| ID | #1632414765 |
| Added | Thu, 23/09/2021 |
| Author | July N. |
| Sources | The Portland Oregonian
|
| Phenomena | |
| Status | Hypothesis
|
Initial data
Portland, Oregon, July 3, 1947, page 11
Dick Rankin talks about strange planes
On Wednesday, there were even more reports of "flying pancakes" from Dick Rankin, the brother of the late Tex Rankin, who was himself an experienced pilot with more than 7,000 hours of flying time.
Rankin, who is recovering from an old back injury sustained in a car accident, came to Portland for the weekend to spend the summer. He saw "silver saucers" over Bakersfield, California, on June 25, lying on the lawn, taking a sun bath, he told The Oregonian.
"I didn't dare to talk much about them," Rankin said, " until I noticed all the hype in the newspapers. I puzzled over their strange shape for a while and finally came to the conclusion that they were the new XFSU-1 flying pancakes of the Navy. thin and round, with two propellers and a short tail."
Only one XFSU-1 was built
The Navy and the manufacturer officially announced that only one such machine was built and that it never left Connecticut.
"These planes were flying high, maybe 9,000 feet, and quite fast, about 300 or 400 miles per hour. I first counted ten of them in formation, heading north. At about 14: 15, they returned to the opposite course and headed south. But there were only seven people in the ranks.
They didn't move or bounce in formation. I could not make out the number or location of their propellers, nor could I distinguish the wings or tail. They seemed almost round. They looked like photos of a flying deer of the Navy, " Rankin said. said.
According to him, Rankin, who plans to spend the summer here, at 834 NE Simpson Street, can now resume small flights for entertainment, but not for commercial purposes. He now runs a string of car courts, spending the winters in Palm Springs.
Original news
Portland, Oregon, OREGONIAN, 3 July 1947, page 11
Pilot Recalls Seeing Discs
Dick Rankin Tells Of Odd Aircraft
More reports of "flying flapjacks" turned up Wednesday, on from no less than Dick Rankin, brother of the late Tex Rankin, and himself an experienced pilot of more than 7000 hours' flying time.
Rankin, who is recovering from an old back injury received in an automobile accident, came to Portland over the week end to spend the summer. He saw the silver saucers" over Bakersfield, Cal. June 25, while lying on the lawn sun bathing, he told The Oregonian.
"I hesitated to say much about them," Rankin said, "until I noticed all the hullabaloo in the papers. I puzzled over their strange shape for a while and finally concluded that they were the navy's new XFSU-1 flying flapjacks, which are thin and round, with twin propellers and stubby tail."
Only One XFSU-1 Built
The navy and the manufacturer have announced officially that only one such machine was built and that it never left Connecticut.
"These planes were flying high, maybe 9000 feet, and fairly fast, about 300 or 400 miles an hour. I first counted ten of them in formation, going north. About 2:15 P. M. they returned on the reverse course, headed south. But there were only seven in the formation.
"They were not weaving or bobbing in formation. I couldn't make out the number or location of their propellers and couldn't distinguish any wings or tail. They appeared almost round. They looked like pictures of the navy's flying flapjack," Rankin said.
Rankin, who plans to spend the summer here at 834 N. E. Simpson street, is now able to resume a little flying for fun, but not commercially, he said. He now operates a string of auto courts, spending his winters at Palm Springs.
Hypotheses
Airplane / Helicopter
An aircraft heavier than air for flights in the atmosphere (and outer space (e.g. An orbital aircraft)), using the aerodynamic lift of a glider to keep itself in the air (when flying within the atmosphere) and the thrust of a power (propulsion) installation for maneuvering and compensating for the loss of total mechanical energy to drag.
A rotorcraft in which the lift and thrust required for flight are created by one or more main rotors powered by an engine or several engines. They differ in maneuverability, the ability to hover and almost vertical takeoff.
Investigation
Resume
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