In its colorful 104-year history, Fireman's Fund American Insurance Companies have insured everything from sailing schooners to space satellites.

When man commutes to work in his own private flying saucer, Fireman's Fund American will probably again take the lead in the insurance industry.

In fact, the Company has already insured one of the first experimental flying saucers for use as a personal "commuter aircraft."

The CJ-VTOL (Curtain Jet-Vertical Take Off and Landing) is a two-seat, 30-inch high, molded fiberglass aircraft, shaped like a Flying Saucer. Although it has not been flight tested, the craft received considerable attention when exhibited at the recent California State Fair, held in Sacramento.

It was built and engineered by Dr. Paul S. Moller, 30, a professor of Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of California at Davis. Dr. Moller, a bachelor, has been working on experimental aircraft for the past seven years. His slightly larger "Hovercraft" type machine has already been successfully tested at the Davis campus. Dr. Moller has been working on this model, which he calls "The Hummingbird," for the past two years.

The aircraft is designed, said Dr. Moller, to transport two or four passengers at a maximum altitude of between 5,000 and 10,000 feet; with a range of 350 miles, and a lateral speed of 150 mph.

The flying saucer operates principally on the basis of a ducted fan, with blades mounted on a rotating ring around the cockpit. Operation and suspension of this forged ring is a secret process developed by Dr. Moller. The ring is powered by eight 15-horse power McCullough Go-Cart engines producing a total horse power rating of 100.

The aircraft will have a revolutionary design, unlike an airplane or helicopter. It will be cheaper to build and fly because of Dr. Moller's secret new process.

Dr. Moller expects his experimental saucer to be flight tested by a professional test pilot sometime before the end of this year. He anticipates three years will be required to obtain Federal Aviation Authority certification needed to put the aircraft into production. After mass production, he estimates each flying saucer will cost about $4,000.

Dr Moller was born in British Columbia Canada. He graduated from the Alberta Institute of Technology and later earned an MA at McGill University in Montreal. In 1963 he earned his Ph.D. in the field of Aerodynamics from McGill.

The Company provided coverage for "The Hummingbird" under a Property Multiple Line "All Risk" exhibition floater. Brinley's Insurance Agency of Davis is the agent.

[Fireman's Fund Archives: 4-1-3-5-28; 1334]