Now that we have rockets, are UFOs no longer speedy?

Here’s an interesting observation. In 1947, unidentified flying objects (UFOs) created a sensation because of their speed. It was later in that same year that Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier.

Today, we have not only experienced flight faster than the speed of sound, but the supersonic Concorde has even been retired.

It turns out that today, people are impressed with a UFO if it levitates, something our aircraft cannot do without the help of rotors (helicopters) or rocket engines (NASA’s shuttle).

Does this mean that UFOs are truly a figment of our collective imagination? In his TPM The Philosopher’s Magazine article, Martin S. Kottmeyer says:

“No. Strictly, it only proves that there is a cultural dimension in our assumptions about what constitutes the behaviour of a flying saucer. People do not report everything that is present in the sky but select only what is presumed to be interesting. What is interesting changes year to year, decade to decade, century to century.”

Why have UFOs changed speed over the years?