During my visit to the 22-Jul-2008 Alton Priors crop circle, I observed a number of military helicopters flying overhead, which I photographed. I present the images here to illustrate the kind of resources the System regularly puts into monitoring these anomalies.

Image 1 [below] shows various shots of a single Gazelle observation & reconnaissance helicopter that performed multiple sweeps of the area. [Click image for larger version].


Image 2 [below] shows two Lynx battlefield utility helicopters flying in formation a few hundred yards parallel to the edge of the crop circle. [Click image for larger version].

The above photographs were taken within a one hour period on Thursday 24th July 2008 around lunch time.

In four of the circles I visited [see image below], Alton Barnes (2), Alton Priors (1) and Avebury Manor (1), there was a clear military helicopter presence. Some choppers stayed far from the formation but were clearly doing wide circles around them, whilst others repeatedly flew directly overhead, varying in altitude from 150ft to 1000ft. Military reconnaissance helicopters are usually equipped with high-end optical sensor arrays capable of multi-spectrum infrared and low-light scanning, together with laser designation and tracking systems. With this technology, they can monitor multiple targets at great distances without the need to get close. Knowing that they could 'image' the crop circles from a great distance, even from satellites in space, my feeling is that helicopter proximity suggests mobility is required so as to track moving objects. People? Unidentified craft? Energy spikes? Wormholes? We know not, for the moment.

Some of the helicopters I observed had no distinguishable markings (numbering, lettering, insignias etc), this only being discernible with binoculars. It is therefore unknown whether they were British military or otherwise. They were not civilian or commercial aircraft.

I encountered numerous firsthand and secondhand reports from visitors to crop circles throughout the 2008 season, consistently indicating a military helicopter presence (nothing new to old-time croppies). Additionally, there were isolated reports of helicopters buzzing civilians in the field and in one case chasing unidentified orbs.

For me, even more fascinating than questions of who is making these crop circles and how - is what do they mean? This is at least more approachable and achievable than the former questions. For those interested in decoding the messages embedded within these extraordinary glyphs, I recommend tracking down the works of Horace Drew (aka Red Collie), Jay Goldner, Freddy Silva and Bert Janssen for some of the most prescient, credible and intelligent interpretation.

For matrix dwellers who think it's all guys with planks and string - sure it is. Go back to sleep, your government has already told you: nothing to see here.


Further references

(1) Good visual intro to the phenomenon:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFKJJ5VMfWA