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Synopsis of Unconventional Flying
Objects: JSE Review
By: H.E. Puthoff
Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin, TX 78759
SUBJECT: Synopsis of Unconventional Flying Objects, by Paul Hill, Hampton
Roads Publ. Co., Charlottesville, VA, 1995 (ISBN 1-57174-027-9)
JSE Review by H. E. Puthoff, Ph.D., Institute for Advanced Studies
at Austin, TX 78759
To the degree that the engineering characteristics of UFOs can be
estimated by empirical observation, in my opinion the above-referenced,
recently-published book by Paul Hill provides the most reliable, concise
summary of engineering-type data available. [1] The data were compiled
over decades of research by a Chief Scientist-Manager at NASA's Langley
Research Center [2] who acted as an informal clearinghouse for UFO-related
data. The strength of the compilation lies in its thoughtful separation
of wheat from chaff, and the analysis of the former into coherent patterns,
including detailed calculations. Perhaps surprising to the casually
interested, under careful examination the observations, rather than
defying the laws of physics as naive interpretation might suggest, instead
appear to be solidly commensurate with them, as the following discussion
shows.
One of the most consistently-observed characteristics of UFO flight
is a ubiquitous pattern in which they tilt to perform all maneuvers.
Specifically, they sit level to hover, tilt forward to move forward,
tilt backward to stop, bank to turn, and descend by "falling-leaf" or
"silver- dollar-wobble" motions. Detailed analysis by Hill shows that
such motion is inconsistent with aerodynamic requirements, but totally
consistent with some form of repulsive force-field propulsion. Not satisfied
with paper analyses alone, Hill arranged to have various forms of jet-supported
and rotor-supported circular flying platforms built and tested. Hill
himself acted as test pilot in early, originally-classified, versions,
and found the above motions the most economical for control purposes.
Pictures of these platforms are included in the text.
In an effort to examine the force-field propulsion hypothesis yet
further, Hill analyzed a number of cases involving near-field interactions
with an apparent craft in which some form of force was in evidence.
These include examples in which a person or vehicle was affected, tree
branches were parted or broken, roof tiles were dislodged, objects were
deflected, and ground or water were disturbed. Under close analysis
the subtleties of these interactions combine to point unequivocally
to a repulsive force field surrounding the craft, while discriminating
against propulsion mechanisms involving jet action, pure electric or
magnetic effects, or the emission of energetic particles or radiation
(although the latter may accompany the propulsive mechanism as a secondary
effect). Further detailed investigation indicates that the particular
form of force field propulsion that satisfies observational constraints
is what Hill labels a directed acceleration field; that is, a field
that is, in general, gravitational-like in nature, and, in particular,
gravity-canceling. [3] Such a field acts on all masses in its sphere
of influence as does a gravitational field. Corollary to this conclusion
is that observed accelerations ~100 g's relative to the environment
could be sustained without on-board high-g forces.
One of the consequences of the above identification of field propulsion
type by Hill is his conclusion, supported by detailed calculation, computer
simulation and wind-tunnel studies, that supersonic flight through the
atmosphere without sonic booms is easily engineered. Manipulation of
the acceleration-type force field would, even at supersonic speeds,
result in a constant-pressure, compression-free zone without shockwave
in which the vehicle is surrounded by a subsonic flow-pattern of streamlines,
and subsonic velocity ratios. An additional benefit of such field control
is that drops of moisture, rain, dust, insects, or other low-velocity
objects would follow streamline paths around the craft rather than impact
it.
Another puzzle resolved by Hill's analysis is that craft observed
to travel continuously at Mach 4 or 5 do not appear to generate temperatures
sufficiently high to be destructive to known materials. In other words,
UFOs appear to prevent high aerodynamic heating rates, rather than permitting
a heating problem, then surviving it with heat- resistant materials
as is the case of the Shuttle whose surface temperatures can reach 1300
degrees C. The resolution of this potential problem is shown by Hill
to derive from the fact that the force-field control that results in
the prevention of shockwave drag as discussed above is also effective
in preventing aerodynamic heating. In effect the airflow approaches,
then springs away from the craft, depositing no energy in the process.
A further example of the type of correlation that emerges from Hill's
analytical approach is provided by an analysis of the economy of various
flight-path profiles. It is shown that high-angle, high- acceleration
departures on ballistic-arc trajectories with high-speed coast segments
are more efficient than, for example, intermediate-level, horizontal-path
trips, both in terms of required impulse-per-unit-mass and time-of-flight
parameters. This he correlates with the observation that UFO departures
are of the dramatically high-angle, high-acceleration type.
Also of interest is Hill's analysis of the spectra and intensity of
an apparent plasma sheath surrounding such craft, the details of which
correlate with what one would expect in terms of it being a secondary
effect associated with the propulsion system, for example, a blue shift
and intensity increase during a "power-up" phase, and the opposite during
hover or landing maneuvers. An additional fine point that emerges from
this analysis is resolution of the paradox that observation on a direct
line-of-sight to a near part of the craft can reveal a metallic-like
structure while the attempt to observe the outline of the craft, necessarily
by an oblique line-of-sight, results in an indistinct blur. Analysis
shows this to be a reasonable outcome of an expected re- absorption
of reflected light by the surrounding plasma in the longer- length path
associated with the more oblique view.
Another typical nugget of information is found in Hill's discussion
of the results of the analysis of a possible UFO artifact, the famous
Ubatuba magnesium fragments claimed to have originated from an exploded
unidentified craft near Ubatuba, Brazil. Laboratory analysis of the
samples found the magnesium to be not only of exceptional purity, and
anomalous in its trace composition of other elements, but 6.7% denser
than ordinary pure magnesium, a figure well beyond the experimental
error of the measurement. Hill's calculation shows that this observation
can be accounted for by assuming that the sample contained only the
pure isotope Mg26, rather than the naturally-occurring distribution
among isotopes Mg24, Mg25 and Mg26. Since the only isotope separation
on a significant scale in terrestrial manufacture is that of uranium,
such a result must be considered at least anomalous, and possibly as
evidence for extraterrestrial manufacture.
Additional calculations concerning the parameters of interstellar
travel (including relativistic effects), and the energetics of such
travel, have been performed and are included in tabular and graphical
form. The wealth of material in these sections, along with discussion
of the broad implications of this material, reveal the dedication and
thoroughness of Hill's approach to his self-assigned task.
In the final analysis, one must conclude that Hill has assembled as
good a case as can be made on the basis of presently available data
that the observation of some "unconventional flying objects" is compatible
with the presence of engineered platforms weighing in at something around
30 tons, which are capable of 100-g accelerations and 9000-mph speeds
in the atmosphere. Perhaps more important for the technical reader,
however, is Hill's supporting argumentation, based on solid analysis,
that these platforms, although exhibiting the application of physics
and engineering principles clearly beyond our present-day capabilities,
do not appear to defy these principles in any fundamental way.
1. The book also comes highly recommended in a Frontispiece by Apollo
14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell, and in a Foreword by retired McDonnell
Douglas R&D manager Robert M. Wood. [Back]
2. Ass't Chief, Pilotless Aircraft Research Div.; Assoc. Chief,
Applied Materials and Physics Div. Retired from NASA in 1970. [Back]
3.Recent examples of the discussion of the technical aspects of
candidate field propulsion mechanisms of this type are given in M.
Alcubierre, "The warp drive: hyper-fast travel within general relativity,"
Class. and Quantum Grav., vol. 11, p. L73 (1994), and in H. Puthoff,
"SETI, the velocity-of-light limitation, and the Alcubierre warp drive:
An integrating overview," Phys. Essays vol. 9, No. 1, p. 156 (March
1996). [Back]
Copyrighted ©1997 by H.E. Puthoff
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