UFOs over Greeley identified

That UFO seen over Greeley Wednesday night? Now it’s an “IFO.”

Actually, two flying objects were identified, both launched in Greeley Wednesday night, both helium balloons, one setting world records for flight.

Tim Cole of Greeley, a well-known balloon engineer, helped the two pilots with their launches, which were sanctioned by the National Aeronautical Association. They contained helium, which Cole emphasized were non-explosive gas balloons.

The pilots were Troy Bradley of Albuquerque, N.M., and Tom Boylan of Fort Collins. “Troy was trying to set the world distance and the world duration records for the smaller size helium balloon he had,” Cole said. “Tom was flying a larger helium balloon as a training flight."

Bradley easily broke the world duration record, which was 27.5 hours and by Friday morning had been in the air more than 30 hours. He is planning to touch down at sunset today, probably in eastern Iowa.

Cole said one flight took off from Greeley about 10 p.m. Wednesday and the second at about 11:30 p.m. Reports of UFOs over Greeley began about the same time, although no one realized they were seeing two different helium balloons.

Both balloons had lighting to permit flight at night, and Cole said Greeley is a good launching area because it’s away from most major flight paths. Also, they launched from the Greeley area because Cole — who has become well-known for planning and overseeing world record flights — lives in Greeley.