IMPORTANT NOTICE 15.12.08
Unfortunately the late withdrawal of key participants and the low number of actual bookings received means the planned anniversary events are no longer viable. The event is therefore regretfully cancelled.

Persons registered will be individually contacted. All fees paid for anniversary events will be refunded in full by The Argosy Trust.

The event may be re-scheduled to coincide with the Classic Fighters Air Show at Omaka, Marlborough on 10 - 13 April 2009. Check the website later for confirmation and details.

Our sincere apologies for the cancellation which is sadly due to events well beyond our control.

Compliments of the Season.

Paul Davidson
The Argosy Trust

THE KAIKOURA UFOS

On the night of 30 December 1978 one of the most significant examples of unexplained events in the earth's atmosphere occurred off the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island.

The "Merchant Enterprise", a four-engined Argosy freight plane ZK-SAE, left Wellington on a routine delivery flight to Christchurch. The flight crew were Captain Bill Startup and  First Officer Bob Guard. Also on board was a television news crew - reporter Quentin Fogarty, Cameraman David Crockett and Sound Recordist Ngaire Crockett.

Part way down the coast, the crew observed a series of unusual lights in the sky, lights which appeared to follow the aircraft. David Crockett filmed these while Quentin Fogarty gave live commentary.

At the same time Air Traffic controller Geoff Causer was on duty at Wellington ATTC (Air Trasffic Control Centre).  His radar system picked up these moving airborne objects whose position corresponded to the lights seen by those on board the aircraft.

The aircraft landed safely at Christchurch and departed on the return journey at approximately 2.15am.  On this northbound leg the objects reappeared even more brightly in the sky and on the control tower radar, as well as showing up clearly on the aircraft's radar. David Crockett was able to film the objects with greater clarity on this return leg of the journey.

These events on the night of 30 - 31 December 1978 are the first verified encounter with unidentified flying objects (ie UFOs) that were visually seen by several observers, were simultaneously tracked on two independent radar systems, and were filmed by a professional news cameraman.

The events of that night were similar to those ten days earlier. On the night of 20- 21 December unusual lights were observed by Air Force Warrant Officer Ian Uffindell and Flight Service Officer Bill Frame from the control tower at Woodbourne Air Base (also Blenheim airport). At the same time, from Wellington ATTC, John Cordy and Andrew Herd were tracking returns from objects in the same vicinity. They asked the crew of a southbound Argosy, Captain Vern Powell and First Officer Ian Pirie, to make a visual search for any unusual objects, and shortly afterwards this crew reported a "massive big light" off their port wing which appeared to track with the aircraft for over forty miles.

The sightings of 20 - 21 December created significant media interest, which was why a television news crew was on board the flights of 30 - 31 December and was able to film the various lights when they re-appeared this night.

WHAT WERE THEY?
What these objects / lights were became a matter of intense international debate. Despite a number of Government and scientific enquiries, their origin and purpose remains uncertain today.

What is certain is that for the people directly involved - pilots, news crew, air traffic controllers and ground observers - the Kaikoura lights were a unique, fascinating and occasionally frightening experience which none of them will ever forget.

30YEAR
ANNIVERSARY
Blenheim, Marlborough NZ
December 28 - 31 2008
RE-FLY THE UFO ZONE!
Find out what REALLY happened -
from those who were there!

The

The KAIKOURA LIGHTS remain an enduring and controversial issue.

For full details of the events and subsequent scientific analyses see the Kaikoura pages of the UFOcusNZ website.   See also the studies of optical physicist Dr Bruce Maccabee and other writers including Gary Balderson

Both Captain Bill Startup and journalist Quentin Fogarty have also written books about their experiences on board the Merchant Enterprise that night.

It's a chance to celebrate the event, re-create the experience and debate the possibilities.

Most of all, it's a chance to hear and see WHAT REALLY HAPPENED - from the people who were actually there.