Moving in formation in Ain, France

On April 14, 2016, a witness, a farmer by profession, leaves his home accompanied by his father to carry out agricultural work on his land near the hamlet of Proulieu (01). The observation begins at 9:50 a.m. while the witnesses are moving in their vehicle, at about 30 km/h, on a dirt road running alongside the old Blyes road (01). The weather is clear with a little wind and a temperature of 16°. The witness's father is the first to spot the UAP, which he points out to his son. The UAP appears in the form of a static black ring, located according to the witnesses above a wood at an estimated distance of about 500m. The witness estimates that it is toward the southwest, in the direction of the municipality of Saint-Vulbas (01). He quickly grabs his mobile phone to film and photograph the UAP, from the lowered passenger-side window, for about 2 to 2 minutes 30 seconds, while continuing to drive on the dirt road. The UAP eventually disappears, breaking apart "like a small cloud." From the Gendarmerie investigation it emerges that this event was the subject of an article in the edition of the newspaper Le Progrès, La Côtière edition, of Sunday, April 18, 2016. It emerges [from this publication] that other witnesses would have seen the event. In addition, they also note that on the day of the observation, "a civil company would have carried out explosive tests during the day on the Valbonne military camp." Only one testimony is collected. There is little doubt that the witnesses observed a smoke ring produced by the use of pyrotechnic devices during explosive tests on the Valbonne military camp (see the investigation report). The location of these tests being fairly far from the witnesses' position, they probably did not perceive the sound of the detonations at the origin of the creation of this black ring, or else heard it later, without making the connection. Finally, note that the weather was favorable for maintaining the structure of the ring for several minutes, the wind being very weak at the time of its formation. The strangeness of this case is low and is mainly caused by the unusual appearance of the UAP, which the witnesses were unable to relate to a phenomenon known to them, probably never having observed it before. The testimony is consistent, with enough data provided by the witness and usable, the Gendarmerie report is complete and well documented. There is also a video and six photographs, which were able to be used for the analysis of the case. This case is to be classified as "A," as a certain observation of a smoke ring phenomenon created by pyrotechnic tests carried out on the day of the observation on the Valbonne military camp.