The Avro Canada VZ-9V Avrocar was a flying saucer in the
true sense of the word. It used three turbojets to turn
a central impeller which kept it airborne by providing
downward thrust, it used a vane and shutter system to
manouver the aircraft by venting thrust in any direction
desired.
It was capable of carrying two crew seated in separate
cockpits on either side, facing forward. Total diameter
of the Avrocar was 18 feet. The Avrocar was first proposed
in the early 1950's by the Avro company to the Canadian
government. Later the United States government showed
a great deal of interest and ploughed alot of money into
the project. But it proved to be unstable at heights over
about 8 feet and although it appeared in a few different
forms the plug was finally pulled in 1961. |
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