What the heck is this?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,634
Received 299 Likes
on
167 Posts
Isn't that Lofty's hat from "it aint half hot mum"?
Mind you, genesis of many a UFO story...
Mind you, genesis of many a UFO story...
Well, on the Internet, it's a Nazi UFO, but judging by the flags, it was built in a secret California workshop. 
I thought I was on to something when I found the same picture listed as "Desconhecido 08", but that turns out to be Portuguese for Unknown!
I thought I was on to something when I found the same picture listed as "Desconhecido 08", but that turns out to be Portuguese for Unknown!
None but a blockhead
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: London, UK
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would like to know this too. I think it's the same thing as appears in a standard black-and-white clip shown in countless 'early days of aviation" docs, where something with a pulsating, jellyfish-like parasol of around that size and construction is shown vigorously shaking itself to bits on the ground. I've never been able to trace that clip, nor find out anything about it.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Tr_no 688
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, looking at the engine/prop combination, Date is definately post manned heavier than air flight, so whoever had it built was very rich, very stupid, very American (possibly Californian) and was alive and probably an adult around 1906 ish
Sorry, I know that's a huge field of suspects, hopefully someone can narrow that down a little
Sorry, I know that's a huge field of suspects, hopefully someone can narrow that down a little
what were they thinking?
so that will be the 5 engine B727 then ?
Contact (1997) - IMDb
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think its closely related to the pumping parasol in the movie clip, if its even related at all. There are very few similarities between them except for the parasol's shape, and we don't know what action - if any - the OP's machine had. It is clearly intended to gain lift by forward motion (due to the prop) and the machine in the movie clip was not. Design & construction are totally different.
The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Breguet's Pre-1914 Challenge #130
The above link gives some info on the mysterious California-based Professor Botts but suggests that he only built one design which was steam powered (& though highly unconventional it bears little resemblance to the OP's pic) which was destroyed in a storm, upon which the good Prof apparently retired elsewhere and never built another. Or maybe he did!
Curioser and curioser!
The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Breguet's Pre-1914 Challenge #130
The above link gives some info on the mysterious California-based Professor Botts but suggests that he only built one design which was steam powered (& though highly unconventional it bears little resemblance to the OP's pic) which was destroyed in a storm, upon which the good Prof apparently retired elsewhere and never built another. Or maybe he did!
Curioser and curioser!
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 26th Mar 2013 at 14:34.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think there's a film of this
I'm sure I have seen this:contraption on film
Its a flapping flying machine, an ornithopter that smashed its self to bits without getting airborne. Edit: A b may have beaten me to it here.
or a Rotating wing design - I found a design by Botts dating from 1904 see this The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Breguet's Pre-1914 Challenge #130
could it be one of his designs ?
The American Flag: Indicates an American Event but it could be a foreign Design. Possibly Octave Chanute ? born in France but became an American.
Its a flapping flying machine, an ornithopter that smashed its self to bits without getting airborne. Edit: A b may have beaten me to it here.
or a Rotating wing design - I found a design by Botts dating from 1904 see this The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Breguet's Pre-1914 Challenge #130
could it be one of his designs ?
The American Flag: Indicates an American Event but it could be a foreign Design. Possibly Octave Chanute ? born in France but became an American.
Last edited by Guest 112233; 26th Mar 2013 at 15:56.
