- Hal Puthoff, Ph.D. from the Institute
for Advanced Studies at Austin, TX provides a synopsis of the Unconventional
Flying Objects, by NASA's Paul Hill, Hampton Roads Publ. Co., Charlottesville,
VA 1995 (ISBN 1-57174-027-9). To the degree that the engineering characteristics
of UFOs can be estimated by empirical observation, in this reviewer's opinion
the classic book by Paul Hill provides the most reliable, concise summary
of engineering-type data available.
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- The data were compiled over decades of
research by a Chief Scientist-Manager at NASA Langley Research Center 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.
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- 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.
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- 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).
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- Further detailed investigation indicates
that the particular form of force field propulsion that satisfied 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. 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.
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- 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 shock wave 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.
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- 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 to arise, then surviving it with heat-resistant
materials as is the case of the Shuttle whose surface temperatures can
reach 1300ºC. 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 shock wave 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.
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- 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, 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 and
landing maneuvers.
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- An additional fine point that emerges
from 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.
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- 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
Mg-26, rather than the naturally- occurring distribution among isotopes
Mg-24, Mg-25, and Mg-26. 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.
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- 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. 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 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.
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- Thanks to H.E. Puthoff, Ph.D. Institute
for Advanced Studies at Austin, 4030 W. Braker Lane, Ste. 300, TX 78759.
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