A joint U.S.-Canadian development programme at Avro Canada for a near-circular vertical take-off and landing aircraft, similar in appearance to contemporary popular descriptions of flying saucers. Assessed in PURSUE Release 04 record DOW-UAP-D095; the CIA’s 1955 analysis of the Russell Train Sighting (CIA-UAP-D021) surveys the same research line as “Project Y”.
A 1954 memorandum in D095 argued that circular-planform VTOL craft could be mistaken for UFOs, and that UFO reports near Soviet assets should be re-examined for unknown foreign VTOL aircraft. The line later produced the VZ-9 Avrocar, cancelled in 1961 after failing to fly out of ground effect.
Connections
PURSUE · Russell Train Sighting · Department of War · KC-97 Newfoundland Incident