UFOs in Singapore identified

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http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130302-405808.html

You might see dancing lights against the night sky which have fooled many into thinking they were from unidentified flying objects.

But these UFOs soar in synchronised movements as strains of music fill the air.

They are, in fact, radio-controlled kites with LED lights, and are the brainchild of 53-year-old Mr Michael Lim.

Mr Lim, who runs a business called Go Fly Kite, said the "no-string kites", like miniature airplanes, fly on a motor which is controlled remotely by a battery-operated device.

Every Friday and Saturday night, a group of about 30 enthusiasts gather in an open field next to the Marina Bay City Gallery to send their kites up and do tricks.

They used to go to an open field next to Riverside Point in Clarke Quay until construction work moved them along about two years ago. Sometimes, they also head to the heartland such as Bishan Park, Tampines and Bedok.

Mr Lim told The Straits Times he started the business out of his passion for flying radio-controlled aeroplanes and helicopters.

The kites cost about $400 each and function like radio-controlled aeroplanes.

Weighing an average of 220g, they are made of polyester stretched over a high-tension carbon fibre frame. Each kite has propellers attached to it to make it fly.

Mr Lim, who said he has sold at least 5,000 kites so far, some overseas, noted: "It's much quieter than model aeroplanes, so we can fly around residential areas without disturbing people."

But their lack of noise, along with the lights, means they are often mistaken for small planes, satellites, military drones or other "things".

Sometimes people even alert the media of the "UFO sightings", said The Sunday Times news editor Francis Chan.

"They would call us and say they see this odd group of lights hovering in the air and say they look like UFOs," he said.

"There was this one caller who even said he was going to alert the air force, but I'm not sure if he actually did."

It was Mr Lim's daughter, then just three years old, who was responsible for the LED lights being added.

"She said, 'Daddy, I want the stars'. So I was thinking, how can I bring the stars down to her?" he recalled.

Now 14, Clareta flies kites with him weekly. She said: "It's better than flying traditional kites, because you don't need wind and you can control the kite however you want."