Along with Rick Monteverde's suggestion that a Frisbee's spin effects
lift, I propose a lightweight, inflatable "dish" or hemisphere about 8 feet
in diameter as a do-it-yourself flying "saucer".
If you kept one of those 1950s Hoola Hoops, some strap webbing
going to a hub in the center will keep the inflated dome-shaped plastic
film flat on the bottom and provide a place to attach the drive shaft
powered by the gas engine from a weed whacker.
The NASA simulator gives the lift for a rotating cylinder with means for
varying the diameter, length and rpm vs air speed etc., which should give a figure for
lift on the dish based on the Coanda Effect.
FJS
NASA Flight Simulator:
Input: Shape/Angle
Airfoil Shape: airfoil, ellipse; plate, cylinder, ball
Size: Spin Rpm (+/-), Radius Ft, Span ft,
Flight Test. -720 rpm 5 ft long x 8 inch dia in 60 mph wind ~ -45 lbs lift.
