Originally posted by twhitehead
According to the Wikipedia page:
The United States Air Force identified the second group of lights as flares dropped by A-10 Warthog aircraft that were on training exercises at the Barry Goldwater Range in southwest Arizona.
Yeah, this is far, far to the south, over at least one small mountain range. I imagine its only connection with the 'Phoenix Lights' was to provide an excuse for 'what people saw'. The flares weren't anywhere near the same area.
To put it in perspective, A-10s are not based in Phoenix (Luke AFB). When I was going to school in Tucson, the A-10s from Davis-Monthan AFB (in Tucson, approx. 130 miles SSE of Phoenix) flew over UofA all the time. I think it's a beautiful, easily recognized plane, with a unique engine sound. I've never, ever seen them over Phoenix.
The Barry Goldwater range is approx. equidistant from Phoenix (Luke AFB, F-16s), Tucson (Davis-Monthan AFB, A-10s) and Yuma (MCAS Yuma, F/A-18s and AV-8B Harriers). It's probably a good 100 miles at least SW of Phoenix.