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Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft

Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft
By Bill Rose, Tony Buttler

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Product Description

Though there has been much speculation on whether flying saucers and the aliens who allegedly favor such craft have any basis in reality, it is a fact that over the years a variety of experimental aircraft that could be described as "flying saucer" types have been developed in different countries right here on earth. Such aircraft have invariably been shrouded in secrecy, and this book finally presents a serious factual study of these mysterious designs. This book covers 20 "flying saucer" and similar aircraft projects in detail, including the Vought V-173 Pancake, the Boeing B390, the German AS-6 and Focke Wulf VTOL saucer, and others. It also covers NASA's research into lenticular lifting body designs, lunar ferry systems, exotic lightship concepts and recent laser propulsion experiments. All of the craft featured in this book are on the cuttin edge of aviation research and will appeal greatly to those fascinated by flying saucers and their sinister or conspirational connections.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #382733 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-05-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 192 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Bill Rose was born in 1948 and grew up in the North London suburbs. He was educated at Buckingham College and the University of Westminster. Bill began his working life as a laboratory technician, became a Fleet Street press photographer and eventually a photojournalist. As a writer, he has worked for many of the well-known science journals, a number of technical publications and various national and provincial newspapers. His principle areas of interest are photography, astronomy, space exploration and aviation. Bill has also undertaken background research for several UK based TV production companies. He runs a small photographic business located in Norfolk, which specializes in PR work, graphic design and image restoration and resides in Cambridgeshire, England.
Tony Buttler was born in 1956, educated at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Evesham, and joined High Duty Alloys Ltd. Redditch in 1974, where he spent 19 years as a metallurgist testing titanium and aluminum forgings for the aircraft and defense industries.  A growing interest in archives and historical records saw him take a master's degree in Library and Information Science at Loughborough University before becoming a full-time aviation historian.  Since 1995 he has had numerous articles published by most of the major aviation journals and has written several of the well-known Warpaint series. Tony has always lived in the Vale of Evesham, near the Cotswold Hills, an area which sees a remarkable variety of aircraft pass through its airspace.
 

Customer Reviews

Extensive5
This book covers the subject extensively, from the beginning of flight to sci-fi crafts. Lots of pictures and interesting information. Recommended for everyone who likes exotic aircrafts.

Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft5
An excellant book, with many pictures and detailed three-view drawings of a little-known set of aircraft designs. Well worth the price.

A piece of the puzzle emerges4
The truth about such aircraft has been obscured but is now finally brought to light. The A.V. Roe company of Canada did build a disc aircraft for the US Air Force. The declassified documents are identified, there are photos of the engine test stand and quotes from the developer, John Frost. The disc aircraft in question should not be confused with the failed Avrocar. Also, the myth is laid to rest that a circular planform is not aerodynamic. The book also mentions the work of Rene Couzinet in France (RC.360 Aerodyne) along with photos of a model. Alfred Loedding is another significant part of the picture. A man who spoke fluent German, he was heavily involved with the evaluation of captured German technology at the end of the Second World War. The UFO incidents of 1947 led General Nathan Twining to ask Loedding to set up an office to investigate UFO sightings in 1948 due to real concern that they might be Soviet aircraft. Loedding called it Project Saucer but the Air Force changed it to Project Sign. There is a photo of a seated Alfred Loedding and a view of his Discplane.

Another surprise was mention of cigar shaped aircraft under study by the Lockheed Skunk Works, with illustrations, designed by Nathan Price. Photos are also shown of a circular, with a wedge cross-section, missile given the code name Pye Wacket, but eventually called the Lenticular Defense Missile.

I have given this book four instead of five stars because the authors stray from the main theme of the book and explore other aircraft shapes that do not appear to be relevant. Another divergence is an attempt to link balloons to sightings of UFOs, which is not entirely successful.
Long-time UFO researchers who look beyond what may be considered settled ideas about the nature and origins of these aircraft will find much here that shows that there are patented circular wing aircraft, and evidence that the US Air Force had such aircraft built.