Synopsis of "Unconventional Flying Objects"
by Paul Hill
Foreword
"I have read many books on, for, and against UFOs. Without question, this book
brings the possibility of UFOs as close to reality as anyone could. Paul Hill not only has
the credentials, but also the scientific ingenuity to give us in plain language,
what always seemed unexplainable. The "magical" UFO is suddenly reverse
engineered from the ground up. Though we may lack the scientific knowledge in designing
and constructing the drive to make it work, the first blueprint has been set forth by Paul
Hill."
To the degree that the engineering characteristics of UFOs can be estimated by empirical
observation, in my 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's 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 satisfies 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, then surviving it with
heat-resistant materials as is the case of the Shuttle whose surface temperatures can
reach 1300 oC. 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 or 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 Mg26, rather than the naturally-occurring distribution
among isotopes Mg24, Mg25 and Mg26. 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.
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Footnotes:
1. 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.
2. Ass't Chief, Pilotless Aircraft Research Div.; Assoc. Chief, Applied Materials and
Physics Div. Retired from NASA in 1970.
3. 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.,
vol. 11, p. L73 (1994), and in H. Puthoff, "SETI, the velocity-of-light limitation,
and the Alcubierre warp drive: An integrating overview," Phys. Essays vol. 9, No. 1,
p. 156 (March 1976).
{Hampton Roads Publ. Co., Charlottesville, VA, 1995 (ISBN 1-57174-027-9) 7
March 1997 / JSE Review by H. E. Puthoff, Ph.D.,
Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin, Austin, TX 78759 }
To order Paul Hill's Book: Insight Metaphysical Bookstore 1-888-326-5683 (toll
free in USA or Canada), 1-217-352-5683, fax: 1-217-352-1233 http://www.insight-books.com, e-mail: dreamtime@insight-books.com 505 S. First
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