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includes the controversial Heinkel/BMW pro- ject based in Prague. For reasons that are not entirely clear, this topic has been picked up by several political activists who regard any discussion of the subject as an attempt to glorify the Third Reich’s technical achievements. In reality, there were no secret flying disc squadrons operated by the Nazi’s, no clandestine saucer bases in Antarctica and definitely no facilities on the Moon! While the Germans were devel- oping aerospace technology that was in some cases more than a decade ahead of anything possessed by the Allies, none of it had any sig- nificant influence on the outcome of World War Two. These small-scale flying disc pro- jects (that led nowhere) were a far cry from the nonsensical stories that continue to circu- late and multiply on the Internet. Had this intriguing programme been undertaken by the ruthless wartime Japanese regime, or conducted within brutal Stalinist Russia, the issue would never have arisen. Perhaps significantly, one of the most advanced Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) fighter concepts derived from Ger- man wartime research was built and flight- tested in France during the 1950s. But this continues to draw relatively little attention outside the country. So whatis it that makes aircraft with circular wings so attractive to designers? There are many reasons apart from a clean, aesthetically pleasing shape, which begins with the amount of lift that a disc shape can generate and the way a circular vehicle’s internal space can be fully utilised. It is also true that the circular air- frame lends itself to certain forms of propul- sion like the ducted fan layout, an annular rotor, the radial flow gas turbine or various rather exotic field effect technologies. VTOL or good Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) per- formance at an improvised site or from a ves- sel is often a major factor with the military aircraft discussed in this book and the require- ment has led to many unusual concepts. Although drag becomes an issue with a large surface area, a flying disc can be config- ured for high-speed flight at substantial alti- tudes and may be capable of manoeuvres not possible with a conventional aircraft. As a spacecraft designed to re-enter the Earth’s _ the purpose of psychological warfare or to act atmosphere or aerobrake througha planetary _ as totally deniable, radar-invisible spyplanes, atmosphere, the disc shape has much to which have taken full advantage of the UFO commend it and various lenticular designs _ factor. This kind of speculation raises ques- have been studied for space projects that _ tions that are well beyond the scope of this date back to the early days of the Apollo Pro- book, although it has been possible to build gramme. A lower radar signature is another — and fly circular winged aircraft for almost a consideration that makes the flying disc par- _ century, despite early propulsion and aerody- ticularly interesting to designers looking for namic difficulties. stealthy capabilities. One thing is certain, the disc-shaped air- In 1994, while talking about stealth designs, craft has intrigued many of the most the late Ben Rich (who became the boss at _ respected aeronautical designers of the 20th Lockheed’s Skunk Works) said: ‘Several of _ century. The first powered circular (or annu- our aerodynamics experts including Dick lar) winged aircraft were conceived by enthu- Cantrell seriously thought that maybe we _ siasts and inventors almost 100 years ago, and would do better trying to build an actual flying _ by the early 1950s teams of engineers work- saucer. The shape itself was the ultimate in _ ing for the best known defence contractors low-observability.’ After making this intrigu- were designing disc-shaped flying machines ing statement, Rich went on to say, ‘the prob- __ that would still look very advanced today. lem was finding ways to make a saucer fly. This does rather beg the following ques- Unlike our plates, it would have to be rotated _ tions: why are there no disc-shaped aircraft in and spun. But how? The Martians wouldn’t _ civil or military service and why is the VTOL tell us’. This was clearly an attempt on his part capability largely limited to helicopters? to dismiss the flying saucer as unworkable, These are hard questions to answer, but which lends some weight to the belief that | equally surprising is the fact that there are no the development of prototypes with flying operational supersonic airliners, no single- saucer characteristics has occasionally gone _ stage-to-orbit spaceplanes and no lunar further than anyone is willing to admit. bases, which all seemed like cast-iron cer- In fact, Lockheed’s Skunk Works were at _ tainties for the present era. Having said that, it the forefront of flying disc design during the seems probable that increasing numbers of early 1950s, with several interesting studies aircraft with strikingly unfamiliar designs will being overseen by their leading propulsion begin to fill our skies during the coming engineer Nathan Price. Under Price’s direc- decades. tion, a team of engineers secretly developed Not every aircraft featured in this book can plans for an impressive VTOL ramjet-pow- _ be described as a true flying saucer. Vehicles ered flying saucer and work on this particular examined range from VTOL spade and heel- project was undertaken during a period of shaped fighters to high-altitude balloons several years. In technical documentation, associated with UFOs, exotic ‘ring wing’ Price makes a very good case for the flying ducted fan designs and unusual proposals for saucer. He notes that the bi-convex planform _ spacecraft. Nevertheless, all of the projects is a rigid strong structure that allows aneven described in this work are linked in various landing force distribution and provides maxi- ways to the theme of man-made flying mum volumetric payload efficiency. He also saucers. Hopefully, this book provides details talks about uniform distribution of thermal of the more significant aircraft and space stress at high speed and simple inexpensive _ vehicles that have frequently been dismissed construction. as fantasy and I am in no doubt that informa- These postwar flying disc designs by lead- _ tion on this fascinating subject will continue ing defence contractors such as Lockheed _ to surface during the coming years. _—- hanna ana nd wn These postwar flying disc designs by lead- ing defence contractors such as Lockheed have encouraged many conspiracy theorists to suggest that small numbers of disc and tri- angular-shaped aircraft were built for either Bill Rose Norfolk, England. 2006 10 Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft