Strange Plane and Lights, Anyone Explain for me please?

Ok I saw this a few nights ago and it has been bothering me ever since.

All of a sudden (it wasnt very noisey) a commercial sized Plane came overhead from behind me,(( that is, it looked exactly like a commercial plane except for its extra long wings)), from over the top of my house. Ive never seen a plane make this route around here before, but I havent been paying attention too long.. anyhow,

When it flew over my house, it made a left hand turn.. it seemed to be gaining in altitude (it was high up there, but i dont think it was as high as commercial planes fly...) and headed towards the water over to seattle, but right before it started to turn, when i first caught it in my binoculars, it was flashing red and white lights, as it started to turn the lights turned to red, white and blue. Blue being at the front i believe and one white and one red per each wing. It could have been different, with the blue light on the side, I dont remember perfectly I just remember what the colors were, immediately following this, the middle of the airplane lit up, it looked like a box with different colored panels. The colors were red and orange. These lights made different patterns and I felt like it was sending a message out.
As quickly as it started, it stopped and returned to red and white flashing lights for the rest of the time I observed it.

just a thought.. it wasnt in the process of taking off, i dont live near an airstrip

Thats all I saw.

Last night I watched what appeared to be a double decker plane fly overhead, with an extremely bright, white, front light. Prolly an international flight. It was moving at a high pace as well. Faster then I've seen a plane go, not like "out of this World fast" though.

thanks for any insight




[edit on 15-2-2008 by itsblownbackbaby]

[edit on 15-2-2008 by itsblownbackbaby]

Well sounds like you witnessed quite a sight!

Since you mentioned the plane heading towards Seattle, I would assume it was making an approach to SEA-TAC Intl. (SEA).

Planes have MANY different types of lights on them, and depending on the Aircraft Configuration, Model, and Year, you have a variety of external Landing, Navigation, and Anti-Collision Lights.

You most likely noticed the Green Starboard (Right) side Navigation Light after the plane made a banking maneuver (in other words turning). It might have appeared Blue, but I assure you it was Green.

Most passenger airplanes have at least one Red Light, some have two. There is always a Red Navigation Light on the Port (Left) Wing Tip. Many times, especially on larger aircraft, there is also a Red Anti-Collision Strobe/Beacon placed under the belly of the aircraft.

Some Passenger Airplanes, especially smaller Turbo-Props have White Strobes which are added in addition to the Red Anti-Collision Strobe/Beacon so as to make the smaller craft as visible as a much larger plane.

The Larger the Airplane, the more Running Lights it will have. Most larger Jets have White-Halogen Running Lights on the underside of the wings, and any number alongside the underbody. Some newer Jets (Mosly 737s, and 787s) Now have HID Running Lights, and HID Landing Lights as well. These are the same as HIDS on higher end automobiles (they give off the colder looking white/bluish light).

When an Airplane is on approach they will always engage their bright "Headlights" which are called Landing Lights. These lights are also engaged on Take-off, and only dis-engaged when the Aircraft is out of the immediate Airport Traffic area. The landing gear has lights as well, and these will always be engaged as long as the gear is down.

If in fact the plane you noticed was on Approach, it would have brightened its lights. If on departure the lights would have gone from bright to dim. There is quite a dramatic difference between the Standard Running lights and Fully Engaged Landing Lights. The Aircraft basically goes from a flying Christmas Tree, to a floating Spotlight.

Let me know if you have any more questions