JOINT ATIC-WADC REPORT ON PROJECT SILVER BUG

This technical report, issued by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and the Wright Air Development Center (WADC) on February 15, 1955, provides a factual assessment of the A. V. Roe, Canada, Limited, proposal known as Project Y2, also referred to as Project Silver Bug. The document was produced to correct public misconceptions regarding the project, which had been inaccurately portrayed in various media outlets and an Air Intelligence Digest article titled 'The Flying Disc.' The report clarifies that the project is a serious engineering proposal for a supersonic, circular-planform aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTO), and it explicitly distances the project from science fiction or 'Flying Saucer' narratives. The aircraft design features a radial-flow gas turbine engine and utilizes a peripheral exhaust system to generate a 'ground cushion effect' for take-off and landing, eliminating the need for conventional landing gear. Control is achieved through the selective direction of exhaust gases, utilizing the 'Coanda effect' to eliminate the need for traditional aerodynamic control surfaces. The report outlines the technical challenges that must be addressed, including the stability of the multi-engine configuration, the feasibility of the radial-flow engine, and the performance of the control systems. The document concludes that while the proposal offers a potential solution for the USAF requirement for dispersed base operations, a one-year study contract is necessary to investigate these technical areas before proceeding to a full-scale development contract. The report also recommends a two-fold intelligence program: maintaining liaison between WADC and ATIC personnel and initiating a collection effort to determine if the Soviet Bloc is conducting similar research.