Topic: UFO's
25 June 2004 18:39 EDT | Posted by chamberpoems
Review of Paul Hills book
Review of Paul Hill's Unconventional Flying Objects
by Hal Puthoff, Ph.D.
Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin
Austin, TX
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 reviewera??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 Center2 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 ga??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 Hilla??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 1300A?C. 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 Hilla??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 Hilla??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 Hilla??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. Hilla??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 Hilla??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 Hilla??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