RANK #17 NATIONALLY — 3,156 REPORTED SIGHTINGS
Tennessee's Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma is the nation's largest aerodynamic and propulsion test facility, capable of simulating flight conditions from sea level to 300,000 feet altitude. AEDC's unique capabilities mean that genuinely novel aerospace phenomena may be tested over Tennessee airspace without public knowledge.
Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division generates significant rotary wing aviation, and Nashville International Airport's high traffic volume means Tennessee residents are accustomed to conventional aircraft. This familiarity may lend additional weight to the state's anomalous reports.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most visited national park in the United States — produces consistent orb and light reports from its millions of annual visitors, many of whom observe the famous Smoky Mountain atmospheric light phenomena.
Consistent with national patterns, Tennessee witnesses most frequently report orb and light phenomena, followed by triangular and disc-shaped objects.
Sighting counts: Kentucky: 2,567 | North Carolina: 3,654
Report your sighting to an established civilian organization. Your report contributes to the public record.