In the 1950s, the Canadian Air Force embarked on an ambitious mission to develop a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle capable of hovering stealthily below radar, intercepting enemy planes, and achieving rapid take-offs at high speeds. The proposed solution came in the form of the VZ-9AV, a distinctive saucer-shaped aircraft known as the Avrocar.
Conceived by the innovative designer John Carver “Jack” Frost, the Avrocar was engineered to leverage the Coanda effect. This principle, centered around the notion that fluids will follow a curved surface, aimed to generate lift and thrust from a single engine by directing exhaust out of the circular aircraft’s rim.
Initial designs and tests for the Avrocar hinted at its potential to achieve speeds three times faster than the speed of sound. However, as the project advanced, the escalating costs became a significant concern. In 1958, the US government assumed control of the remaining funding for the project due to its financial challenges. Ultimately, despite its groundbreaking concept and early promise, the Avrocar failed to materialize as a fully functional aircraft.
Despite months of intensive research and design efforts, the prototype of the Avrocar faced insurmountable challenges. Regrettably, it proved incapable of achieving a full ascension into the sky, managing only a sustained hover approximately three feet above the ground.
Faced with these limitations, the design was ultimately abandoned, and the aircraft was never revisited for further development. In a turn of fate, the Avrocar resurfaced in 2007 when it was acquired by the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Subsequent efforts have been dedicated to its restoration, preserving a piece of aviation history that, despite its shortcomings, remains a testament to the ambitious pursuit of innovation in aeronautics.
Avrocar: Sci-Fi Looks with Practical Intentions
The Circular Design: Beyond Aesthetics
John Carver “Jack” Frost, a revered aircraft designer, aspired to harness the Coanda effect for the advantage of a circular aircraft.
Turbo Rotor Thrust: The Power of Circular Design
The Avrocar’s vents and fans were designed to channel thrust downward, creating an air cushion that enabled the aircraft to hover at low altitudes. Redirecting thrust to the rear would facilitate acceleration and altitude gain.
Avrocar’s Turbojet Design: Engines Around the Core
Initially, the Canadian government supplied funding, but ongoing construction revealed the project’s escalating costs. The initial estimate of $3.16 million in 1958 is equivalent to $26 million today.
In that year, the US government assumed control of the remaining project funding, leading to increased complexity. The Army and the Air Force held divergent interests in the Avrocar.
Dual Models: A.V. Roe Meets Army and Air Force Demands
The Army sought a replacement for the existing light observation craft and helicopters, desiring a “durable and adaptable, all-terrain transport and reconnaissance aircraft.”
Meanwhile, the Air Force was particularly fascinated by the Avrocar’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities. In an ideal scenario, the aircraft could hover below enemy radar and achieve supersonic speeds.
Final Avrocar: Dimensions and Weight
The Avrocar faced instability when lifted beyond three feet above the ground.
Due to the absence of contemporary computer technology and inherent design flaws, pilots had to manage each engine independently, presenting significant challenges.
End of the Line: Avrocar Project Abandoned in December 1961
The project’s engineering team found that the circular design of the craft lacked aerodynamic efficiency and was not conducive to stealth.
Furthermore, the A.V. Roe team determined that the craft was unable to surpass a speed of 35 miles per hour.
In 2007, a Test Model of the Avrocar was Acquired and Restored by the National Museum of the US Air Force.
In 2019, the US Army Transportation Museum acquired the second prototype.