1967 05 13 Science News - Vol 91 No 19 - Flying Saucer from Earth

Magazine Overview

Title: Science News
Issue Date: May 13, 1967
Volume: 91
Issue: 19
Publisher: Society for Science & the Public
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of Science News features an article titled "Flying Saucer from Earth," which explores the development of a homemade flying saucer by Dr. Paul S. Moller.

Flying Saucer from Earth

The main article details the work of Dr. Paul S. Moller, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California's Davis campus, who has built a less elaborate flying saucer than a previous U.S. Air Force project. This current saucer, 14 feet in diameter, has accumulated approximately two hours of test flying time, reaching a maximum of three feet off the ground. It is powered by a pair of 90-horsepower outboard motors driving horizontal propellers, which draw air downward through a ducting system designed by Moller.

Dr. Moller claims his saucer can climb as high as small fixed-wing aircraft. However, due to not being a licensed pilot, he is currently operating under a self-imposed three-foot altitude limit. He notes that the vehicle is more efficient as a hovercraft when close to the ground, able to lift ten times its own weight, suggesting immediate applications in crop dusting. At higher altitudes, it would only support its own weight and that of the pilot, and Moller acknowledges that helicopters become more practical and efficient vehicles at larger sizes.

An improved, smaller saucer, only eight feet in diameter, has already been built but has not yet flown. This version will be powered by four motorcycle engines driving a continuous propeller around the machine's exterior. Dr. Moller anticipates this improved model will be airborne within six months and capable of speeds around 150 miles per hour.

Dr. Moller's background includes work with Canadair Ltd. in Toronto, where he became familiar with the efforts of A. V. Roe and Co., the firm that had previously attempted to develop a saucer for the U.S. Air Force. He suggests that the earlier project may have had excessive funding, leading to inefficiencies, and that his work is a continuation of where they left off.

The article concludes by noting that while Dr. Moller's saucer can get off the ground, the concept's widespread acceptance is not guaranteed. Hovercraft are already in commercial use, and the increasing availability of inexpensive helicopters might mean that flying saucers face similar acceptance challenges as their reported outer-space counterparts.

Advertisements and Other Content

This issue also contains advertisements for:

• Graphic Speed File: A storage system for materials, described as strong, corrugated box-type drawers with hinge lids for protection.
• How to Make Money Writing: A course promising to teach individuals how to earn money writing short paragraphs, with a list of editors who buy from beginners.
• WFF 'N PROOF: A series of educational games focused on logic, mathematics, and set theory, developed by Professor Layman E. Allen.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the practical application of unconventional aircraft technology, specifically focusing on the development of a personal flying saucer. The magazine appears to present technological innovations and scientific advancements, with a neutral stance on the feasibility and potential of Dr. Moller's invention, acknowledging both its promise and the challenges it faces in a competitive market of aerial vehicles.