Colin Bennett has made a study of designs for 'flying saucers,' such as John Sherwood's Vertical Lift Flying Machine, pictured here.A number of patents have been taken out in the US since 1945 for these unusual aircraft prototypes, though few have ever been built. For more details and images, click here(1).

1. http://www.combat-diaries.co.uk/dairy20/diary20chapter_1.htm