Castelo de Bode: Pilot's Close UFO Encounter
Portuguese Air Force pilot José Francisco Rodrigues encountered a dark, panel-covered object near his plane over Castelo de Bode dam, causing violent vibrations, a dive, and gyroscope failure.
Background
Witness and Circumstances
On June 17, 1977 at 12:00, José Francisco Rodrigues, an experienced pilot of the Portuguese air force, was flying a Dornier Do 27 over the Castelo de Bode reservoir in central Portugal. He had more than 800 flying hours and had taken off from Tancos air base.
Sighting and Approach
Emerging from cloud, he noticed a dark object to his right against white stratocumulus. He at first took it for a cargo aircraft, turned left, and asked by radio about other traffic. The controller, Sgt. Jose Vicente Saldanha, said there was none. As he turned, the object suddenly appeared in the 11 o'clock position, only 20 feet away, roughly 42–50 feet across, with a black upper part and four or five panels below.
Reaction and Effects
The object accelerated rapidly from a stationary position and disappeared. The aircraft vibrated violently and went into an uncontrolled descent. Rodrigues pushed the stick forward, reached 207 mph, regained control almost at treetop height, and landed safely but shaken. The directional gyro spun wildly and was 180° out from the magnetic compass. Dark above, glowing below.
Significance
A close military encounter with physical effects on the aircraft and its instruments, which is what makes the observation notable.