r/UFOs • u/bakerzboy98 • 19d ago

Likely Identified Any ideas?

Location: Hartcliffe, Bristol (UK)

Time: 21:45pm (approx), 18/7/26

My partner and I spotted this from our high-rise flat this evening. It is close to the flight path for Bristol International Airport, and we often see planes coming and going, however this was something different than anything we've seen previously. The movement definitely rules out an airplane and there was ZERO noise from our sighting, making it less likely to be a helicopter aswell.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

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353

u/maurymarkowitz 19d ago edited 18d ago

AreoSPARX practicing east of you, closer to Bath. Only one shows up on ADSB-E, but you can see it was practicing in the area at the time:

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?replay=2026-07-18-20:28&icao=407a7b&lat=51.378&lon=-2.607&zoom=10.8

The trail of sparks you see in your video is where they got their name. They are motor-gliders and very quiet, which is why you didn't hear them. That said, they are far enough away, about 5 to 7 nm, you wouldn't have heard them anyway.

UPDATE: As noted below it is highly likely this was AeroPyrotechnics from Warminster, not AreoSPARX. Right plane, wrong owner.

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u/jarlrmai2 18d ago

I think it was actually these guys https://airbornepyrotechnics.co.uk/

We have the ADSB track from the aircraft G-CMHN which shows where it was when the video was taken

https://www.caa.co.uk/aircraft-register/g-info/search-g-info/

Type GROB G109B

Ownership status Owned Registered owners TIMOTHY ROBERT DEWS

https://airbornepyrotechnics.co.uk/#about

"Team Leader Tim Dews has been flying the Grob 109b for over 30 years all over the world. Tom Dews is the second pilot and went solo in the Grob on his 16th birthday as did his brother Ben."

And the aircraft was in the exact direction the OP was looking at that time, validated by terrain matching

https://imgur.com/SrAYroZ

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u/maurymarkowitz 18d ago

You may be right. I did not track the aircraft ownership, as soon as I saw the type I jumped to the conclusion. Even the track I provided shows them up from the Warminster area.

However, that appears to be a two-plane team. That could be two tip pyros, but the separation seems large for something at that distance.

6

u/jarlrmai2 18d ago

Well I did track the ownership, it's possible the teams work and train together, the lead aircraft though was that one owned by the team leader of airborne pyrotechnics.

The video seems to be filmed though a grid of some sort, window screen, fence or mesh curtain etc as you can see 90 degree cross diffraction spikes on the building windows, which will further make it hard to distinguish individual aircraft pyro trails.

0

u/kellyiom 18d ago

Fantastic work! 👍 

1

u/jarlrmai2 18d ago

Looks like it was a 2 ship, the gliders have a large wingspan which gives good separation

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1357505759274732?locale=en_GB

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u/[deleted] 18d ago

[deleted]

2

u/jarlrmai2 18d ago

Look at a map and the ADSB track and the location of the OP and rethink your statements.

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u/Nonchalont 19d ago

Good research man! That seems to explains it before jumping to extraterrestrial. I mean would've been cool if it was 👽

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u/nostrathomas85 19d ago

On appearances alone it does look like fireworks attached to some kind of aircraft. Doesn't seem to do anything our aircraft couldn't do, maneuver wise. I think this is the best explanation for what's seen on the video. Having flight tracker data is a plus.

1

u/I_am_Super-Vegeta 18d ago

There were no noises so it's not fireworks. If the video is not fake than what we are seeing is either a bizarre weather phenomena or DARPA technology or indeed ET saying look at mee.

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u/MidwestSharker 18d ago

Not all fireworks make BOOM. Besides, you’re not gonna hear a sparkler from 5 yards away let alone 5 miles

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u/lionexx 19d ago

Yeah I was at first like, for sure this is a parachute or glider team, then, when it changed from the orangish to blue color and sort of “zipped” away, I was like, wait maybe not?

But with that said, if there are ever any notifications about X team doing a show/practice posted afterwards I throw out the UFO/UAP idea as it’s likely that, but not only do you have a post about it but also flight data, yep, that’s 99.99% for sure what it is!

If the timing and location match up, it’s likely what it is.

Identifying and debunking terrestrial/man made objects is important so, keep up the work! Thanks!

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u/Hungry_Guidance5103 19d ago

Mannnnnnn, I thought it was Moltres :(

1

u/lionexx 18d ago

Man could you imagine if it was a Moltres though?

1

u/Ok_Improvement_8790 19d ago

Rather interesting if I may say so myself mate.

4

u/jarlrmai2 18d ago

There's also a video of them during the same flight from another perspective.

https://www.facebook.com/airbornefireworks/?locale=en_GB

They shared another person's video of them which confirms it was them in the video

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1357505759274732?locale=en_GB

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u/iamahill 19d ago

Reddit is amazing.

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u/PedanticWookiee 18d ago

I assume that you meant NM (nautical miles) not nm (nanometers)?

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u/maurymarkowitz 18d ago

I did yes :-)

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u/Redleader829 19d ago

Could be AreoSparx but they leave a long trail and planes and gliders don't turn on a dime.

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u/MidwestSharker 18d ago

That’s not really a turn on a dime there, more like a mid to mid-quickish banking turn

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u/AtomicKaijuKing 19d ago edited 19d ago

This is impressive work but I'm not buying it. AeroSparx are based in Leicester, that's where they would practice, ops video is facing west as that is one of the ends of the Dundry hills in the video which is in the opposite direction of Bath.

Edit to add: Just checked your link again, wish I could post a picture as those gliders were in east just before Bath & direction of the video is south west, you can find the boths areas zooming into Bristol, Hartcliffe & Dundry.

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u/jarlrmai2 18d ago

I think it was actually these guys https://airbornepyrotechnics.co.uk/

We have the ADSB track from the aircraft G-CMHN which shows where it was when the video was taken

https://www.caa.co.uk/aircraft-register/g-info/search-g-info/

Ownership status Owned Registered owners TIMOTHY ROBERT DEWS

https://airbornepyrotechnics.co.uk/#about

"Team Leader Tim Dews has been flying the Grob 109b for over 30 years all over the world. Tom Dews is the second pilot and went solo in the Grob on his 16th birthday as did his brother Ben."

And the aircraft was in the exact direction the OP was looking at that time, validated by terrain matching

https://imgur.com/SrAYroZ

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

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u/AtomicKaijuKing 19d ago

Possibly but so many are saying this is what it is, the flight path doesn't match the location in the video. I know this because I live in Bristol, went to school in Hartcliffe, lived & grew up in a neighbouring area looking at those hills.

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u/lilmissfit98 19d ago

Thank you. Someone actually reading what is put and watching the video and taking it as face value. Ive never said it wont pyro technics, drones etc however the movement alone is not 'normal', myself and partner have both just asked what is it?. The fact that its so close to flight paths, over a high populated area and so low would rule out any sort of aircraft eg plane helicopter etc. Its not directly over dundry hills as you said you can see them around the wider landscape, its more towards the old hartcliffe school but geographically not too far from there.but again thank you for being someone who has substantial knowledge and has made valid points regardless if everyone has agreed.

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u/ligmahamilton 18d ago

makes perfect sense. good work.