A Bold Idea in 1970
On March 11, 1970, British Rail engineer Charles Osmond Frederick filed a patent for a revolutionary concept: a flying saucer powered by nuclear fusion. The patent, GB1310990, outlined a craft designed for supersonic speeds and vertical takeoff and landing.
How It Was Supposed to Work
The design proposed using nuclear fusion to generate immense heat, which would be converted into thrust. Magnetic fields would stabilize the plasma within the reactor, while the saucer shape allowed for aerodynamic control at high speeds.
Visionary or Unrealistic?
Despite its detailed technical descriptions, the flying saucer never left the drawing board. Challenges included the impracticality of nuclear fusion at the time and safety concerns. The project faded from public view, leaving the patent as its only tangible evidence.
A Forgotten Patent
British Rail’s flying saucer patent remains an intriguing document in the archives, highlighting an era when technological optimism inspired even the most unconventional designs. While it never materialized, it serves as a rare instance of a national rail company considering interstellar travel.
On March 11, 1970, British Rail engineer Charles Osmond Frederick filed a patent for a revolutionary concept: a flying saucer powered by nuclear fusion. The patent, GB1310990, outlined a craft designed for supersonic speeds and vertical takeoff and landing. pic.twitter.com/PSNgJ5A9PZ
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