1986 in UFO history
From the UAP Encyclopedia, the open encyclopedia of UFO and UAP history · 📅 Year
Contents 5
| Year | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Events | 5 |
| Decade | 1980s |
| Topics | Secrecy & cover-up (topic), Propulsion & physics (topic), Military encounters (topic), Government programs (topic) |
| Timeline | 1986 on the UAP Timeline |
1986 in UFO history — the UAP Timeline records 5 events in 1986, mostly about secrecy & cover-up and propulsion & physics. People named in these events include Jacques Vallée, Ronald Reagan, James McCampbell, David Grusch, Steve Millard.
Overview
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Two major radar cases date from 1986. On 19 May radar and visual contacts with unidentified objects were reported across the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Goiás. The episode is known locally as the "Night of the UFOs."[1] See 1986 Brazilian UFO incident. On 17 November Captain Kenji Terauchi of Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628, a Boeing 747 flying from Paris to Tokyo, reported three objects over Alaska: "two small ships and the mothership." The FAA and the Air Force confirmed that unidentified objects appeared on their radars, though some astronomers believe Terauchi mistook Jupiter and Mars for UFOs.[2] The FAA investigated, and the case is among those cited for radar evidence.[3] See Japan Air Lines flight 1628 incident.
The timeline's 1986 entries concern secret programs and aerospace. On 24 July Frank Conahan of the General Accounting Office told a House subcommittee that Lockheed had poor control over classified "special access" documents, with 1,460 discrepancies in an inventory of 40,000. See special access program.[4] In April contracts worth about $35 million each went to McDonnell Douglas, Rockwell and General Dynamics to develop a hypersonic single-stage-to-orbit "National Aero-Space Plane," with $175 million each for engine work.[4] On 22 June former Bechtel contractor James McCampbell told Jacques Vallée of "Wild Weasel" aircraft with electromagnetic detectors that had picked up UFOs since the Vietnam War.[4] On 10 November investor Steve Millard hosted a Silicon Valley UFO study group that included Vallée.[4] In December a Navy officer at Cheyenne Mountain said the Space Fence detected an object over Lake Kickapoo, Texas.[5]
Events
- National Aero-Space Plane contracts (1986) (April 1986) — Defense contractors receive contracts to develop a hypersonic single-stage-to-orbit plane.
- Wild Weasel UFO detections claim (22 June 1986) — A former contractor tells Vallée Vietnam-era aircraft detected UAP with special equipment.
- GAO testimony on special access programs (1986) (24 July 1986) — A GAO official testifies about secret 'black' defense programs.
- Steve Millard's Silicon Valley study group (10 November 1986) — A Silicon Valley investor hosts a private UAP study group including Vallée.
- Cheyenne Mountain and Lake Kickapoo sighting (1986) (December 1986) — A Navy officer says sensors at Cheyenne Mountain detected a UAP.
People
- Jacques Vallée — Computer scientist and astronomer, author of the Forbidden Science journals and a central figure in UFO research.
- Ronald Reagan — 40th U.S. president whose diary and speeches touched on space and alien threats.
- James McCampbell — Engineer and author of Ufology (1973).
- David Grusch — Former intelligence officer who testified in 2023 that the U.S. has recovered non-human craft.
- Steve Millard — Silicon Valley investor who hosted a private UFO study group in 1986.
- Robert Bigelow — Businessman who founded NIDS and Bigelow Aerospace and ran the AAWSAP contract.
- Howard Blum — Journalist and author of Out There (1990).
Nearby years
1985 in UFO history · 1987 in UFO history
References
- 1986 Brazilian UFO incident — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628 — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Unidentified flying object — Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- UAP timeline published with Michael Shellenberger's 2024 congressional testimony, entries for April to 10 November 1986 · oversight.house.gov
- UAP timeline (Shellenberger testimony), entry for December 1986 · oversight.house.gov
Facts in this article are drawn in part from the Wikipedia articles “1986 Brazilian UFO incident”, “Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628”, “Unidentified flying object”, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
This page was last edited on 29 October 2026. Articles are written in our own words from the sources listed under References; disputed claims are attributed to the people who made them.
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