Summary

On November 14, 2004, F/A-18 Super Hornet pilots from the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group encountered an unidentified flying object that would become known as the “Tic Tac” UFO. During routine training operations, radar operators aboard the USS Princeton had been tracking anomalous aerial vehicles for several days. When Commander David Fravor and his wingman were vectored to investigate, they encountered a white, oblong object about 40 feet long with no visible propulsion, wings, or exhaust plumes. The object demonstrated extraordinary capabilities, including instantaneous acceleration and the ability to hover without any visible means of lift. This encounter, along with infrared video captured by a subsequent flight, became public in 2017 and served as a catalyst for renewed government interest in UAPs.

Background

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group

In November 2004:

  • USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier
  • USS Princeton (CG-59) guided missile cruiser
  • Multiple support vessels
  • Training exercises off California
  • Upgraded radar systems
  • New AN/SPY-1B radar capability

Pre-Encounter Activity

Starting November 10:

  • USS Princeton tracked anomalous returns
  • Objects appeared at 80,000+ feet
  • Dropped to sea level rapidly
  • Hovered and maneuvered
  • Multiple objects tracked
  • Days of observations

The Primary Encounter

Mission Tasking

November 14, ~2:00 PM PST:

  • Two F/A-18F Super Hornets launched
  • Routine training mission
  • Real-world tasking interruption
  • Vectored to unknown contact
  • Position: 40 miles southwest

The Pilots

Lead aircraft (FAST EAGLE 01):

  • Commander David Fravor (CO VFA-41)
  • Lt. Commander Jim Slaight (WSO)

Wingman aircraft (FAST EAGLE 02):

  • Lt. Commander Alex Dietrich
  • Lt. Commander (WSO name withheld)

Initial Visual

Approaching the location:

  • Clear day, calm seas
  • Noticed water disturbance
  • Whitewater area, cross-shaped
  • Size of 737 aircraft
  • Appeared like subsurface object

The Tic Tac Object

Above the disturbance:

  • White oblong object
  • “Tic Tac” shaped
  • Approximately 40 feet long
  • No wings or rotors
  • No exhaust plume
  • No visible propulsion

The Engagement

Fravor’s Descent

Commander Fravor initiated:

  • Aggressive descent maneuver
  • Attempted to intercept
  • Object mirrored movements
  • Maintained position opposite
  • “Intelligent” responses

Object Behavior

The Tic Tac demonstrated:

  • Hovering capability
  • Instant acceleration
  • Abrupt directional changes
  • No visible control surfaces
  • Anticipated F-18 maneuvers

The Acceleration

As Fravor approached:

  • Object rapidly accelerated
  • “Disappeared” in 2 seconds
  • No sonic boom
  • Extreme g-forces implied
  • Beyond known technology

Radar Reacquisition

USS Princeton reported:

  • Object reappeared instantly
  • At CAP point (rendezvous)
  • 60 miles away
  • Traveled in seconds
  • Knew classified location

Second Encounter

Follow-up Flight

About an hour later:

  • Lt. Chad Underwood launched
  • Advanced targeting pod equipped
  • ATFLIR (infrared) system
  • Tasked to relocate object

FLIR Video Capture

Underwood successfully:

  • Located object on radar
  • Locked with targeting pod
  • Captured infrared video
  • 1 minute 16 seconds
  • Object demonstrated abilities

Video Characteristics

The footage showed:

  • Oblong heat signature
  • Rotation while moving
  • No flight surfaces
  • Rapid acceleration
  • Breaking lock at end

Radar Evidence

USS Princeton Tracking

Senior Chief Kevin Day observed:

  • Multiple objects over days
  • Descending from space altitudes
  • 80,000 to 20,000 feet
  • In seconds
  • Groups of 5-10 objects

Performance Calculations

Radar data indicated:

  • Speeds exceeding Mach 3
  • No sonic booms
  • Instantaneous stops
  • Hovering capability
  • Trans-medium suggestions

Multiple Systems

Confirmation from:

  • SPY-1B radar (Princeton)
  • E-2C Hawkeye aircraft
  • F/A-18 onboard radar
  • Multiple independent tracks
  • Corroborating data

Physical Characteristics

Visual Description

Pilots reported:

  • Smooth white surface
  • No rivets or seams
  • Rounded ends
  • Cylinder/pill shape
  • Solid appearance
  • 40-50 feet estimate

Flight Capabilities

Demonstrated abilities:

  • Hovering (no rotor wash)
  • Hypersonic velocity
  • Instant acceleration
  • Trans-medium potential
  • No thermal exhaust
  • No sonic signatures

Propulsion Mystery

No evidence of:

  • Jet engines
  • Propellers
  • Rocket exhaust
  • Control surfaces
  • Intake ports
  • Any known propulsion

Witness Credibility

Commander David Fravor

Credentials:

  • 16+ years flying experience
  • Graduate Top Gun
  • Squadron commanding officer
  • 3,500 flight hours
  • Combat veteran
  • Impeccable record

Supporting Personnel

Other witnesses:

  • Multiple WSOs
  • Radar operators
  • E-2 Hawkeye crew
  • Ship personnel
  • Consistent accounts

Initial Suppression

Post-Encounter

After landing:

  • Crew debriefed
  • Data confiscated
  • Told to not discuss
  • No official report
  • Standard procedure?

The “Men in Suits”

Reports of:

  • Civilians on Princeton
  • Confiscated data
  • Took radar tapes
  • Classified everything
  • Never explained

The 2017 Revelation

Public Disclosure

December 16, 2017:

  • New York Times article
  • Pentagon program revealed
  • FLIR video released
  • Fravor went public
  • Paradigm shift began

AATIP Connection

Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program:

  • Studied Nimitz case
  • Analyzed capabilities
  • No conventional explanation
  • Significant implications
  • Led to disclosure

Scientific Analysis

Five Observables

AATIP identified characteristics:

  1. Anti-gravity lift
  2. Sudden instantaneous acceleration
  3. Hypersonic velocity without signatures
  4. Low observability/cloaking
  5. Trans-medium travel

Physics Implications

If real, suggests:

  • Gravity manipulation
  • Inertia negation
  • Exotic propulsion
  • Advanced materials
  • Unknown physics

Energy Requirements

Calculated needs:

  • Beyond nuclear capability
  • Impossible by known means
  • Suggests new physics
  • Revolutionary technology

Government Response

Initial Classification

2004-2017:

  • Incident classified
  • No public acknowledgment
  • Data restricted
  • Witnesses silent
  • Standard denial

2017 Confirmation

Pentagon admitted:

  • Video authentic
  • Objects unidentified
  • Program existence
  • Ongoing concern
  • Historic admission

Current Status

Post-2017 developments:

  • UAP Task Force created
  • Congressional briefings
  • Public reports
  • Continued sightings
  • Paradigm shift

Impact on Disclosure

Catalyst Case

Nimitz encounter sparked:

  • Government admissions
  • Media coverage
  • Public awareness
  • Scientific interest
  • Policy changes

Other Military Cases

Encouraged revelation of:

  • USS Roosevelt incidents
  • East Coast sightings
  • Ongoing encounters
  • Pattern recognition

Theories and Analysis

Extraterrestrial Hypothesis

Supporting factors:

  • Technology beyond known
  • Intelligent control
  • No earthly explanation
  • Multiple witnesses
  • Physical evidence

Foreign Adversary

Considered but unlikely:

  • Too advanced for 2004
  • Still unexplained today
  • Would require breakthrough
  • No intelligence suggests

Unknown Phenomenon

Possibilities include:

  • Natural but unknown
  • Dimensional visitors
  • Time travelers
  • AI probes
  • Complete mystery

Cultural Impact

Public Awareness

Nimitz case created:

  • Mainstream acceptance
  • Reduced stigma
  • Serious discussion
  • Media coverage
  • Cultural shift

Military Openness

Encouraged:

  • Pilot reporting
  • Reduced ridicule
  • Official channels
  • Safety protocols
  • Transparency

Ongoing Investigation

Congressional Interest

Led to:

  • Public hearings
  • Classified briefings
  • Legislation passed
  • Funding allocated
  • Accountability demanded

Scientific Study

Prompted:

  • University involvement
  • Physics questions
  • Technology analysis
  • Theoretical work
  • Paradigm challenges

Additional Videos

Released footage:

  • “GIMBAL” video
  • “GOFAST” video
  • Similar objects
  • Pattern emerging
  • Ongoing encounters

Pilot Testimonies

More coming forward:

  • Ryan Graves
  • Danny Accoin
  • Others unnamed
  • Consistent accounts
  • Daily sightings

Significance

Nimitz encounter important because:

  • Multiple credible witnesses
  • Radar confirmation
  • Video evidence
  • Government acknowledgment
  • Technology demonstrated
  • Disclosure catalyst
  • Paradigm shifting

Conclusions

The USS Nimitz Tic Tac encounter:

  • Definitively occurred
  • Defies explanation
  • Demonstrates unknown technology
  • Changed UFO/UAP discussion
  • Continues influencing policy
  • Remains unexplained

Whether the object was:

  • Extraterrestrial craft
  • Breakthrough technology
  • Unknown phenomenon
  • Interdimensional probe

The Nimitz encounter stands as the most important UFO case of the 21st century. The combination of highly credible military witnesses, multiple sensor data, visual evidence, and eventual government acknowledgment created a watershed moment in UFO/UAP history. Commander Fravor’s courage in speaking publicly, despite potential career impacts, helped transform the conversation from fringe speculation to mainstream acceptance that unknown objects with extraordinary capabilities operate in our airspace. The case continues to drive policy changes, scientific inquiry, and the search for answers about what our military personnel are encountering in our skies and oceans.