First of all I'd just like to say that
my mind isn't made up. I really have no more idea than anybody else whether this is a UFO or
helicopter pictured.
That said, here is the picture in question and the reasons I think it is more than likely a helicopter:
I am by no means an expert but I will try to analyse this picture as best I can.
First I will point out why I don't think this is a solid object in the sky. In the below picture I have circled blurring of the buildings. This
effect is obviously due to camera movement during the pediod the shutter was open.
This is the same reason the helicopter appears as a flat bar of light, because it has moved that distance while the shutter was open.
Why then do we not get the same blurring effect at the right-hand side of the "UFO"?
Because what we see in the picture is not a solid object, and because the actual object was moving right to left.
Next, we have a blown up picture of the "UFO". I have done this to highlight the "portholes" or flashing light on the side. The portholes appear
because the strobing liht turns on while the helicopter is in that position in the photo.
If we use my earlier theory that the helicopter is traveling from right to left, then this picture shows the helicopter with a continuous red light,
and a flashing white light. While the shutter was open the flashing white light flashed 5 times.
At the start of the photo we have a white flash, followed by a long pause, then a flash and a short pause and another flash. We then have another
pause, a little bit shorter than the first one, followed by the double flash sequence again.
The bright white light underneath the helicopter is the search/spotlight. The reason it looks like it is "glowing" so much is because the photo is
overexposed, as evidenced by the light wash around the power lines and the very bright tree to the right of the photo.
UPDATE. Here is a clearer version of the original picture. It clearly shows that this is not a picture of a solid object and shows the long exposure
effect more clearly. From this picture it can be seen that it is not a spotlight but 2 white lights. It also shows evidence of
image
tampering.
Then we have some other long exposure pictures of helicopters seen here on ATS previously which show the same search/spotlight characteristics with
many showing the flashing light characteristic as well.
Airplane. Slow blinking white light and fast flashing red light:
Helicopter. Continuous white light (?) flashing red lights:
Helicopter. Continuous search light. Flashing lights washed out. There is also another aircraft in the top right of the picture. The fireworks are
evidence of a long exposure.
What I would ideally like to do is find out FAA (or Chinese equivalent) regulations regarding warning lights on aircraft. This would likely prove (or
disprove) the aircraft in this picture. If anybody can help I would be grateful.
Please keep in mind that I don't think that a helicopter shut down the airport. I don't think a helicopter is what was witnessed. I do, however
think that it is definitely a helicopter in this picture and is more than likely unrelated to the incident.
[edit on 10/7/10 by GobbledokTChipeater]