Romanian Scientists Construct A Real Flying Saucer. Unbelievably, It’s Not The First Of Its Kind
When most people think about aliens, they picture large-headed beings with big black eyes who fly in saucer-shaped spaceships. The concept of the flying saucer and its connection with aliens was mostly a product of science fiction until two Romanian scientists built one of the vehicles for themselves. Take a look at how they constructed their creation, the inspiration behind it, and intriguing stories of supposed UFO sightings throughout history.
Incredible Video Footage
In August 2019, a video that went viral was uploaded to YouTube. It showed what appeared to be footage of a flying saucer. The object looked like a UFO right out of a science fiction movie as it was circular, was capable of flying in all directions, and could make extreme maneuvers in the sky.
Although the flying saucer looked like it was ready to fly off to an alien planet, that's not what its creators intended for it to do.
It Was Built By Romanian Scientists
As it turns out, the flying saucer wasn't some kind of alien ship. In fact, it is officially known as an All Directions Flying Object, or ADIFO, engineered by Razvan Sabie and aerodynamicist Iosif Taposu, who are both from Romania.
Iosif Taposu was once a senior scientist at Romania's National Institute for Aerospatial Research. Currently, Taposu is now the head of Theoretical Aerodynamics at the National Aviation Institute, so it's no surprise he built a flying saucer.
It Took Two Decades Of Work
In an interview with Vice in August 2019, Sabie explained precisely what went into the construction of the All Directions Flying Object and how it works.
He stated, "[t]he aerodynamics behind this aircraft is the result of more than two decades of work and is very well reasoned in hundreds of pages and confirmed by computer simulations and wind tunnel tests." Now, it is finally in the air, and there is even video evidence to prove that it successfully works.
It Didn't Copy Descriptions Of UFOs
The viral YouTube clip was uploaded by the account Tech World, and it captured the saucer's incredible maneuvers. The mechanism hovered in place and performing vertical take-offs.
According to the inventors, unlike what most people might assume, the design wasn't done in an attempt to copy traditional ideas of what UFOs look like. In fact, its origins date back much farther than that. Regardless, it's still incredible to see something existing in most people's imaginations come to life.
Its Design Was Inspired By Dolphins
Although the ADIFO craft by Razvan Sabie and Iosif Taposu may look like the flying saucer that most people think of, its design has a much more natural origin. The shape is based on an airfoil, which can be seen in nature as a dolphin's flipper fin, allowing its entire body to act as a low-drag wing.
This allows the animal to navigate through water with efficiency and speed. This design allows for the saucer to fly in all different directions, but that's only one of the advantages.
It's Shape Allows It To Do Things Other Aircraft Can't
On top of the use of an airfoil, the scientists' saucer also has a pair of jet engines and operates like a quadcopter. This is due to the four fans located on the bottom, which launch the craft into the air and allow it to hover.
According to the saucer's inventors, with the right jets, the craft's unique shape would allow for the saucer to achieve supersonic speeds without producing the sonic boom that occurs when moving faster than the speed of light.
It Could Be Used For Military Purposes
According to Tech World, which uploaded the video to YouTube, the ADIFO could also be used for military purposes. The narrator explains that "[It] can be used as an unmanned aerial vehicle, unmanned combat aerial vehicle or even a fighter aircraft, due to its… hypermaneuverability… and a very low rate of signature."
Furthermore, if the aircraft could transition to supersonic speeds without making any noise, it would be a perfect tool to use during espionage missions.
It Could Eventually Be Piloted From Inside
The builders of the ADIFO also claim that in time, the aircraft could be piloted by a human from inside if a large enough one was constructed.
However, this would only be possible if future manufacturers were to install a jet and a hybrid propulsion system into it. It isn't just these Romanian scientists who are looking to make the craft available for use by the military. The United States have had their eyes on such a design for quite a while.
The United States Wanted In On The Action
In 2017, the United States Navy was granted a patent for a new and improved aircraft that would be able to accomplish many (and even more) of the same capabilities as the ADIFO claims to have.
According to the Navy, their new aircraft will also have the ability to glide underwater and withstand the harsh conditions of space. The patent application also claims that the Navy's craft will also have "enhanced stealth capabilities."
The Navy's Craft Would Have Incredible Technology
The Navy's patent also noted that the craft would be "enclosed in a vacuum plasma bubble/sheath." Metro further explained that it would "feature a cavity wall filled with gas, which is then made to vibrate using powerful electromagnetic waves.
This then creates a vacuum around the craft, allowing it to propel itself at high speeds." This is only in theory as it hasn't been tested. Just because the patent was granted doesn't mean that anything has been constructed yet.
Science Or Science Fiction?
With all of this incredible technology under discussion, many of the concepts from the Navy and other scientists seem almost unbelievable. In April 2019, Nick Pope, an ex-UFO investigator for the British government, told Metro, "It's sometimes hard to tell where the boundary lies between fringe science and science fiction."
Considering that people are attempting to make flying saucers of their own which would be comparable to those we see in science fiction films, it's hard to disagree.
Pope Believes The World Is About To Change
Pope sincerely believes that if any of these ideas are actually attempted and work, then we are on the brink of a new age in human history.
He went on to explain to Metro, "[e]ven if the theoretical physics turns out to be sound, aeronautical engineers will still have to build something if this [patent] is to have any tangible effect. If they have built the technology described in the patents, I'm sure the program is highly classified. The bottom line is that if any of this works, we’re in game-changing territory."
The United States Has Been Interested In Saucer Aircraft For Some Time
Although the United States is currently attempting to create some of the most advanced aircraft ever known to man, they have been interested in such technology for quite some time. Intrigue in UFO-style aircraft dates back to the 1950s.
During that time, the military commissioned a flying saucer-inspired ship that they intended to use for military missions. Not only did they expect to put it to use, but they thought that it would become as popularly used as the Jeep.
The Avrocar Was Supposed To Be The Future
The United States government at the time was sincerely interested in the project, thinking that it would be a new and improved way to transport troops. Supposedly, Air Force Dynamic lab engineer Bernard Lindenbaum went to the government to request funding for the improvement of helicopters.
However, upon arrival, he was told that the development of helicopters would be put on hold and that the military would soon use a new aircraft known as the Avrocar.
Plans For The Avrocar Began In The Early 1950s
The much-anticipated Avrocar came from the mind of British engineer John "Jack" Frost, with its design being started in the early 1950s. Around that time, Frost was working for the Special Projects Department of the aircraft manufacturer, Avro Canada.
Frost was able to convince the United States military that travel using a flying saucer wasn't just theoretically plausible, but that he himself could make it happen. Unfortunately, the first two aircraft that he built didn't work as Frost had expected.
Beginning Testing
Although there were some issues with the Avrocar, by 1959, it was ready for testing to see if it was a viable option as a new form of military transportation. While the craft did leave the ground, it couldn't get much higher than just three feet, which isn't exactly optimal for a flying vehicle.
On top of that, those piloting the Avrocar noted that the heat inside of the cockpit was unbearable and it was only capable of traveling around 35 miles per hour.
There Were Even More Issues
Along with the cockpit being incredibly hot and the craft only hovering three feet above the ground and traveling at 35 miles per hour, there were other issues. One of the biggest ones was that the Avrocar made a horrible screeching noise when in operation that was almost unbearable to be around.
In 1961, funding for the project was cut off. One of the two planes made its way into the Cold War Gallery in the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and the other was put into storage in 2002.
From Myth To Reality
Since ancient times, there have been reports of flying saucers seen in the sky. Yet, today, they are becoming a product of our own creation. We've come a long way so far, although the Romanian scientists note that the ADIFO is just "the tip of the iceberg."
They went on to add that currently, there are two government entities, venture funds, an aircraft manufacturer, and ten possible partners that are interested in their product. However, with the United States involved in their own projects, it's only a matter of time before we see who had the first fully functioning flying saucer.
Sightings In Ancient Rome
A few of the sightings in Rome include an airborne craft in the skies above Rome in 218 BC and a silver object shaped like a jar that was hovering around what is modern-day Turkey.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, numerous sightings can be found in artwork and literature of the time. The reports then began to come from all over the world, and in the following centuries, there were more and more sightings.
UFO Sightings Throughout History
UFO sightings aren't just a modern phenomenon but have been documented in history throughout the ages, with some of the earliest taking place in ancient Egypt. There is even a Tulli Papyrus manuscript that was recorded during the Eighteenth Dynasty, which claims that Thutmose III had seen "fiery disks" hovering in the sky.
Some people also believe there are UFOs in the Bible, and at least five similar sightings were documented during the time of ancient Rome.
Sightings Increased In World War II
In the 1940s, particularly during World War II, UFO sighting became increasingly more frequent, especially among pilots. In one instance, a group of Allied pilots described seeing a circular, glowing object during an air battle with the enemy.
A number of the pilots reported seeing the same thing, claiming they were fiery globes while others saying they were orange, white, or red orbs. However, according to pilots, they weren't just hovering there either.
They Called Them "Foo Fighters"
Among themselves, the airmen referred to these strange objects as "foo fighters," because it almost seemed like they were toying with the Allied pilots. The pilots also reported that the UFOs would dash around in the sky, performing maneuvers that no normal plane could, and then completely disappearing.
Eyewitnesses also believed that the unidentified aircraft were being controlled by highly-skilled pilots, although they were never hostile. These were the earliest of countless similar sightings among pilots in the future.
Coining The Term "Flying Saucer"
In 1947, the term "flying saucer" was unintentionally coined after there was a reported UFO sighting over the skies of Washington. Pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying his private plane at the time of the sighting when he noticed something strange.
He claims to have seen a group of around nine crescent-shaped aircraft flying impossibly fast. He went so far as to describe them as "like saucers skipping on water." In a newspaper article reporting the even, the UFOs were described as saucers, and the name stuck.
One Of The Most Famous UFO Sightings Of All Time
Not long after the sighting by Kenneth Arnold in Washington came one of the most notorious UFO sightings ever recorded. However, in this case, the object wasn't found flying across the sky but instead appeared to have crash-landed.
A local rancher named W.W. "Mac" Brazel discovered the wreckage near a military base in the New Mexico city of Roswell. The crashed UFO was reportedly around 600 feet long.
The Press Had A Field Day
Of course, with people claiming that they had discovered a crashed UFO, reporters were all over the story. Local newspapers were quick to print that the object found had been an alien craft. However, the United States military strongly disagreed.
Instead, they claimed that the wreckage was nothing more than a downed weather balloon. However, the remains of the craft and what was printed in the paper seemed to say otherwise.
The Truth Comes To Light
Fifty years after what was thought to be an alien ship had crash-landed in Roswell, the United States military finally came clean about what had actually happened. According to them, the craft had been built for what was known as Project Mogul.
The goal of the project was to collect information about Soviet nuclear testing. At the time of the crash, they were running experiments by attaching microphones capable of detecting sound waves from atomic explosions on high-altitude balloons.
Not Everyone Was Convinced
Although Project Mogul had some minor success, its cost, along with the introduction of air sampling and seismic detectors to detect nuclear explosions, resulted in it being shut down.
Of course, this explanation for what had crash-landed in that field in Roswell came far too late to stop any conspiracies that had begun to circulate. Then, only a few years later, another event brought the discussion of aliens to the forefront once again.
Another Roswell Sighting
Further alien conspiracies began to unfold after another sighting in Roswell in the 1950s. However, this time, witnesses claimed to have seen bodies with aluminum bones and latex skin falling from the sky.
While this is unlikely to have happened, it was more than enough evidence for believers to claim that extraterrestrial life had been visiting Earth. The government was once again quick to retrieve whatever had fallen from the sky, which only raised further suspicion.
What The Bodies Really Were
According to official reports, the supposed extraterrestrial bodies that witnesses saw falling from the sky weren't aliens at all. In reality, they were mannequins being tested by the government to see whether pilots could survive falling from particular aircraft.
Unsurprisingly, this somewhat reasonable explanation was far from sufficient evidence for people who were convinced that aliens had repeatedly visited Roswell. On top of that, sightings continued to increase in that area, adding fuel to the fire.
The Government Began To Investigate
In 1948, the United States Air Force began investigating the phenomena of UFOs for themselves. However, with the Cold War, the government had a different thought as to what the aircraft were. The military had one explanation for these UFOs, and it certainly wasn't aliens.
To them, the unidentified flying objects could only be one thing, the Soviet Union. They assumed that the Soviets had become advanced enough to create such aircraft, which was extremely concerning.
Reason For Concern
Any type of unidentified flying aircraft was a concern to the United States military and government. So, in 1948, the United States established Project Sign, intending to investigate if "UFOs" were, in fact, Soviet aircraft.
Although many experts were convinced that they were Soviet aircraft, there were still some who thought it was entirely possible that aliens were piloting the flying objects. This resulted in the creation of the Extra-Terrestrial Hypothesis.
The Creation Of Project Blue Book
Project Sign then gave way to Project Grudge, and in 1952, officially changed its name to Project Blue Book. Under this new name, the study of unidentified flying objects would go on to become the longest-running investigation on record.
The project would continue for around two decades, proving how seriously people were taking the issue at the time.
Identified And Unidentified
Between the years 1952 and 1969, Project Blue Book managed to collect stories of over 12,000 UFO sightings that had been recorded. Out of these 12,000 sightings, investigators then placed each claim in the category of either "identified" or "unidentified."
The "identified" category included reports that could be traced back to be man-made, astronomical, or atmospheric events. The "unidentified" category, which consisted of 6% of the 12,000, were sightings that had no real explanation, which baffled both scientists and the military.
The Government Got Involved
Around the time that the United States Air Force was first developing Project Blue Book, the government decided to do some of its own investigating on the matter. So, in 1953, a panel of experts gathered to discuss potential extraterrestrial phenomena, consisting of astronomers, physicists, and rocket scientists.
Together, the group spent three days analyzing the data taken from Project Blue Book, as well as interviewing military personnel and going over photographs and films that supposedly captured UFO activity.
The Panel Came To A Conclusion
The meeting of these great minds ended with some significant results. After combing through the data, the group concluded that around 90 percent of the UFO reports were indeed explainable.
The majority of them were attributed to ion clouds, balloons, bright planets, lights, meteors, and planes. In the end, the panel came to the agreement that the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis was unlikely, considering that there was very little evidence to prove otherwise.
People Still Weren't Convinced
Although experts announced that none of the UFO sightings were likely related to extraterrestrials, they still had a hard time convincing believers otherwise. Some people were still sure that this was all a government cover-up and that Aliens had been repeatedly visiting Earth for whatever reason.
In 1966, the United States military requested another review of the Project Blue Book findings. This time, the committee took two years reviewing the information, with 37 researchers studying 59 specific studies.
The Closing Of Project Blue Book
Although there were still a lot of people who believed that the UFO sightings were the result of aliens, the second committee to review the evidence once again confirmed that the UFO sightings were nothing more than everyday phenomena.
Therefore, they recommended that there be no further investigation of the supposed reports. This suggestion, on top of a reduction of alleged sightings, led to the closure of Project Blue Book in 1969.
Investigations Continued, But Not By The Government
Although official investigations, such as Private Blue Book, came to an end, that wasn't enough to dissuade firm believers in their thoughts about aliens. This time, it was citizens who decided to take matters into their own hands.
One of the leaders of these investigations was J. Allen Hynek, a former scientist on the government committee. He went on to establish the Center for UFO Studies in 1973. During this time, while the Chicago-based organization was doing its own studies, two European scientists were busy building their own flying saucer.
This Is What The Government Wants You To Think
Basically, the government wants you to know nothing about Area 51. Because of the "Freedom of Information Act" from 2005, though, they can no longer deny the existence of suspicious installation.
Conspiracy theorists will always think the site is hiding information about alien life and technology. Others believe the site is used for testing experimental aircraft and weapons. What secrets are really hiding underneath the sand? Let's take a peek!
Most UFO Sightings Are Because Of Area 51
Every year countless UFO sightings are reported across the United States. According to theorists, these UFOs originate from Area 51. If you believe the government is testing alien technology at the base, then this makes perfect sense. Still, where is the military getting this technology from?
From the stars. It all started in Roswell, New Mexico when an alien spaceship supposedly crash-landed. Whatever happened then may hold the answers to what's been happening in Nevada since.
It Could Be Where Top Secret Files Go To Die
Try as the government might, it's impossible to stop former employees from talking. Those brave enough to talk about life at Area 51 after getting the ax haven't revealed a lot, but they have hinted that every government file ever is stored at the base.
This might explain while the area is so heavily guarded. It's like using the same password for social media and email account. Only worse, much worse. Unless, of course, you have a literal army to protect it. Coming up, was the truth revealed in the 1980s?
The Truth Was Revealed In The 1980s
In the 1980s, a man named Robert Lazar was interviewed by a Las Vegas news station and admitted he had been hired "nearby" to fix broken UFOs. Obviously, this admission was a big no-no, and Lazar quickly took his story back.
Now we don't know what to believe! When Lazar gave his interview, he spoke with conviction and certainty. Did the government force him to take the truth back, or was he a liar looking for attention and his 15 minutes of fame?
It's Bigger Than You Think
Toss out any preconceived concept you might have had about how big Area 51 is. It's much bigger than you imagine. There's way more to the regular base. As we know, it's in the Nevada Test Site and Training Range. That alone is 4,687 square miles.
That's three times bigger than Rhode Island! If this were an alien testing grounds, it sure is big enough to be one. Once again, we may never know the real truth, but the size of the area still leaves everyone suspicious.
The Roots Of The Area
Area 51 is more than just folklore about aliens. Even if America is reverse engineering alien technology there, it wasn't always the purpose. The original use of this site was for World War II.
During times of war, you need always to have a practice field. It just so happen out of the vacant spots in the location, Area 51 transformed into a gun range. The range was for Army Air Corp pilots and troops. The U.S. just shifted uses for the spot, that's all.
Don't Follow The White Bus
Employees and contractors who work at Area 51 are not allowed to drive their personal vehicles on site. Instead, a mysterious white bus picks them at various locations, only stopping briefly at each place.
Locals who have seen the bus say it drives at reckless speeds as it transports staff to and from the base. And if you try and follow the bus on the specially paved roads, the driver will call the cops on you. Next, NASA knows the truth and you can too!
NASA Knows What's There, But Don't Ask Them About It
In 1974 astronauts orbiting the Earth were taking photos for NASA when they snagged an image of Area 51. The problem is, they had been instructed to avoid taking pictures of the Nevada desert. Oops!
NASA fought the government, claiming they had rights to the accidental photo. They won and the picture was placed in quietly in the Skylab collection. It can be seen by the public. Next, we know you've heard of the white bus, but what about Janet Airlines?
What Is Janet Airlines?
Just like the white bus, there is an airline that supposedly transports employees and contractors from the Las Vegas airport to Area 51. The plane travels under the name Janet Airlines and occupies a private wing at the desert's flight hub.
In 2018, the airline posted a job opening for cabin crew, causing a stir in the community. Job requirements included the ability to handle "unusual incidents like hijackings or bomb threats." Oh, and any applicants must also qualify for "top secret government security clearance."
A Family Rejected A $5.2 Million Offer From The Military To Buy Their Home Six Miles From The Site
The Sheahan family bought the land that would become Groom Mine in 1889. Located six miles outside of Area 51, the family has been exposed to radiation, been threatened by military personnel, and have dealt with strafing gunfire. Despite it all, they refuse to move.
Most recently the family rejected $5.2 million from the military to buy the land. There are two options here. Either the Sheahans know something they aren't supposed to, or they're crazier than the craziest conspiracy theorists! Coming up, Google Earth spills the alien beans.
Google Earth Has A Secret To Tell
In 2016, an image from Google Earth revealed something the government probably didn't want us to know. Located in Area 6 of the Yucca Flat test site there's a landing strip that stretches out for a mile.
Is this where Janet Airlines lands to drop off employees? That's the logical assumption. The government, as they do, refuses to say what the strip is for, leading people to believe other kinds of less earthly aircraft are being tests on the landing strip.
If The Moon Landing Was Fake, This Is Where It Was Filmed
There are thousands of theories of where the moon landing was filmed if it was faked. The most credible of those theories is Area 51. Equipment for the operation was tested in Nevada at a nuclear testing site. Videos of the astronauts before the mission even show them casually hanging out with military personnel.
One conspiracy theorist even put his money where his mouth was in 1974 and published a book calledWe Never Went to the Moon: America's Thirty Billion Dollar Swindle. But then how did the mission bring back 842 pounds of moon rock?
Call It Paradise Ranch
Back when Area 51 was generating a lot of attention as a testing site for military tech, engineer Kelly Johnson thought of an idea. He planned to rebrand the area so that it would be more attractive for families to want and come out to the middle of the desert
Johnson ended up nicknaming it Paradise Ranch. A bit of a stretch because everyone knows there's nothing but dust and dirt in the middle of the Nevada desert.
Being A Tourist
If you wish to visit Area 51, then the closest you can get is the back and front gates. It would be wise of you not to try and enter because the penalty is steep. As the red signs outline, you can get a fine of $1,000 or go to jail for six months.
Tourists can also get a feel for the area by staying in Rachel, Nevada. Their website says the human population is 98 and the alien population is "??." There is also a conspiracy-focused Dreamland Resort.
A Secret Is Out
We don't know what exactly is going on in this secret area. All we know is everything that becomes revealed to the public. Conspiracy theories only go so far, but sometimes sound like they could be right. Everyone believes we captured a UFO there, but there was something we for sure caught.
Files from 2013 told us that we did test secretly acquired Soviet MiG fighters while the Cold War happened. They labeled this secretive testing HAVING DOUGHNUT, HAVE DRILL, and HAVE FERRY.
Clinton Wanted The Truth
Had Hillary Clinton won the presidential election, then perhaps we might have known more about the secretive location. Politicians often tell people things that they don't follow through with, but Clinton sounded sure of this duty.
"I would like us to go into those files and hopefully make as much of that public as possible," Clinton told Jimmy Kimmel If there's nothing there, let's tell people there's nothing there." Beautifully said, if there's nothing there then let's know.
The Normal Name
Although we love to call it Area 51, that isn't the official name. In fact, had you call this alien infested place by its original name, many would not know what you were referring to. The CIA's government documents call this area Groom Lake and Homey Airport.
The two names are interchangeable. These names didn't come about randomly. These are the names due to where the location is. There is a reason why it's nicknamed Area 51.
The Name We All Know
Now that we know the original name(s), where did we even get Area 51 from? The answer is simple. It also makes you wonder where is Area 1 or Area 21? Back in the '50s, Nevada had designated areas for their Test Sitemaps.
The area is about 65 miles from Las Vegas and is now called the Nevada Security Site. The Site played host to numerous nuclear weapon testing in the '50s. Area 51 was merely one of the areas designated for testing.
Robert Lazar Spills The Beans
Area 51 wasn't always a thing. In fact, no one paid it much mind when the first crash happened in 1947. It wasn't until the '80s when a man named Robert Lazar spilled the beans to a Las Vegas TV station.
He told them he worked for a mystery site called S-4 that was near Area 51. His job was reverse-engineering crashed flying saucers. Later, everyone found out Lazar was lying about his employment at S-4. He even lied about going to Caltech.
It's Not That Hard To Enter
One would think the entrance surrounding Area 51 would have top flight security. That couldn't be further from the truth. All there is separating you from the forbidden land is a chain link fence. Oh yeah, and those pesky little signs.
Theoretically, all you have to do is hop a fence and boom; you're in there. But once you land in, cameras are watching your every move. You still have some ways to go before you reach the restricted areas and by then, you would be kicked out.
