From: Mr. Smith
Subject: Birmingham, Alabama, "Drone" Above Power Line
Date: May 26, 2007

I heard a sound like a transformer and looked up. I saw something that looked like a fancy street light that I thought was part of the pole, just like a light would be. I moved a little to get a shot of it to show the guys. When I did I noticed that the thing was not attached to the pole, but was maybe attached to the wires, it did not move at all. It was stationary.
I thought this is something new from Alabama Power. I'll take a picture and show the guys back at work when I see what they think about the job.


White, unmarked pickup truck towing white, unmarked trailer with cable coming out of trailer's open door in May 2006, near Birmingham, Alabama, construction site where Mr. Smith saw and photographed odd, aerial "drone" above power pole.

I then went to find someone to ask what the power company was up to. When I found nobody who had time to look, I came back and the
thing was gone. I thought, well, the power people got that out of here in a hurry. I figured they used a bucket, one was near, to move it. I thought that is weird and a little later I saw the trucks and trailers and thought that was weird again. I was impressed by the Dodge Rams and took a couple
of pictures from my car with my cell phone.

From: R. S., Retired Engineer
Subject: NASA Magnetically Levitated Drone
Date: May 26, 2007

"NASA Magnetically Levitated Ducted Fan Being Developed as a Propulsor Option for Electric Flight. See: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/RT/2003/7000/7720emerson.html

"The NASA Glenn Research Center is developing a revolutionary engine concept called the Magnetically Levitated Ducted Fan. The objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of a pollution-free electromagnetic propulsor for all-electric flight. This concept will help to reduce harmful emissions, to reduce the Nation's dependence on fossil fuels, and to mitigate many of the concerns and limitations encountered in conventional engine systems such as bearing wear, leaks, seal failure, and friction loss. The general concept is depicted in the following figure.




Early concept of the Magnetically Levitated Ducted Fan, courtesy NASA.

"This fully integrated system concept incorporates many advanced technologies into a new aeropropulsion system architecture. The innovative physical layout consists of a ducted fan drum rotor with blades attached at the outer diameter and supported by a stress tuner ring at the inner diameter. The drum rotor is made of composite material and is contained within a static shell assembly, or "stator." Magnetic fields suspend and support the rotor assembly within the stator. The rotor is driven by modulated electromagnetic fields between the rotor and the stator. Optimal modulation will be achieved via the controller and power electronic drive circuitry between the power source and the propulsor. This concept exploits unique physical dimensions and a large available surface area to optimize a custom, integrated electromagnetic system that provides both levitation and propulsion functions. Advanced technologies developed for particle accelerators, and currently under development for maglev trains and rocket launchers, served as pathfinders for adaptation into the application.

"Development of this concept was funded through the Revolutionary Aeropropulsion Concepts (RAC) program beginning in 2003. During this first year, the focus of the work was on the development of the magnetic levitation system. The electromagnetic concept under investigation uses permanent magnet elements attached to the outer circumference of the rotor drum and wire coils placed in the stator shell. The permanent magnets are arranged in a Halbach configuration, which results in the production of a sinusoidally varying, periodic magnetic field in the vicinity of the stator coils. This magnetic array configuration was pioneered by Klaus Halbach for use in particle accelerators. When set in motion, the time-varying magnetic fields interact with the passive coils in the stator assembly to produce repulsive forces between the stator and the rotor, providing magnetic suspension. The beauty of this technique is that it is inherently stable once the rotor reaches a critical speed and, thus, requires no active feedback control or superconductivity as seen in many traditional implementations of magnetic suspension.



Small-scale levitation model rotor, courtesy NASA.



Small-scale levitation model stator, courtesy NASA.

"To date, theoretical calculations have been produced to predict the levitation forces developed by a cylindrical Halbach array and coil assembly. Early experimental hardware was successfully designed and developed that validated the basic principles and the theoretical work. On the basis of these findings, a small-scale system was designed that will serve as a levitation demonstration model. The rotor and stator of the demonstration model are shown in the preceding figures. The purpose of this model is to demonstrate stable suspension of a rotorlike body within a stator assembly.

"The next step in the development process will be to further develop the electromagnetic propulsion concept and integrate both the magnetic suspension and propulsion function into a single multifunction assembly. In addition to aircraft engines, this technology has potential application in ultraefficient motors, computer memory systems, manufacturing equipment, and space power systems such as flywheels.

From: T. C.
Subject: 'Drones' possible Burkhard Heim devices?
Date: May 26, 2007

I have been recently investigating a theory on anti-gravity quantum theory by a German Physicist named Burkhard Heim in the 1950's. Dr. Heim passed away on January 14th, 2001, but he basically proposed a new theory on Gravitational Quantum Mechanics as an extension on Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. A few current physicists have been working on this theory and they feel they can produce a device that uses this theory for lift and possible faster than light (superluminal) space flight.

What strikes me the most is that the proposed theory uses a rotating circular ring to create a dimensional interaction with an electromagnetic field, which in our 3-D spacetime shows up as an anti-gravity force. There are many papers on this subject from the German HPCC (High Performance Computing and Communication) web site (see links below), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American AntiGravity web site, among others.

Currently, the latest paper on the HPCC website, dated 23 April 2007, talks about an experiment with 'Extended' Heim Theory (EHT) which looked promising (see pages 12-13). The drones that have been seen make me think that someone has already passed this experimental stage and have created working atmospheric craft based on these theories, or something *very* close to it!

I have to say - being completely objective about it - Pilotless drones are in usage for many things - but for a utility company to have them and not 'trumpet' the cost effectiveness of them is unusual - I'm also concerned at the air space issues and the dangers to the general public - there's something 'not quite right' about all of this but I'm damned if I know what it is - A piece of hardware like that aint cheap - and to fly it in such close proximity to trees as seen in some of the pics borders on madness.....I need to think.

Ben