For decades human has romanticized about contact with Extra
Terrestrial Being and UFOs. Reports and historic documents suggest such type of
incidents as way back as of 214 B.C. In modern days “Flying Saucers” term was
first used in 1947 and then popularized in many news media and numerous films.
With evolution of science and technology the shape of the UFO varied from time
to time. From pie shaped to triangular to egg-shaped and many other forms which
in general do not match with of regular conception of travelling equipment. From
battle of Los Angeles in 1942 to Roswell Incident of 1947 to Phoenix lights in
1997 or more recent 2011 Vancouver UFO sighting, it is eminent that UFOs are a
part and parcel of our life. While most of these sighting has been proved to be
a hoax or man-made or natural phenomenon or illusion, still there are many many
unexplained events.
One of the most common man-made factors that contributes of
so called UFO sightings are testing of aerial technologies which are unknown to
common people. Without debating of the real existence of Extra Terrestrials or
UFOs here is a list of Aerial technologies that can be confused as an UFO.
Vought XF5U/Vought V-173 – Popularly known as the “Flying Pancake” it was an USAF
experimental aircraft first tested in 1942. The V-173/XF5U had a
circular wing 23.3 feet in diameter and a symmetrical airfoil section and hence
its similarity to a pancake.
Leduc 0.10/0.21 – This was a research aircraft from France that was in existence
from 1947 -1956. It was the world’s first Ramjet Fighter. Leduc 0.21 around 30%
bigger size that of 0.10
was shaped like a bullet and was capable of reaching
0.95 Mach speed.
Stipa-Caproni
– Designed by Italian Luigi Stipa in 1932, it was an experimental aircraft with
the whole fuselage was a single ducted fan. The shape of the plane was similar
to a barrel hence it was famously known as the “Flying Barrel”. “Flying Barrel”
design was a drastic step towards development of Jet Propulsion engines.
SNECMA Coléoptère-
Developed by French company SNECMA it was an experimental VTOL aircraft. It was
a weird looking aircraft developed in 1959. Its vertical flight direction was
controlled by using pneumatic deflection of the jet exhaust.
Northrop XB-35/YB-49
– XB-35 was an experimental flying wing heavy bomber aircraft developed in 1946
and later developed to YB-49 IN 1949. The XB-35 project ultimately led to
development of B-2 “Spirit”.
Avro Canada VZ-9
Avrocar – USAF’s top secret very own “Flying Saucer”. It was a vertical
takeoff experimental aircraft developed in 1959.Though during test process it
was able to achieve a height of 3 ft and a speed of 35mph it was the nearest
thing to a “Flying Saucer”.
Bartini Beriev VVA-14 – Developed on experimental basis in 1972 by Soviet Union VVA-14
was designed to take off from water and fly high speed over long distances. It
had completed 107 test runs with a total flight time of 103 Hrs.
Akaflieg Darmstadt/Akaflieg
München DM1 – DM1 was a research
glider of Nazi Germany planned to reach obnoxious speed of 10,000Km/h (Yes the
no of 0s are fine) and that too way back in 1944. Though the idea was too
romantic but DM1 provided a design platform for Delta Wing Aircrafts of future.
Northrop Grumman
X-47A Pegasus/X-47B – It is an unmanned combat vehicle to demonstrate
stealth technology. Developed in 2003 and later X-47B in 2011 is capable of
carrier landing. It has a wingspan of 62 Ft and is capable of flying at
0.95Mach speed.
NASA M2-F1/
Northrop M2-F2/ Northrop M2-F3 - The M2-F1 – was an unlikely predecessor
to the Space Shuttle. The world's first manned lifting body, the M2-F1 had a
body made of wood with no wings. It was capable of flying at 1.65 Mach and
reached a height more than 20,500 Mtrs.
Aero Spacelines Pregnant
Guppy/Super Guppy - The Aero Spacelines Guppies
were a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft built for ferrying out-sized cargo
items. It had a maximum internal diameter of 7.6 Mtr.It was first introduced in
1962 and used by NASA for transportation of parts for Apollo space program.
Lockheed Martin P-791 – It is a 125 Ft hybrid airship developed in 2006. It was a part
of US Army’s LEMV project and now being developed as a civilian cargo aircraft.
Northrop Grumman HAV-3(LEMV) – At 302 Ft it is the world longest aircraft. It can reach about 100mph and
stay airborne for about three-and-a-half weeks. Developed under LEMV program the
first test flight took place in 2012.
Bell X-22
- The U.S. Navy's X-22 was developed as a V/STOL research aircraft with four
tilting ducted fans. It first test flight took place in 1966. It formed the
basis for V-22 Osprey aircraft.
Rolls-Royce Thrust
Measuring Rig “Flying Bedstead” – It was an experimental aircraft that
was first flown in 1954 and used in the early development of VTOL aircraft. The
TMR had no lifting surfaces (wings, blades, etc.) and was hence was referred to
as “Flying Bedstead”. The purpose of the TMR was to test turbojet engines for
lifting purposes and to develop techniques for controlling such an aircraft.
Piasecki VZ-8 Airgeep – Developed in 1962 it was a result of the U.S. Army’s investigation of the viability
of "flying jeeps” as a means of transporting men and supplies over
otherwise impassable terrain. It was capable of a cruise speed of 112Km/h at a
height of 914 Mtrs
PhotoCredit- -
References -www.northropgrumman.com, en.wikipedia.org, gizmodo.com, www.lockheedmartin.co.in, www.flightglobal.com, www.air-and-space.com, www.allaboutguppys.com, www.nasa.gov,www.unrealaircraft.com, www.flightmuseum.com
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