The Fairey Rotodyne & A "Rod"
In the late 1950s, the British aircraft manufacturer Fairey, built a prototype test-bed for a revolutionary new hybrid known as the Rotodyne. It was decades ahead of its time, and the project suffered not only from lack of funding, but also lukewarm interest in the result.
This graceful aircraft combined the vertical and short roll take-off cabability of a helicopter with the forward speed of an airplane. In addition, it had the carrying capacity of a small airliner. This suited it nicely for the role of inner-city "taxi", connecting downtown destinations with main airports, and thus the world.
The performance of the craft during the test phase was absolutely stellar. It even set a rotary wing speed record in 1959, which still stands today. Unfortunately, the project was summarily cancelled in February 1962. Another version of the Rotodyne story is HERE.
Recently, while watching a Speedvision TV documentary on this amazing craft, I noticed that there was something strange flying through the field of view at very high speed. At first, I thought the object might be an U.F.O., but on closer analysis, I believe it to be what is commonly known as a "Rod". These were discovered by Mr. Jose Escamilla in the mid-1990s. If the object in the video is actually an example of this phenomenon, it ranks as the earliest film of same. The film in this sequence was shot in either 1958 or 1959, and is in color, which is rare for the time and place. Another page on this site, devoted to the accidental discovery of a "Rod" in film, is HERE.
We will begin our examination of the film sequence with some stills captured from the video.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
This is the first look at the object. It very much resembles the phenomenon known as "Rods".
© 2005 Jeff Challender
Same frame without the circle, so that you may study the object with greater ease.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
Second frame with the object. This thing doesn't look like any bird or insect that this writer is familiar with.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
Again, the frame in plain form.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
The object continues to maintain its cylindrical shape. We cannot tell here just how far away it is from the camera, or its position in relation to the Rotodyne.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
Once again, without the circle.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
After not being visible for several frames, the object now appears to be much closer to the camera, as if it came head-on toward the lens for a few frames, and resumed its course toward lower right. The reason it seems that there are two objects, or an echo, is an artifact connected with the frame being from Television. It's the phenomenon of "interlacing", and there is nothing my video capture software can do to rectify it.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
Same frame, no circle.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
This is our last look at the "Rod". Subsequent to this, it exited the field of view to the right. In every case, the object displayed none of the characterisics of birds or insects. It has no wings, no tail, and no discernable head or limbs. Its visage seems more akin to that of a snake.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
Yet again, same frame no circle.
Now we will examine a pair of animated GIFs of this event.
GIF © 2005 Jeff Challender
This version of the GIF is slowed down considerably from natural speed. Here you can easily follow the behavior of the object. Please note that when it reappears after being absent from several frames it is larger, or closer. One might deduce from this that during the time it was not visible, it was coming head-on toward the camera.
GIF © 2005 Jeff Challender
This GIF very closely matched the speed of the original video. That object was moving at a very high velocity. The entire sequence of the object lasted only two thirds of a second. Now that's FAST!
At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
