacy" system. On top of that, the city council is packed with retirees, who see to it that the area remains a prime retiree destination.

Frankly, the cost of living on Siesta is what finally drove me away. I went in with what I thought was enough money to live on for 5 years, and had to leave after just 2 years. An unfortunate truth about Florida is that they don't want you to fall in love with the place and stay. They want you to fall in love with the place, spend your money, and then get out.

— Doc Velocity

Originally posted by Doc Velocity

Originally posted by titian
Siesta Key, ah the memories. We would play beach volleyball there each weekend while in high school. This may sound morbid; but when all the retirees pass away there that area is going to skyrocket.

I lived on Siesta Key for a couple of years, back among the canals, and it was beautiful. It's a bird sanctuary, you know, and it wasn't unusual to see all sorts of exotic birds flitting around, from flocks of green parakeets to the rare Sand Hill Crane and many others. I pretty much spent every day on the beach — just walking distance from my house.

Funny to read these complaints about Florida from the northerners, because I'd guess that a good 75% of the residents in Florida are originally from Long Island. Another 24% are from Canada, and maybe 1% are native born.

As for the retirees passing away and leaving it all to the youth, I don't think that's going to happen. Sarasota itself is a major retiree community, and a lot of the retirees who are there now inherited their custom double-wide lots (with landscaping) from their retiree parents — the "legacy" system. On top of that, the city council is packed with retirees, who see to it that the area remains a prime retiree destination.

Frankly, the cost of living on Siesta is what finally drove me away. I went in with what I thought was enough money to live on for 5 years, and had to leave after just 2 years. An unfortunate truth about Florida is that they don't want you to fall in love with the place and stay. They want you to fall in love with the place, spend your money, and then get out.

— Doc Velocity

Figures, My parents are both from Long Island, and I'll be damned if my mother. (Who works in retail) Hasn't met Islanders by the bus loads. Me and Ranchy here can both agree and noted the move from NY to Florida, which baffles us as to why, because again, they all complain!

Originally Posted by Shadowyfoe
Figures, My parents are both from Long Island, and I'll be damned if my mother. (Who works in retail) Hasn't met Islanders by the bus loads. Me and Ranchy here can both agree and noted the move from NY to Florida, which baffles us as to why, because again, they all complain!

Well the reason we complain is for a simple reason.

Florida sucks.

It really, really does.

Originally Posted by Doc Velocity

flocks of green parakeets to the rare Sand Hill Crane

Really? Sandhill Cranes aren't very rare. They fly around here all the time, and I don't think that they are endangered or protected or anything.

[edit on 2/19/2007 by TheRanchMan]

Originally posted by TheRanchMan
Sandhill Cranes aren't very rare. They fly around here all the time, and I don't think that they are endangered or protected or anything.

Yeah? You wanna test that theory? Go catch one, and then wave down a Game Warden and ask him what is the best way to cook Sandhill Crane. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to give you a few recipes to share with your cellmates in the state penitentiary.

Sandhill Crane Stats & Info

"Both the Cuban and Mississippi Sandhill Crane are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Florida Sandhill Crane is listed as a threatened species by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. In Mississippi the Mississippi Sandhill Crane is listed as endangered and is protected under the state’s Nongame and Endangered Species Act of 1974 (USFWS 1991). The Cuban Sandhill Crane is listed as Endangered in Cuba.

— Doc Velocity

In the Late 80's i observed a very large Shoe Box Like UFO traveling south over the area of SR 54 and Livingston Av in Lutz. It was so big when it flew directly over me and other onlookers the shadow cast directly on me and this was at 1700hrs, It made no sound and the object was blurry. it travele at about 20mph and then accelerated so fast it disappeared.

I have been to MacDill in the early to mid 90's when i was in the Army and i don't think there is any kind of room to store any kind of UFO's . Most of the hangers you could see in from the road, the only thing that i saw before it was released to the press was the Navys Seal Stealth boat. NOAA has a Hurricane Hunter Hanger. The only place where they could store and secure something large would be the ASP/ammo supply point, I know Federal Law enforcement stores boats and stuff like that there. And once you get on Macdill you go go almost anywhere at least that was the case in the 90's.

in the late 90's i saw on several occasions small fast moving ball like UFO's moving through the clouds in irratic patters during daylight hours.

In 1997 while i was working as a sheriffs deputy it was around 2330hrs. I was working in New Port Richey near the Gulf of Mexico. When a bright light came from the gulf and moved east and rolled over the land like a wave and changed nigh into day and then back to night. It lasted 10-20 seconds. Our helicopter was flying and said it was reported from TIA airport that is was a metor. I have seen many shooting stars, nothing kike that.

in April 2004 I beleive we had an EARTHQUAKE and shorlty after the incident Macdill AFB was quick to release that it was 2 F18's that broke the sound barrier, but records showed we had an actual earthquake. I lived near or in the epicenter and just after the incident a strage large body aircraft, i think, it was big, dark, and was flying extremely low over the area, these flights continued for a few days. the aircraft used had no markings and no registration, they flew that low. The jets just flew too slow. And what was strange where i live in Lutz is where the jets to TIA airport approach so we have hundreds of jets overhead at all times but during this periond non were seen.

And from April 2004 to present on a monthly and sometimes weekly basis a rumble like and artillery strike can be heard from the South from the Pasco county line in Lutz. I have heard Artillery from combat and it sounds just like it but very distant, i check and see if any fireworks are scheduled and non are. This incidents last up to an hour plus.

And just recently we have had blimp overflights for the past 3 months. The Met Life Blimp. I has observed it many times over rual, residental, and business making grid like searches. I did see the blimp over TPC golf match this past weekend. But why so much overflights? are they training, is it weather, Law Enforcement, what is it.

I have friends who have seen ufo's along with black helicopters over the Pasco/Polk county lines flying in formation. Now i have flown in black helicopters in the military and green ones for combat, training, i even parachuted and fast roped from black helicopters/UH 60's and i have to say there are a lot of them. I am sure they can be used for non combat military applications.

Please don't think i am a nut, I am own a Private Investigations comapany. I have almost 20 years of Military, Intelligence, and Law Enforcement under my Belt. I only call as i see them, If anyone else has any infor please email me at [email protected]

Thanks.

Jason

Sorry for the type o's and spelling I am rather tired.

Good Night

Jason

The late 90's one as well as the 1997 one spark my interest. The event I talk about plays out like yours did in the one during the daylight hours, and now that I think about it, it was in the right direction for MacDill. If I recall correctly I think it was 1997 that I saw a pretty low flying object, made absolutely no noise as well.

Originally posted by Shadowyfoe
I happen to live very close to Durant! Thats the one by Miller right? There are quiet a few golf courses over that way, the Burger King is off of State Road 60.

Buckhorn G&CC. Played tennis and golf there as a teenager. Well, I spent more time on the course shagging golf balls out of the pond and chasing black racers.

Two strange occurances in Tampa (St PEte)

2004- MY wife was downtown at Starbucks, and she came out to her car. She said see saw someone looking up and she turned around, and saw what she described as a metallic 'sphere' about the size of a toilet. It was less than 2 stories high, and she said it kinda of 'hung there' for less than 30 seconds, and then she stated it accelerated and it was gone. Said she had a 'static electricity feeling' when it took off. She said she looked at the other people in the parking lot and everyone seemed to just turn away. She said it was only after she got in her car that she felt frightened.

2003- Travelling over the Howard Franklin Bridge heading west, my son started 'screaming' from the back seat. He was yelling that there was a "predator" ship to the South. I turned to a faraction of a second of the craft, roughly the size of an airliner "Flicker" and then disappear again as if it had some type of light refracting outer sheild. It was then gone. What I remember the most was the colors. Needless to say he still talks about that everytime we cross that bridge.

You also see alot of the black helicopters with SOCOM and CENTCOM just across the bay. Many time we were drinking on the gulf beaches and would see them on training missions. If you look long enough, at night, you will see something if you fish late or in the gulf.

Man, how can you not LOVE living here? I am a native, so I guess I am biased. I can't stand the cold. It drys out my skin. Give me the high humidity any day.

Macdill looks low key, but it is an important command center, SPEC OPs I believe. Before 9/11, you could get up to the base shore line and fish the creeks cut back that drain the runways. After 9/11, no dice. The Coasties run you off with a warning the first time. I have not wanted to get a second warning. I have caught plenty of nice reds & snook around there, and the bomb hole was a dependable place to get bait. Oh well.

As far as weird things, nothing I couldn't explain. Lots of sonic booms while deep sea fishing. Heard my first triple last year. Seen dog fights when out in the middle grounds, complete with flares. Very cool. When I was a kid, I had a Nat Guard Phantom jet fly within a quarter mile of the Cessna I was in headed down to the Keys. There was a low cloud cover, and the pilot points to the right and says "watch this, it's coming out of the clouds over there". Coolest thing I had ever seen. Flying in a DC3 to Atlanta, looking out the window, watched the engine blow, spitting out a flame 50' long. Had to emergency land in G'ville for that one. Got the fire truck escort and all. Seen A10 Warthogs "stunt" flying by the Gandy bridge. Those things can do some incredible moves. Seen the shuttle in orbit, chasing the international space station. That is really beautiful. Sitting on the front of a fishing boat in the middle of the night out at the elbow in the middlegrounds (100 miles off shore) and able to see the milky way spread across the sky - wow. I've got two brothers in law, both Naval pilots, one active, one retired and now a captain with Jet Blue. Other than this weekends story about belligerant, drunk passengers stuck in New York, nothing weird from either of them.

All in all, it is a beautiful place if you love the sun and water. It is getting crowded, though. It makes me sad to hear about people moving here from up north, and growing to hate it here. I know the northeast is beautiful as well. I could only hope that the unhappy ones would head back and be happy up there.

[edit on 22-2-2007 by Redfish]

Did anyone in the Tampa area just feel and Earthquake or Sonic Boom?
It happened approx 11:15 am.

Most likely fighter jets. I don't think people realize the amount of training that is done over the state and out in the Gulf of Mexico. Avon Park is a major bombing range.

I think I heard a loud roar, but I passed it off as a fighter jet.

It could've been something.


I remember when I had just moved here and my mom was picking me up from school. We saw a HUGE plume of smoke. Then we saw the fighters and we saw them drop another bomb.


We then learned that we lived near a military bombing range. Fun.

I think I heard a loud roar, but I passed it off as a fighter jet.

It could've been something.


I remember when I had just moved here and my mom was picking me up from school. We saw a HUGE plume of smoke. Then we saw the fighters and we saw them drop another bomb.


We then learned that we lived near a military bombing range. Fun.

I've been trying to recall the whole event, because it was so long ago(mid 90's), but a friend and I saw a big UFO from a park in downtown St. Pete. It was round and had bars of lights going in several directions. At first we thought it was a blimp because of how smoothly it slid into view directly above, but it was not a blimp for several reasons:

1- when it left it crossed Tampa Bay in less than a few seconds.

2- from our estimate of how close it was to the clouds overhead(where we'd observed a Macdill AFB cargo plane fly over moments before) it was very big.

3 - we could tell the altitude was the same because the lights on the plane and the UFO reflected off the same clouds directly overhead.

In the end, it feels like a major rip-off since there is no explanation for this kind of thing. I had pushed it to the back of my mind for years, until just recently, and now I'm googling. I found a Wikipedia page mentioning a flight from Tampa to Nevada around 1995 spotting a UFO, and the airforce checking it out, but that occurred near the panhandle...

Anybody know of something similar to this?

Hey I'm going to get straight to the point. I'm not one of those UFO hunters, or paranoid, or really into conspiracies, so whenever I say I saw something odd, I mean it. I live in St.Pete FL, and jus tonight (Wednesday, April 11, 2007) ( an hour and a half ago-8:30) I went to my condo community (off Gandy by the dog track) pool. As I entered the jacuzzi, I noticed blue stars above me, some were all white but the white ones were not in formation, just slowly moving. They were moving at an incredibly slow speed. As I continued to look up, I noticed that they formed triangle shapes by how they were exactly across from each other (but way more spread out) like below.

* *





*

You saw them in a pattern like this right? I know you had to. Believe me I'm not some whacked out old guy,I'm 18. I just joined this site because I saw your post and could only reply if I join. Anyways, there were alot of them, all big, and very wide. A sign of government involvement was the fact that all planes ceased to fly in the area of the UFOs ( they were probably government planes, and that there were no high flying planes, only one or two low flying planes that did not enter the area of them. (regular planes are noted by their blinking lights). Also a sign of government involvement is the fact that it's now raining all over the county, so the clouds have now completely blocked them out. Though they were sometimes blocked by small clouds before the big rain clouds came. They moved really slowly, sometimes the lights were not in a formation, and just faded, but the formation ones didn't fade. They were there for about a good hour, just slowly moving. Also the sky is blue out tonight. just like the other report. reply back or email me at [email protected]

I've noticed that this thread is going nowhere.

I live in Tampa and was wondering if anyone has seen a ufo recently.

I'm going to be sky watching tonight.

Maybe I'll see something interesting.

If I do, I'll let everyone know.

Hi Magica,

I live in Tampa too, but very close to MacDill AFB. There is so much
activity from that base from loud jets 24/7, but there is so much light
pollution where I live, I rarely get a chance to skywatch.

MacDill is a VERY active base and I routinely see the KC-135 Tankers,
C-5A's, and C-141's, plus many fighter jets.

I too was very excited when this thread first broke, but not much
lately.

Let me know if you find any good viewing areas nearby. I would love
to do some skywatching myself.

Note to other members, sorry I couldn't have just sent a U2U on this
but I have less than 20 posts. Excuse the bandwidth.

Thanks...Kinda Kurious

Wow, I did not realize there were so many members here in the Tampa area

Yep, quite a few of us actually it seems....

Though why we live here....beats me...

Only thing I've ever seen around here strange is black helicopters with no markings. Once saw one land (Blackhawk) at the Coast Guard base in Clearwater (it was in broad daylight, and only about 100 yards if that from the road). Other ones I saw were near twilight and were in St. Pete. Seen blimps a few times though in the area also...especially in Tampa.

The other weirdness is the occassional weekend boom. A few of these even made the news a couple years back, but heard it again Sat. morning, a long sonic boom, as if the shuttle was taking off (only it did on Friday, so not it...)

Well then, I've seen the 'Black Birds." before, along with numerous HCSD birds with the distinct green and white pattern, blimps, yes I've seen those as well, and its obvious a jets been seen when you hear it coming with a squadron. But I can't see myself confusing them, seeing them so often, aside from the black helicopters. Which on a side note is odd you'd mention, I've seen them around Tampa once or twice, and once at the Cape Canaveral (If thats spelled right.] Hovering not fifty feet above me, you got a great look at the bird, and not a marking on it.