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The description of the object is obviously at complete variance with that of an aircraft. In addition, the speeds and altitudes calculated suggest an extremely dangerous bit of flying.
Next to be considered would be a balloon. In the 300-600 foot distance range, it is possible that the resulting size (69-130 feet) might match a balloon, and the speed, 9-18 mph, might not be completely unrealistic, even if no ground wind was perceived.
However, one must note that this is a hilly area, and the likely altitude for a hot air balloon would be at least 800 feet MSL (relative to sea level) and possibly more, which translates into an altitude of about 300 feet AGL. At that altitude, the balloon is about 500+ feet across - very large for a balloon (typical diameter is around 80 feet). The area is highly dangerous for ballooning, due to the presence of power lines (power lines are the most frequent cause of fatalities in hot air ballooning) and the varied and steep terrain. Furthermore, at those altitudes, the balloon must now move at about 65-75 mph to pass in the average estimated time (a completely implausible speed for a balloon). The final objection is that hot air balloons have a clearly recognizable configuration at any of the distances which are plausible for size or speed.
Checks with local newspapers and town halls determined that there were a variety of fairs in the area. However, the only one large enough for balloons and even remotely in the right location was in Goshen and was typically held the last week of June. A balloon festival in the same area (NW Balloon Festival) is held in early to mid August.
A conversation with Polly Lasher, president of the CT Lighter Than Air Society in October 1999 revealed
No balloons similar to the description exist in CT.
Albany weather station balloons sometimes reach the area, but they are not silvery or grey.
A round-the-world effort may have been underway at the time, which would have used a silvery balloon, but the shape would have been the typical point down balloon appearance.
Ms. Lasher was skeptical that any balloon could have been large in angular size and not recognized.
No balloon has ever separated from its gondola and flown across the countryside in CT.
Prevailing wind direction is W/NW. This is not completely inconsistent with the account.
In conclusion, the above strongly suggests a hot-air balloon is not the explanation for this event.
A final possibility is that of a blimp. One common blimp is about 100 feet long by 40 feet high (Westinghouse Airships, Skyship), another is 120-180 feet long and 30 to 45 feet in diameter (American Blimp Corp). Such blimps would have to be traveling at 65-70 mph to match the calculation (near top speed for a blimp). A blimp would, however, be easily recognizable at the distance. In addition, it would be below the minimum safe altitude for the area.
All of the blimps I found, both helium and hot air, had the typical blimp shapes with marked fins and notable gondolas, none of which were observed by these witnesses. An outdoor blimp catalog demonstrates that the disc shape is not common.
The only form of blimp which would not require a gondola would be a radio controlled blimp. I was only able to find one with a radically unusual envelope shape (in France) - that shape was a sort of "mushroom", but the blimp was brightly colored and distinctive in design - and, of course it was in France. It was also fairly small, as are most UAV blimps. One company makes UFO like pillow blimps of metallic material, but these are only 38 inches across and the powered versions have clearly visible propulsion units underneath. All of the pillow envelope blimps seem to be made of highly reflective metallic coated plastic, and thus are not compatible with the observed surface specularity and texture.
Finally note that the husband is from Ohio and is familiar with the appearance of blimps (such as the Goodyear blimp).
This site is an archive of the content of the MUFON CT website from the late 1990s. The current MUFON CT organization should be contacted through the MUFON web site.