UM-Bot Posted May 27, 2014 #1 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Retired engineer Duan Phillips has spent the last 15 years constructing a saucer-shaped flying vehicle. The 86-year-old has been building his 5. 5m "lift activator disc" inside a hangar at the Rutherford Aerodrome in Maitland, Australia and believes that once completed it will have the potential to revolutionize air travel all across the world. Read More: http://www.unexplain...n-flying-saucer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted May 27, 2014 #2 Share Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) Yes well good luck with that crackpot idea! There's a reason none of the worlds civilian or military aircraft use disc shaped craft... They cant fly Far too unstable.. (and yes they did try) . Edited May 27, 2014 by seeder 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundew Posted May 27, 2014 #3 Share Posted May 27, 2014 I was expecting only blurry, distant pictures of his vehicle. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted May 27, 2014 #4 Share Posted May 27, 2014 'has spent the last 15 years', '86-year-old retired engineer' Time is not on his side... It looks extremely crude as well. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taniwha Posted May 27, 2014 #5 Share Posted May 27, 2014 I like how he has recycled abandoned shopping trolleys to construct the landing gear 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qxcontinuum Posted May 27, 2014 #6 Share Posted May 27, 2014 It won't fly. Has been tried before by professionals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Merton Posted May 27, 2014 #7 Share Posted May 27, 2014 I would guess there are a few dozen of those things under construction in various garages around the world, not all with the same purpose though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldorado Posted May 27, 2014 #8 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Am wishing he also had a flying tea-cup. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr no Posted May 27, 2014 #9 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Did he back engineer that from something he saw when he worked at Area 51? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetpumper Posted May 27, 2014 #10 Share Posted May 27, 2014 A jet or propeller, huh? How advanced. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdesert50 Posted May 27, 2014 #11 Share Posted May 27, 2014 I am unsure how this differs from hovercraft or ground effect vehicles, such as the Russian Lun Ekranoplan. I suppose the "unexplained mystery" is why the saucer shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinewave Posted May 27, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) Yeah, revolutionize. That's the word I would use to describe what that would do to aviation. Discs have been tried and they can fly but are not terribly efficient aerodynamically or in terms of internal space. When this guy dies, someone will start a story about how he was killed for getting too close to the truth. Edited May 27, 2014 by sinewave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibeliever Posted May 27, 2014 #13 Share Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) The theory for disk shape craft is sound. I think his idea of spinning the outer disk to provide stability is inpired. But one of the biggest problems he'll face is engine weight to thrust ratio. He's going to have to move A LOT of air down that frame to create the lift he needs and spin that outer hull fast enough to be stable. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel sitting on top of a home-made turbine generating that much force. Edited May 27, 2014 by Calibeliever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinewave Posted May 27, 2014 #14 Share Posted May 27, 2014 The theory for disk shape craft is sound. I think his idea of spinning the outer disk to provide stability is inpired. But one of the biggest problems he'll face is engine weight to thrust ratio. He's going to have to move A LOT of air down that frame to create the lift he needs and spin that outer hull fast enough to be stable. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel sitting on top of a home-made turbine generating that much force. I'd be nervous operating it remotely much less being in it. It seems to me similar ideas have been tried or at least designed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oppono Astos Posted May 27, 2014 #15 Share Posted May 27, 2014 (edited) Not much of an invention, surely using the same principle for flight that Rene Couzinet tried in the 1950s? EDIT: See Couzinet RC360 Aerodyne - first read about this in an issue of RAF Flying Review dated from the late 50s Edited May 27, 2014 by Oppono Astos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PersonFromPorlock Posted May 27, 2014 #16 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Fifty years ago: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinewave Posted May 27, 2014 #17 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Fifty years ago: That's a great picture. I love stuff like that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poltergeistnz Posted May 28, 2014 #18 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I was expecting only blurry, distant pictures of his vehicle. Best post in the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qxcontinuum Posted May 28, 2014 #19 Share Posted May 28, 2014 (edited) Fifty years ago: I can actually do better: 55 years ago. When i said it was tried by professionals I wasn't kidding. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_VZ-9_Avrocar The conclusion; It is known so far that the disk flying shape is unstable and not capable of reaching higher speeds if ever flying. I bet some of the tests done 50 years ago has sparked the UFO enthusiasts imagination giving birth to a myth. In my opinion 99.99% of all ufo sightings are earth in origins. However there is a genuine concern of 0.1% that is unexplained. Edited May 28, 2014 by qxcontinuum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyche101 Posted May 28, 2014 #20 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Not much of an invention, surely using the same principle for flight that Rene Couzinet tried in the 1950s? EDIT: See Couzinet RC360 Aerodyne - first read about this in an issue of RAF Flying Review dated from the late 50s I was thinking the very same thing. I was discussing these vehicles with Admiral Rhubarb a while back. Same principal exactly isn't it? It is zany and I absolutely love it, go Aussie. I hope it flies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyche101 Posted May 28, 2014 #21 Share Posted May 28, 2014 (edited) I can actually do better: 55 years ago. When i said it was tried by professionals I wasn't kidding. http://en.wikipedia....da_VZ-9_Avrocar The conclusion; It is known so far that the disk flying shape is unstable and not capable of reaching higher speeds if ever flying. I bet some of the tests done 50 years ago has sparked the UFO enthusiasts imagination giving birth to a myth. In my opinion 99.99% of all ufo sightings are earth in origins. However there is a genuine concern of 0.1% that is unexplained. Entirely different concept, the one Oppono Astos mentioned is the principal he is using. It never flew at all due to budget constraints. The photograp above, taken during an engine-running test, show the Aerodyne as it will look just before verticale take-off - with its contra-rotating vanes merging into a blur. From the OP Link: Mr Phillips, an 86-year-old retired engineer, admitted yesterday the engine needed "a bit" of an upgrade to get his aircraft off the ground, but he said that a scale model (which sadly crashed into the hangar soon after its maiden takeoff) proved the concept could work. Edited May 28, 2014 by psyche101 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted May 28, 2014 #22 Share Posted May 28, 2014 It won't fly. Has been tried before by professionals. I guess the Wright Bros were told the same thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted May 28, 2014 #23 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Fifty years ago: Looks like the Jupiter II 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted May 28, 2014 #24 Share Posted May 28, 2014 (edited) That's a great picture. I love stuff like that. Then you should look into this Russian one then http://www.ekip-aviation-concern.com/eng-b/1.shtml [media=] [/media] Edited May 28, 2014 by seeder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinewave Posted May 28, 2014 #25 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I can actually do better: 55 years ago. When i said it was tried by professionals I wasn't kidding. http://en.wikipedia....da_VZ-9_Avrocar The conclusion; It is known so far that the disk flying shape is unstable and not capable of reaching higher speeds if ever flying. I bet some of the tests done 50 years ago has sparked the UFO enthusiasts imagination giving birth to a myth. In my opinion 99.99% of all ufo sightings are earth in origins. However there is a genuine concern of 0.1% that is unexplained. The Avro Car was an ambitious project but it failed to meet expectations of speed and altitude. It had way too many practical problem that I doubt even today would make much sense to solve. The design was supposed to evolve into a high-altitude fighter but stability and thrust issues made the USAF look at more conventional designs. In the end, it was never much more than a hovering ground vehicle. The USAF seldom if ever works with ideas from a only one design team. There may well have been other disc designs from other builders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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