THE U.S. ARMY WAS DEVELOPING A FLYING SAUCERand it actually flew, just not very high.

You don't have to go to Roswell to find a flying saucer, the U.S. Army Transportation Museum has the only to fly here at Fort Eustis. The new exhibit showcasing the Army's flying saucer will open on December 4th at 9am in the Cold War/Experimental exhibit at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum to tell the story of Army interest in creating new troop movement vehicles. A mural and an actual piece of the flying saucer will be in the new exhibit.

In 1952, the Canadian firm, AVRO Aircraft Limited, launched a project to develop a supersonic fighter-bomber that could take off and land vertically, cruise at low altitudes on a cushion of air and accelerate to high speeds at higher altitudes. The Canadian government eventually abandoned the project as too costly. However, the U.S. military became interested in the project. The Army wanted to use it as a subsonic, all-terrain troop transport and reconnaissance craft. The U.S. military awarded AVRO two contracts to continue the study. Although the project remained in Canada, it was owned and controlled by the United States.

AVRO eventually designed two prototype experimental vehicles with the appearance of a "flying saucer" from the science fiction movies of the period. During flight tests, the Avrocar reached speeds of 35 mph, but became increasingly unstable at altitudes of more than three feet. The program was therefore terminated in December 1961. The first prototype was never flown and is on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. The second prototype flew during testing and is stored in pieces at the U.S. Army Transportation Museum. The cost for its restoration is exceedingly expensive.

Engines: 3 each - 920 lb Continental YJ69-T-9 turbojetsDiameter: 26 Ft 10 inHeight: 5 ½ ftWeight: 5,650 lbs