THE NEW AGE OF SPACIAL MOBILITY

The history of man is basically a chronicle of his innovative nature and the impact of these innovations on himself and his neighbors. These early creations were very elementary and took hundreds or perhaps thousands of years to evolve.

Proceeding into recorded history, the significance of methods of locomotion were certainly among the most important factors determining the course of human progress.

The ability of man to move with some degree of speed and endurance upon the land surface of the earth came about with the domestication of animals, namely the horse, camel and elephant. The development of wheeled vehicles and roadways enabled the ancient peoples to further increase the utilization of these animals. This innovation offered greater comfort for human passengers and also facilitated the movement of far greater loads than could be carried on the backs of animals. On the water surface of the earth the transition from oars to sails made possible the exploration and development of our planet.

The history of our nation was profoundly influenced by new modes of mobility. Certainly the railroads were indispensable to the development of the continent. Within the last sixty years we have witnessed the proliferation of the private passenger automobile. Without a doubt the automobile has been the dominant influence in shaping the unique American lifestyle. Concurrent with the advancement of surface mobility we have developed aircraft that can span our nation in a few hours.

Quite obviously I have been leading up to the heart of my essay. What if a vehicle were to become available that would enable people to travel by air as they now do by automobile, bus or subway? How would this vehicle look and what would be its major features? What would be its impact on where we live and how we live? Above all, what would be its overall effect on the quality of American life?

Let me start by describing the physical characteristics that such a vehicle would possess. In subsequent references this craft which I have named a Vertical Ascent and Descent Aircraft will be shortened to the acronym VADA. The craft would somewhat resemble a present day automobile or bus. By this, I mean that it would not have wings or rotating blades.

The most remarkable feature of VADA would be its propulsion system. The craft would be able to rise vertically from the earth without sound or accompanying drafts of air. Due to the proprietary nature of the propulsion system, I am unable to provide details of my technology at this time. I can, however, say that the dynamic force producing material in my motor would remain within the propulsive device. This material could theoretically generate negative weight characteristics as great as twenty-five hundred times the weight of the force producing mass.

Due to the principles involved in the propulsion system the longevity of the energy source in VADA is far greater than any existing form of propulsion. In conventional aircraft hundreds or even thousands of pounds of air are accelerated to high velocities every second only to be thrown away. As I have already stated, no accelerated mass is ejected from the VADA propulsion system.

This incredibly efficient propulsive principle would mean that any area of the globe would be readily accessible to the average citizen for weekend vacations.

The speed range available with VADA would be widely variable. At hypersonic speeds of 8 to 10 thousand miles per hour the craft would, of course, have to rise vertically into the stratosphere to avoid excessive air resistance. At high subsonic speeds, i.e., less than 750 miles per hour, the craft could fly in the atmosphere with far less resistance than conventional aircraft. This is due to the fact that no air is accelerated downward to provide sustentation of the craft. I do not believe that the craft would ever travel at supersonic speeds in the atmosphere since this would produce unwanted sonic disturbances, particularly when we consider that there may well be thousands of these craft in the air over any given area at one time.

The seating arrangement in the craft would be such that the passengers could face each other if they so desired. This feature would facilitate a more social atmosphere for travelers. Some of the amenities associated with one’s living room or den would be available to VADA passengers. These might include viewing television, playing cards, etc.

Particular attention would be given to reducing the noise level caused by air flowing over fuselage. By proper insulation and design, it should be possible to lower the sound level below 50dB. This would be considerably better than today’s most expensive automobiles. In VADA flight the two other sources of sound energy which are present in surface vehicles would both be absent. These, of course, are road and engine noise. As I have already stated the propulsion system employed in VADA would be totally devoid of sound energy.

Since the craft does not sustain its airborne mode by planing through the air on wings, it would be relatively unaffected by atmospheric conditions. This would mean that a VADA ride would be extremely smooth, totally unlike that of any present day airborne craft.

The navigation and guidance of the craft would be removed from human control and placed under the command of a computer. A computer can monitor and respond to a large amount of information with unfailing accuracy. Its function is not impaired by chemical substances or emotional stress. The computer would be coupled with one of the new navigational satellite systems such as Navstar, which is able to pinpoint any spot on the earth’s surface within a distance of 10 feet.

With the use of such navigational equipment the coordinates of the destination would be programmed into a keyboard and, from this point on, the flight would be under computer control. A protective radar bubble would surround the craft at all times. This system would enable the craft to take evasive action in case of any threat to the vehicle from other craft or from a collision with fixed objects. I believe that, in regard to safety, VADA will be far superior to the automobile as a means of private transportation and, as a mass transit system, will be equal or superior to any existing system.