Memorandum for Information: Reported Sighting of Unconventional Aircraft

This memorandum, dated 19 October 1955, addresses reports of unconventional aircraft sightings. The objects in question were described as being similar to 'Project Y,' a research project currently underway at Avro Aircraft Ltd. in Canada, sponsored by the US Air Force. The document outlines the design specifications for the Project Y study, which features a circular wing design 30 feet in diameter and 1.1 feet thick, with a projected speed of Mach 3, a ceiling of 102,000 feet, a rate of climb of 120,000 feet per minute, and a range of 700 nautical miles. The project is directed by John Frost, who reportedly derived his initial concepts from German research conducted after World War II. The memorandum evaluates the possibility of Soviet involvement, noting that the sighting of such objects in operation is considered unlikely given the current state of experimental aviation. The author concludes that it would be inconsistent for the Soviets to have such advanced technology in service while simultaneously maintaining large-scale development and production programs for conventional aircraft. Since the inception of Project Y in 1953, the ASD has monitored for evidence of Soviet progress in this area, but prior to the reported sightings, no such information had been available.