Thursday, October 05, 2006

Invisible drone

The so-called Phantom Sentinel aircraft is Y-shaped, consisting of a single long wing attached to two short aerodynamic extensions which each end in a propeller. And the weight is carefully balanced so that the centre of mass is positioned between the two extensions. When the motors are running, the solid part of the aircraft spins around this centre of mass, and the longer wing generates lift. The whole thing moves so fast that persistence of vision turns it into a single blur.

(Via Unknown Country.)


Watching a video of the Phantom Sentinel in flight, I was struck by just how closely it resembles some UFOs, particularly when seen edge-on. Further, attaching a single light to the rotor would produce an illuminated "ring" that would increase the craft's resemblance to the archetypal flying saucer . . .

I take it for granted that many honest UFO reports actually describe secret drone aircraft. And I suspect that the military capitalizes on the public's interest in UFOs by furthering this misidentification, perhaps even sowing "extraterrestrial" memes to discourage attention.

Perhaps careful analysis of archived UFO videotape can determine whether or not UFO behavior is consistent with "invisible drone" technology.

1 comment:

wildone_106 said...

I doubt it'd be that silent (fairly close to) and would'nt be able to perform manouvers consistent with other sightings i.e. incredible accelerations
but Im sure the local yokel will think its an alien.