Subject: ::: Unconventional Flying Objects :::

National Institute for Discovery Science

Book Review by Hal Puthoff, Ph.D.
Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin, TX

Synopsis of _Unconventional Flying Objects_, by Paul Hill, Hampton
Roads Publ. Co., Charlottesville, VA  1995 (ISBN 1-57174-027-9),
$15.95

To the degree that the engineering characteristics of UFOs can be
estimated by empirical observation, in this reviewer's 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 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 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. (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 to arise, then surviving it
with heat-resistant materials as is the case of the Shuttle whose
surface temperatures can reach 1300øC.  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 and 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 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.

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.

H.E. Puthoff, Ph.D.
Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin
4030 W. Braker Lane, Ste. 300
Austin, TX 78759
E-mail: puthoff@aol.com


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., Ass't Chief, Pilotless Aircraft
Research Div., Assoc. Chief Applied Materials and Physics Div. Retired
from NASA in 1970.

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. 11, L73 (1994), and in H.
Puthoff, "SETI, the velocity-of-light limitation and the Alcubierre
Warp Drive: An integrating overview," Phys. Essays 9, No. 1, 156
(March 1996).

This book review originally appeared in the
Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 10 No. 4, 1996
P.O. Box 5848, Stanford, CA 94309-5848 USA
Phone (415) 593-8581    Fax (415) 595-4466
E-mail sim@jse.com      WWW http://www.jse.com/

Copyright 1996 National Institute for Discovery Science
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This article was originally posted to usenet by
Blue Resonant Human, Ph.D.  Phone (619) 678-4240
E-mail density4@cts.com  WWW http://www.brotherblue.org/
....and should be considered in conjunction with the preceding
article entitled "False Miracles In The Sky: Is the US Military in the
business of hoaxing UFOs?"

Caveat Emptor, Cui Bono?, Quid Veritas Est?, etc.;

-Fratre Caeruleus, B:.B:., 33°
"Beyond the word and the fool"