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50 immediately classified Top Secret, with aspects of Townsend Brown’s work remain- ing under wraps until 1990 when USAF docu- ment 13-1-00034-5879 was finally released. In the meantime, Townsend Brown began to develop plans for an anti-gravity combat air- craft called Project Winterhaven. In 1953 Townsend Brown finally secured the Pentagon’s attention and put ona demon- stration for senior USAF officers. He used a 2ft (61.0cm)-diameter model disc attached to a 20ft (6.1m)-diameter test rig and the leading edge of his model was charged to 150,000 volts. Once in flight, the model quickly accel- erated to a speed of 17ft/sec (5.2m/sec). The small disc silently whirled around the test rig, surrounded by a faintly perceptible blue-vio- let glow that some observers described as rather eerie. Soon after this Townsend Brown conducted a second demonstration of discs with a 3ft (91.4cm)-diameter model rotating at much higher speed around a 50ft (15m)- diameter course. USAF officials were so impressed that much of the research was Illustration of small disc-shaped model used to demonstrate Townsend Brown’s electrogravitic theory. US Patent Office Patent (293465), describing his invention as _20ft (6.1m)-diameter test rig and the leading the meantime, Townsend Brown began to an electrokinetic apparatus. This application edge of his model was charged to 150,000 develop plans for an anti-gravity combat air- was abandoned (for unknown reasons) and _ volts. Once in flight, the model quickly accel- craft called Project Winterhaven. replaced by a second almost identical appli- erated to a speed of 17ft/sec (5.2m/sec). The cation in 1957, which was published on 16th small disc silently whirled around the test rig, Project Winterhaven August 1960 as Patent No 2,949,550. surrounded by a faintly perceptible blue-vio- Townsend Brown’s Winterhaven aircraft The demonstrations at his Cleveland labora- let glow that some observers described as would use an electrostatic field generation tory are said to have been very impressive, _ rather eerie. Soon after this Townsend Brown _ system for its propulsion, which was sup- although some scientists suggested that the conducted a second demonstration of discs _ ported by conventional turbojets. Once air- models were propelled by negative ions hitting — with a 3ft (91.4cm)-diameter model rotating borne, the leading edge would be positively the positive electrode and creating pressure, at much higher speed around a 50ft (15m)- charged to several million volts, while the rather than the generation of a gravity wave.In diameter course. USAF officials were so exhaust flow became negatively charged to faimess, Townsend Brown was always cau- impressed that much of the research was the same value. This would (according to tious with descriptions of his work in technical literature and often avoided discussion of grav- ity. As an example of this, he had the following to say about electrokinetic action: ‘While the phenomenon just described has been observed and its existence confirmed by repeated experiment, the principles involved are not completely understood’. Nevertheless, after his discovery had been described as Elec- tric Wind by several fellow _ scientists, Townsend Brown and his colleague Dr Mason Rose began a series of experiments with mod- els inside a vacuum chamber. These trials seemed to conclusively prove that more was taking place than just ionic airflow. During the 1950s Avro Aircraft UK were apparently experimenting with electrogravitic technology and produced several designs for fighter aircraft similar to Winterhaven. This concept is purely speculative and is based on word of mouth information. Bill Rose : = = Project Winterhaven Townsend Brown’s Winterhaven aircraft would use an electrostatic field generation system for its propulsion, which was sup- ported by conventional turbojets. Once air- borne, the leading edge would be positively charged to several million volts, while the exhaust flow became negatively charged to the same value. This would (according to During the 1950s Avro Aircraft UK were apparently experimenting with electrogravitic technology and produced several designs for fighter aircraft similar to Winterhaven. This concept is purely speculative and is based on word of mouth information. Bill Rose 163 Exotic Propulsion Systems