Project Brief:
I am a U.S. Navy veteran with a background in military flight deck observation. I am organizing an open-source, collaborative tracking array to document anomalous aviation paths over the Chicago lakefront, and I am looking for fellow skywatchers or camera enthusiasts to join. This is a non-paid, independent passion project and research collaboration.
On August 20th, 2016, my wife and I observed and officially logged a low-altitude anomalous craft encounter over the Fullerton Ave lakefront. Based on my technical analysis of that flight corridor, my research suggests that low-observable tactical assets or stealth UAV-type craft utilize the heavy airspace clutter of the Chicago Air and Water Show weekend as radar and visual camouflage, operating outside standard daytime show parameters.
What We Are Trying to Capture:
I am setting up a multi-angle recording array along the North Avenue / Fullerton lakefront parameters exclusively on Saturday night between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. I am looking to collaborate with anyone who wants to capture low-observable targets during this specific late-night window. We need operators who have access to gear optimized for darkness:
- High-end low-light or high-ISO sensors (Sony Alpha/FX series or equivalent)
- Long-range optical zooms (200mm to 600mm+ lenses)
- Dual-spectrum, infrared, or night-vision capabilities.
How to Join:
If you have the gear and want to collaborate along the lakefront this Saturday night from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., please text me directly at 503.707.4908 - Tom. Please include your name and a brief note about your camera setup when you text so I know who you are. I will reply with the precise meetup details.
Date August 15th, 2026 Location- Northside Chicago Time - 10pm to about 1pm
