Looked like a fire ball fliying across the sky

Me and 3 other friends, 2 of witch are skeptics saw a orange light , almost like a helicopter or plain on fire " deep dark firey orange " flying across the open clear sky! Nun of us could explain it, even the skeptics, except for maybe it really was a helicopter fully engulfed in flames, except it just kept flying along the sky like a jet or plane would but no sound and just kept going... Went across the sky, NOT up and down!!!! No blinking lights, nothing like a plane or helicopter... Trust me my skeptic buddy's were just as stumped as me and they would have loved to have a reasonable explanation! Also we like about 5 miles for DM Air Force base so we fully understand a plane or helicopter!!!