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Sma AVRO/SPG/TR 25 37. 38. AvBO/SPG/TR 25 AVRO/SPG/TR 25 FIG. 3 CONTROL SHUTTERS FIG. 5 ENGINE INSTALLATION =o FIG. 3 1794 proceeded the USAF specified three retractable landing legs to support the aircraft at 2ft (0.6m) above the ground and official documentation shows that wheels and rub- ber tyres were then added to improve ground handling. Many of the questions raised by Sil- ver Bug also apply to Project 1794. How far did the project actually progress, and did it move sideways into the black domain? At a review body meeting held at Wright- Patterson AFB on 4th November 1955, Avro Canada’s Vice-President Fred T Smye said that his company was ready to begin con- struction of a 1794 prototype. Smye told USAF 1794 proceeded the USAF specified three _ the project actually progress, and did it move _ officials that he was so confident of success retractable landing legs to support the aircraft sideways into the black domain? he would advise the Avro board to put up $4.5 at 2ft (0.6m) above the ground and official At a review body meeting held at Wright- million to ensure the aircraft was built. The documentation shows that wheels and rub- Patterson AFB on 4th November 1955, Avro USAF then calculated that full development ber tyres were then added to improve ground Canada’s Vice-President Fred T Smye said _ of the aircraft over the next five years would handling. Many of the questions raised by Sil- that his company was ready to begin con- cost around $50 million, which was certainly ver Bug also apply to Project 1794. How fardid _ struction of a 1794 prototype. Smye told USAF an acceptable figure for any 1950s high- performance aircraft. One month later Avro advised the USAF that three-quarters of the aircraft had been completed and, in July 1956, USAF Major J W Frost from the Wright-Patterson Air Develop- ment Center (no apparent connection to John Frost) visited Avro to discuss the con- struction of a second prototype. Wind tunnel tests of the 1/6th scale model had now been completed at the Wright Air Development Center and ground effect studies were under way. However, on Ist August 1956 MIT informed the USAF of their separate wind tun- nel tests on 1794 models and a major review of the project followed almost immediately. MIT scientists had decided that the lift/drag (V/d) ratio of a circular planform wing could A photo-realistic simulation of the Avro Canada MX 1794 undergoing secret flight-testing at a remote USAF facility. Bill Rose a> 70 CONTROL SHUTTERS FIG. 5 ASM Viper 8-engine installation for the Avro Canada MX 1794 flying disc. USAF Detail of the complex exhaust shutter control system proposed for the MX 1794 aircraft. USAF Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft