AARO_GoFast_Case_Resolution_Methodology.pdf

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All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office 
U.S. Department of Defense 
Case: “Go Fast” 
Case Resolution | February 6, 2025 
 
Case Essentials 
Location:  Eastern coast of Florida  
Date:  January 2015  
Object Altitude (reported):  Near ocean’s 
surface 
Object Altitude (assessed): 13,000 feet 
Object Speed (reported): Appeared to 
move at high speeds 
Object Speed (assessed): 5 mph - 92 mph 
Object Shape (reported): Round 
Object Shape (assessed): Spherical or 
oblate ellipsoid 
Reporter:  U.S. Navy 
Sensor:  Forward Looking Infrared 
Reported Behavior:  Moved at…

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Determining the object’s true speed and direction of travel (heading) requires knowing the F/A-
18F’s heading. AARO calculated the object’s speed and heading relative to the aircraft because 
the video display does not contain the aircraft’s heading.  AARO calculated the object’s position 
and direction of travel for the entire range of possible wind directions (0° - 360°) to account for 
differences in atmospheric conditions between the F/A-18F’s altitude and object’s altitude. This 
comprehensive modeling informed AARO’s assessment of whether the object mov…

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Figure 2: The y-axis represents the difference between the object’s heading and the wind direction at 13,000 feet.  
The x-axis represents the wind’s heading relative to the F/A-18F’s airframe geometry (0° is a headwind).  The curve 
represents the object’s range of possible directions compared to the wind.  The tailwind, headwind, and crosswinds 
are denoted by the colored lines.  The maximum deviation in the UAP’s direction of travel from wind direction is 
32.1°. 
Figures 1 and 2 can be used to find the object’s speed and heading compared to the wind for…

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reference. The more quickly an observer moves relative to an observed object, the more 
pronounced this effect is.  
Data Quality and Methodology 
AARO analyzed the publicly available 34-second FLIR video, because the original file and its 
accompanying metadata are no longer available. The video display provided sufficient 
information to assess the object’s altitude and a range of possible speeds. The display showed: 
• The range (distance) from the FLIR sensor to the target. 
• The FLIR camera’s azimuth (left-right angle) and elevation (up-down angle). 
• …

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Appendix A: Estimating UAP Location, Speed, and Heading from 
“Go Fast” FLIR Video Data 
February 2025 
Introduction 
In 2024, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) estimated possible altitude, speed, 
and heading solutions for an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP), commonly known as 
“Go Fast.” The executive summary, general overview, and conclusions are provided in the 
AARO “Go Fast” Case resolution [ref 1].  This paper presents a more in-depth data analysis for 
those interested in the mathematics and calculations applied to the forward-loo…

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Data 
The only data available to AARO from the “Go Fast” event were from a compressed Windows 
Media File (.wmv) [ref 4].  The recording’s metadata does not contain the F/A-18’s 
georeferenced position and heading, which are necessary to determine the UAP’s absolute 
position and flight characteristics.  The sensor display does contain enough information to find a 
speed, relative heading, and altitude of the UAP.  These necessary pieces of information are the 
elevation angle of the sensor, the azimuth angle of the sensor, the range from the F/A-18 to the 
t…

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Table I contains the data extracted from the video footage at t1 and t2.  Range and altitude were 
converted to metric units to maintain consistency in calculations.  The F/A-18 bank angle was 
measured using the yellow lines drawn over the level flight and roll indicator lines in the display 
as depicted in Figure 1.  This angle, denoted by θB, was approximately 14° from t1 to t2.  An 
average aircraft altitude of 7,621 m was assumed over this time frame.  The speed in Mach 
number was converted to m/s [ref 5] at the altitude of the F/A-18, resulting in an a…

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Figure 4: The three axes defined relative to an air platform in FMV analysis.  Longitudinal is the 
+x, Transverse is the +y, and Vertical is the +z (pointing down). 
This coordinate system was applied to the F/A-18 as depicted in Figure 3.  Because the aircraft 
altitude was constant over the duration of flight, its path is level and confined to the x-y plane (z 
= 0). 
 
Figure 5: The top-down view coordinate system defined with the position of the F/A-18 at the origin with 
coordinates [0,0,0].  The aircraft is moving in the +x direction. 
With the posit…