A study by Yannick Peings and Marik von Rennenkampff analyzes the Gimbal UAP video, a 34-second infrared clip recorded by a U.S. Navy F/A-18F jet in 2015. It shows an unidentified object (UAP) moving erratically—stopping, rotating mid-air, and reversing direction instantly—with no visible wings or exhaust.
Key Observations from Pilots:
- The object was close (within 6–10 nautical miles).
- It suddenly stopped and reversed course without a turning arc—a maneuver impossible for conventional aircraft.
- It was part of a group of 4–6 other unknown objects moving against strong winds.
What the Study Did:
Using data from the jet’s targeting system (ATFLIR) and radar, researchers reconstructed the flight path for the UAP and compared it to the pilots testimony.
At the distance reported by the pilots (6-8 nautical miles), the object’s movements matched eyewitness accounts:
- It slowed down from ~300 knots to near-zero (high speed).
- Then made a sharp “vertical U-turn” (unlike any known aircraft).
- No wings or exhaust plumes (like a normal jet) were visible at this range during this maneuver.
Alternative Theory
Some argue the object might just be camera glare from a distant jet’s exhaust (30+ miles away) and that the “rotation” was a sensor glitch. But this doesn’t explain:
- The pilots’ data showing instant direction changes.
- Why the object matched the jet’s movements so closely.
Why Does This Matter?
The study doesn’t prove what the object was, but its movements defy normal aerodynamics. The researchers want aviation experts to take a closer look—because if this wasn’t a drone, jet, or camera trick, what was it?
If the object described in the text was indeed a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) in the sense of an extraterrestrial or unknown advanced craft, it would have significant implications.
What if it was a UFO?
- It would mean a technology far beyond our own exists: The object pulled off “impossible maneuvers no known aircraft can do,” such as suddenly stopping mid-air, spinning 90 degrees, reversing course instantly, and making sharp, physics-defying U-turns without slowing down. It had “no wings, no exhaust, no explanation” for its propulsion. This would indicate a mastery of physics and engineering that currently eludes human understanding.
- It would validate the pilots’ observations and radar data: The “fighter jets radar locked onto the UFO,” and a “new study crunched the numbers and found at that range the UFO’s movements match exactly what the pilots described.” This would confirm the reliability of these highly trained observers and sophisticated detection systems in identifying something truly anomalous.
- It would challenge conventional explanations: Skeptics’ claims of “camera glare from a distant jet” would be insufficient to explain the radar evidence and the detailed pilot testimonies. The text explicitly states these explanations don’t hold up.
- The burden of proof would indeed shift, as Michio Kaku suggests: If such an object is confirmed, it would no longer be on individuals to prove they saw something extraordinary. Instead, military and scientific institutions would face immense pressure to explain what these objects are, where they come from, and what their intentions might be. The question “what was it?” would become a central focus of investigation.
In essence, if it were a UFO, it would open up a new era of scientific inquiry, reshape our understanding of our place in the universe, and potentially have profound societal and technological impacts. The mystery surrounding these “mystery craft flying in formation” would move from the realm of speculation to urgent reality.
Bottom Line
The Gimbal UAP moves in ways that don’t match any known aircraft, making it a genuine mystery. The study doesn’t solve it but shows why more research is needed.
For the full math and visuals, see the original paper.
Based on: “Reconstruction of Potential Flight Paths for the January 2015 Gimbal UAP, by Yannick Peings and Marik von Rennenkampff”,
and the Newsweek article “The Truth About UFOs with Michio Kaku”:
