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Final checks on the control system for the Chrysalis model flying saucer at Avebury, prior to launch. A small tunnel in the underside of the craft provided access to the equipment while the craft was inflated. Nigel Blake Final checks on the control system for the Chrysalis model flying saucer at Avebury, prior to launch. A small tunnel in the underside of the craft provided access to the equipment while the craft was inflated. Nigel Blake speed might soon become too high, with a prohibitive limit of 5nph (8km/h) imposed by the CAA. Because of this Robbie Scott made some alterations to the flight path so the saucer would pass closer to Avebury and the flight time would be considerably reduced. Once the model was fully prepared it was carried by members of the team about one mile (1.6km) from the operations site to a new position closer to Avebury. It would fly towards the village, briefly hover above a flat area of ground and then swing north to a con- cealed recovery point, accessed from the Winterbourne Monkton Road. Although the route taken to the launch site was fairly well hidden the reflective saucer could be seen at some distance, so it was covered with mili- we (APRA) were guilty of dismissing the event _ ently, a major production meeting took place tary camouflage netting during transit. One as a student prank rather than a highly organ- on 23rd September at Chrysalis’s office and a final problem arose with a fan, but this was ised and expensive stunt devised and exe- decision appears to have been taken to easily fixed and the launch team waited cuted by a professional film company’. While remove APRA’s presence at the Red Lion. It is patiently for confirmation that all the flight many onlookers moved away from the vicinity also possible that the idea of mounting a controllers were in place and ready. of the pub to gain a better view of the flying more elaborate UFO stunt in America was With twilight fast approaching and the _ saucer, a film crew using amateur digitalcam- discussed, although nothing came of this. By wind speed at an acceptable level, the saucer era equipment arrived, fronted by Sean now, the story had appeared on British and gently lifted away as world champion model Doherty who was the production team’s pro- foreign TV news channels and in several aircraft pilot Steve Elias took control. As the ducer. Doherty undertook interviews with newspapers, with the broadcast of A Very saucer headed towards Avebury, control was __ some of the observers, claiming thattheywere — British UFO Hoax by Channel 4 TV taking passed to Steve Ansell and then John Palmer _ part of a small Marlborough or Swindon-based _ place on 7th October. who were waiting in concealed positions company who were in the area by chance. As a piece of film-making the idea worked along the Wessex Ridgeway. The model Aside from the APRA members, most wit- well. The production was slick, visually inter- saucer glided across the Wiltshire country- _ nesses reacted in a predictably rather startled — esting and occasionally quite amusing. As a side propelled by the battery-powered fans at manner and, in common with many UFO inci- hoax there were some obvious problems and a height of about 200ft (61m) and this pro- dents, these observers were unable to gauge the altered flight path brought the saucer vided some very pleasing visual images for _ the size of the craft, with one estimate sug- much closer to the Red Lion than originally the concealed camera crews. gesting it was 100ft (30.5m) in diameter. anticipated. Because of this the noisy fans Sitting outside the Red Lion public house The altered flight route had taken the — reduced the credibility of an otherwise well- were four unsuspecting APRA Skywatch mem- _ saucer towards the west and it was no longer _ planned and carefully executed project. The bers —James Hill, Tim Field, Jason Hawkes and _ possible to reach the intended landing site. degree of directional control over this model is Brian James. When the flying saucer came into Nigel Blake and an assistant had positioned also questionable, as the model failed to reach sight at about 8.50pm a member of the — themselves along the Winterbourne Monkton _ the intended landing site and this was almost Chrysalis production team appeared outside — Road near the intended landing site and they __ certainly caused by the use of a less efficient the pub and tried to generate excitement by immediately chased after the model in their power source. Nevertheless, considering the drawing everyone’s attention to the model van as it headed west. After travelling for a _ brief amount of time allowed for design, con- saucer as it approached Avebury. According to total distance of about 3 miles (4.8km) the _ struction and testing, this was a very impres- the APRA members it was fairly obvious that model was finally brought down in a field _ sive effort by Robbie Scott, Nigel Blake and the flying saucer was some kind of a balloon, near Avebury Trusloe by the last controller _ their special effects team. Asked about build- which struggled to remain steady onthe breeze —_ who activated the dump valve. Blake and his _ ing another flying saucer model, Nigel Blake while the noise from several electric motors colleague now had to negotiate their way believes it would be possible to refine the could clearly be heard. through a herd of cows in the gathering model considerably, improving many aspects Having been visible for four to five minutes, | gloom to recover the model, disassemble it — of the design including its control, endurance the flying saucer finally passed over the village, as quickly as possible and stow the parts in and noise level. Since the programme was its rim-mounted flashing LEDS and spotlight _ their van. shown, Cutting Edge Effects Ltd has ceased clearly visible. Brian James later commented, With the stunt completed, Chrysalis had _ trading with the technicians deciding to work ‘At no point were we remotely fooled by this plenty of useful video footage in the can, independently, and Chrysalis Television has remote-controlled balloon, but | do admit that which looked visually very impressive. Appar- become North One Television. we (APRA) were guilty of dismissing the event as a student prank rather than a highly organ- ised and expensive stunt devised and exe- cuted by a professional film company’. While many onlookers moved away from the vicinity of the pub to gain a better view of the flying saucer, a film crew using amateur digital cam- era equipment arrived, fronted by Sean Doherty who was the production team’s pro- ducer. Doherty undertook interviews with some of the observers, claiming that they were part of a small Marlborough or Swindon-based company who were in the area by chance. Aside from the APRA members, most wit- nesses reacted in a predictably rather startled manner and, in common with many UFO inci- dents, these observers were unable to gauge the size of the craft, with one estimate sug- gesting it was 100ft (30.5m) in diameter. The altered flight route had taken the saucer towards the west and it was no longer possible to reach the intended landing site. Nigel Blake and an assistant had positioned themselves along the Winterbourne Monkton Road near the intended landing site and they immediately chased after the model in their van as it headed west. After travelling for a total distance of about 3 miles (4.8km) the model was finally brought down in a field near Avebury Trusloe by the last controller who activated the dump valve. Blake and his colleague now had to negotiate their way through a herd of cows in the gathering gloom to recover the model, disassemble it as quickly as possible and stow the parts in their van. ently, a major production meeting took place on 23rd September at Chrysalis’s office and a decision appears to have been taken to remove APRA’s presence at the Red Lion. Itis also possible that the idea of mounting a more elaborate UFO stunt in America was discussed, although nothing came of this. By now, the story had appeared on British and foreign TV news channels and in several newspapers, with the broadcast of A Very British UFO Hoax by Channel 4 TV taking place on 7th October. As a piece of film-making the idea worked well. The production was slick, visually inter- esting and occasionally quite amusing. As a hoax there were some obvious problems and the altered flight path brought the saucer much closer to the Red Lion than originally anticipated. Because of this the noisy fans reduced the credibility of an otherwise well- planned and carefully executed project. The degree of directional control over this model is also questionable, as the model failed to reach the intended landing site and this was almost certainly caused by the use of a less efficient power source. Nevertheless, considering the brief amount of time allowed for design, con- struction and testing, this was a very impres- sive effort by Robbie Scott, Nigel Blake and their special effects team. Asked about build- ing another flying saucer model, Nigel Blake believes it would be possible to refine the model considerably, improving many aspects of the design including its control, endurance and noise level. Since the programme was shown, Cutting Edge Effects Ltd has ceased trading with the technicians deciding to work independently, and Chrysalis Television has become North One Television. With the stunt completed, Chrysalis had plenty of useful video footage in the can, which looked visually very impressive. Appar- 119 Lighter-Than-Air Vehicles and the UFO Connection