A history of experimental planes and flying machines from the 1950s (23pics)

 Here are a selection of the experimental flying oddities dreamed up by aeronautical engineers since the 1950s, many of which were built without the help of the advanced computing technology and sophisticated wind tunnel modelling used today. While crafts like the saucer-shaped Avrocar and the Vertijet, an aeroplane with the ability to take-off vertically, were cancelled and others failed to make it past the prototype stage, they nevertheless helped push forward the possibilities of the technology.

Above, the M2-F1 aircraft in towed flight. It was the first of five designs of 'lifting body' planes where aerodynamic lift is derived from the shape of the fuselage rather than from wings. The M2-F1 was built in 1963 and towed by a larger airplane in the air before being released to glide back to the ground.

 The Avrocar saucer shaped aircraft which was a conceptual vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft built by Canadian company Avro in 1958 for the US Air Force. It was able to hover a few feet off the ground from the thrust generated by a centrally located 'turborotor'. When flown without tethers the Avrocar was unstable and could only reach a top speed of only 35 mph. The engines created excessive heat and noise. The project was cancelled in 1961.

 The Ryan X-13 Vertijet, built by Ryan Aeronautical in 1955 for the US Air Force, would take off vertically, fly horizontally and land vertically

 The Vought V-173 was built for the US Navy. It was conceived in 1942 so it's a bit early for this 1950s aviation roundup but we liked the nickname given to this semi-circular all-wing design: the flying pancake. The low-aspect ratio wing design offered better drag resistance at the wing tips compared to conventional aircraft with propeller engines mounted mid-wing. The compact design made the V-172 structurally strong, offered high manoeuvrability and could fly at very slow speeds. Despite nearly 190 test flights, the V-173 project ended in 1947.

 The Douglas X-3 Stiletto experimental jet aircraft built in 1952 for the US Air Force, It featured a narrow fuselage, tiny wings and a long tapered nose making it the sleekest aircraft for its time. The X-3 performed poorly in test flights and never attained its target speed of Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound). Despite this, several features were taken forward to use in future high speed planes.

 A picture of a Lun-class ground effect vehicle (GEV), or sea skimmer, developed by Russian engineers at the Alexeyev Hydrofoil Design Bureau, was one of the largest sea-planes ever built

 Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) built in 1963 as part of the Apollo Project to land on the moon. It was a vertical take-off and landing vehicle powered by a single jet engine. The vehicle allowed Apollo astronauts to train for real moon landings.

 Major Jerauld Gentry standing in front of the HL-10. This was one of a series of experimental space re-entry aircraft known as lifting body designs. Lifting body aircraft had short, bulbous or curved fuselages and featured minimal wings or were wingless. The design increased the aerodynamic capabilities of the aircraft when travelling at speed and the absence of wings meant less heat damage during space re-entry. The HL-10 was built in 1966 and dropped from B-52 planes to test flight manoeuvrability. Despite its success, NASA cancelled the lifting body design in favour of the delta wing during early Space Shuttle development.

 The Super Guppy Turbine (NASA's B377SGT), super-sized cargo plane flown since 1980 and acquired by NASA in 1997, is taking off from Edwards Air Force Base en route to to its home base, Ellington Field, near the Johnson Space Center in Lancaster, California.

 The Vertol VZ-2 was a tilt-wing VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) plane. This aircraft first flew on 13 August 1957 and was retired in 1965 in Virginia. The wings are designed to tilt to allow the rotors to lift the aircraft the way they would on a helicopter. Once airborne, the wings tilt back to face forward, as seen here.

 The NASA Hyper III aircraft was built in 1969 as part of the lifting body program. The design increased the aerodynamic capabilities of the aircraft when traveling at speed and the absence of wings meant less heat damage during space re-entry. The Hyper III was underpowered and unmanned. When it was launched from the air it simply glided down under remote control and landed safely. It was not developed any further.

 The Russian-built Mil V-12 is the world s largest helicopter, 28 metres in length and 4.4 metres in width and height and pair of rotors were mounted on transverse wings. Two prototypes were built in 1967 and though it never went into full production, the helicopter was able to carry a payload weighing over 40,000 kilograms to altitude. Development ceased in 1974 and both prototypes currently reside in air museums.

 The X-Wing was an experimental hybrid helicopter/fixed wing aircraft built in 1986 by helicopter maker Sikorsky for NASA and the US army, it was based on a modified S-72 Rotor System Research Aircraft (RSRA) which could fly with or without rotor blades. The addition of large x-shaped rotor blades would, in theory, allow the aircraft to take off and land vertically. During flight, the rotor blades could be switched off and act as an additional pair of wings to provide lift when moving forward. Despite being built, it was never flown.

 A Russian ground effect aircraft flies low over the water

 The McDonell Douglas X-36 aircraft, scale model prototype jet aircraft built to test the flying ability of a tail-less aircraft which was built in 1997 and was operated remotely from the ground

 The HiMAT (Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology) experimental aircraft built by Rockwell in 1979 for NASA and the US Air Force. It was a scaled down remotely operated aircraft built to explore new technology for future fighter aircraft. The HiMAT aircraft were built using novel composite materials and incorporated closely coupled canards (small winglets), It was capable of withstanding high G-forces. The project ended in 1983.

 The AD-1 oblique wing aircraft built in 1979 by Ames Industrial for NASA. The AD-1 could pivot its entire wingspan from zero to 60 degrees during flight. Wind tunnel tests on scale models showed that the oblique wing configuration reduced aerodynamic drag at high speeds. This allowed the plane to increase speed and travel longer distances while decreasing fuel consumption. During manned test flights, the AD-1 demonstrated instability at certain wing angles. The project ended in 1982.

 The Northrop XP-79B flying wing aircraft, built in 1945 by Jack Northrop for the US Army. It was designed as a flying wing fighter aircraft powered by two jet engines. Flying wing aircraft lack a defined fuselage and were able to transport a larger volume of cargo and fuel. The shape is also harder to detect by radar. The XP-79B crashed during testing and the project was subsequently cancelled.

 Grumman X-29 experimental aircraft built in 1984 by Grumman for NASA to test the concept of forward sweeping wings. The high lift-to-drag ratio of the wing design provides the plane with enhanced manoeuvrability at supersonic speeds (faster than sound). It is able to turn mid-air quickly and is much less likely to stall at high angles of attack. The main disadvantage of this design was the increased stress load on the wings. This lead the X-29 program to be terminated in 1991.

 The Su-47 Berkut is an experimental fighter jet built by Russian company Sukhoi in 1997, it features a pair of fixed wings that sweep forwards. The high lift-to-drag ratio of the wing design provides the Su-47 with enhanced manoeuvrability at supersonic speeds (faster than sound). It is able to turn mid-air quickly and is much less likely to stall at high angles of attack. The main disadvantage of this design is the increased stress load on the wings.

 The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) was built by Bell Aerosystems in 1964 as part of the Apollo Project to land on the moon, it was a vertical take-off and landing vehicle powered by a single jet engine.

 The X-48B Blended Wing Body aircraft model - a cross between a conventional plane and a flying wing design, was based on a need for a multi-role, long-range and high-capacity military transport aircraft. Boeing Phantom Works partnered with NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory to study the structural, aerodynamic and operational advantages of this advanced aircraft concept at NASA's Dryden Flight Research in California.

LTV XC-142 tiltwing experimental aircraft made by Ling-Temco-Vought. The LTV XC-142 was built in 1964 for the US army who were interested in a short take-off and landing aircraft that could carry huge cargo and travel long distances. Tiltwing aircraft have wings that can rotate vertically or horizontally. When rotated vertically, the engine propellers allow the aircraft to take off and land vertically much like a helicopter. Once in the air, the wings rotate to point horizontally and allow it to fly like a conventional airplane. It was able to transport heavy cargo but proved unstable at certain manoeuvres resulting in a cancellation of the project in 1966. NASA continued to test the plane until 1970.

Turmeric: Anti-Depressant, Anti-Cancer and More

Vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients in turmeric:

Manganese, iron, vitamin B6, potassium.

Potential Health Benefits of Turmeric:

The phytochemical curcumin (the yellow or orange pigment in turmeric) is thought to be one of the main sources of turmeric’s medicinal properties; it is at the very least one of the most studied nutrients in turmeric. (But as with all beneficial foods, we recommend using turmeric in its whole spice form.)

1. Anti-Inflammatory: Turmeric’s volatile oils (essential oils) and the phytochemical curcumin have been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

“In numerous studies, curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin.” –whfoods.

And thankfully when you’re spicing up your curry with turmeric you don’t have to worry about ulcers, intestinal bleeding or any of the other side effects that the pharmaceutical drugs mentioned above may cause.

2. Relieves depression: A study out of Baylor University Medical Center has demonstrated that curcumin may be nearly as powerful as Prozac for relieving symptoms of depression. Further studies are needed to confirm this study’s findings, but the initial reports are hopeful. 

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Curcumin, along with being an excellent and safe anti-inflammatory, is also a powerful anti-oxidant. These two properties combine to create an excellent recipe for relief from joint discomfort. In studies comparing curcumin use with phenylbutazone (a common anti-inflammatory drug), curcumin produced comparable improvement in mobility, swelling and morning stiffness.

4. Cancer Prevention: Curcumin and turmeric as a whole food have been widely studied in relationship to cancer prevention and treatment. These studies have suggested that components in turmeric could possibly help prevent/treat everything from skin cancer to childhood leukemia.

Just some of what the research has suggested thus far (refers to studies/research done on curcumin unless otherwise noted):

-       Inhibits the growth of skin cancer (melanoma)

-       Protects colon cells from free radicals

-       Helps the body to destroy mutated cancer cells

-       Enhances liver function, inhibiting the synthesis of certain proteins needed for tumor formation

-       Has been linked to lower rates of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer (Research looked at the frequent use of turmeric in one‘s diet.)

-       Slows the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs, when breast cancer is already present

-       Turns off genes associated with tumor growth

-       Suppresses cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis (cell self destruction) in cancerous cells

-       Reduces the risk of developing childhood leukemia (Research looked at foods spiced with turmeric.)

-       Inhibits the carcinogenic chemicals created by the burning of carbon-based fuels

-       Inhibits radiation-induced chromosome damage

-       Irreversibly inhibits the multiplication of leukemia cells (in a cell culture.)

5. Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Research suggests that IBD’s such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis may be treated with curcumin.

6. Cystic Fibrosis: Preliminary studies have shown that curcumin may have the ability to correct the genetic defects that are responsible for cystic fibrosis.

7. Improved Liver Function: Studies suggest that turmeric may improve liver function by increasing the liver’s ability to perform its detoxification duties.

8. Cardiovascular Protection: Research suggests that curcumin may help protect the cardiovascular system from disease. It does this by helping to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. This is important because oxidized cholesterol is part of what builds up in plaque that damages blood vessels and can lead to heart attacks or stroke. Turmeric is also a good source of vitamin B6, which is important for cardiovascular health.

9. Lowering Cholesterol: Research has revealed that curcumin can act as a “messaging molecule” to communicate with genes in liver cells. It lowers cholesterol levels by telling the liver cells to create more receptors for LDL cholesterol. With these extra LDL-receptors, the liver cells can expedite the process of removing LDL-cholesterol from the body.

10. Protection against Alzheimer‘s disease: A rising number of studies suggest that turmeric may help protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s (and possibly multiple sclerosis). This is done, in part, through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin can also cross the blood-brain barrier dissolving “amyloid dibrils” and inhibiting “amyloid-B aggregation,” both of which help prevent plaque from forming between cells (which is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease).

“The most active ingredient in turmeric root, bisdemethoxycurcumin, boosts the activity of the immune system in Alzheimer‘s patients, helping them to clear the amyloid beta plaques characteristic of the disease.“- whfoods

As you can see, there is plenty of information out there about the health benefits of enjoying turmeric and the phytochemicals it contains – so enjoy some in your stir fry tonight, your tea tomorrow or even your morning smoothie. 

Iconic war photographs (22pics)

 Tuesday is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Hungarian war photographer and photojournalist Robert Capa. We look back at famous images from the field of conflict.

Here: Normandy, France. June 6th, 1944. Landing of the American troops on Omaha Beach.

 Normandy, France. June 6th, 1944. Landing of the American troops on Omaha Beach.

 Flames and smoke surround the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral which was left unscathed during the start of a German incendiary bomb blitz on London, December 29th, 1940

 Sailors in a motor launch rush to rescue a survivor in the water alongside the U.S. Navy battleship USS West Virginia after an attack by Japanese carrier based strike aircraft on the Hawaiian port of Pearl Harbor. December 7th, 1941

 A jubilant American sailor clutching a white-uniformed nurse in a back-bending, passionate kiss as he vents his joy while thousands jam Times Square to celebrate the long awaited-victory over Japan. August 14th 1945

 Hollow-eyed, emaciated male prisoners, victims of Nazi genocide against Jews of Europe and others, gripping barbed wire fence in wonderment at their liberation from the cruelties of Buchenwald concentration camp by American forces, Germany - April 28th, 1945

 U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raising the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima, Japan. Strategically located only 660 miles from Tokyo, the Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest, most famous battles of World War II against Japan. February 23rd, 1945

 A Bhuddist Monk sets himself on fire in Saigon to protest the Vietnam War. June 1964

 Shell-shocked soldier, battle for Hue, Vietnam, 1970

 South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, chief of the national police, fires his pistol into the head of suspected Viet Cong officer Nguyen Van Lem (also known as Bay Lop) on a Saigon street, early in the Tet Offensive, February 1st 1968

 South Vietnamese forces follow terrified children, including 9-year-old Kim Phuc, centre, as they run down Route 1 near Trang Bang after an aerial napalm attack on suspected Viet Cong hiding places. A South Vietnamese plane accidentally dropped its flaming napalm on South Vietnamese troops and civilians. June 8th 1972

 45 Commando Royal Marines approach Stanley after marching across the entire East Falkland. British troops march the last mile into Port Stanley.

 British Royal Navy frigate HMS Antelope explodes in the bay of San Carlos off East Falkland during the Falklands War. May 23rd 1982

 An Israeli border policeman fires teargas canister during a protest by Palestinians against the construction of the controversial Israeli security barrier in the West Bank village of Az-Zawiya June 20th, 2004.

 A British soldier jumps from a burning tank which was set ablaze after a shooting incident in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Angry crowds attacked a British tank with petrol bombs and rocks in Basra on Monday after Iraqi authorities said they had detained two British undercover soldiers in the southern city for firing on police. September 19th 2005

 A British Royal Marine from 42 Commando fires a Milan wire-guided missile at an Iraqi position on the Al Faw peninsula, southern Iraq, March 21st, 2003

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein moments after his capture by US forces in a farm house outside Tikrit, December 14th 2003

 Private Stephen Bainbridge, 25, from Kirkcaldy, lays gravely wounded in a compound after an IED explosion which resulted in the loss of both of his legs. His life was saved by the swift actions of Cpl John Goodie, 21. November 11th 2011.

 Soldiers from 1 PWRR (Princess of Wales Royal Regiment) are battered by the downdraft of a MEDEVAC helicopter as it comes in to pick up Pte Stephen Bainbridge, aged 25 of the Black Watch (3 SCOTS) who was severely wounded in an IED explosion in a nearby compound. He lost his right leg during the blast and his left was later amputated by surgeons. Loya Manda, Helmand Province, Afghanistan November 11th 2011

 A U.S. Marine, from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, has a close call after Taliban fighters opened fire near Garmser in Helmand Province. The Marine was not injured.

 An Anti-Gaddafi fighter watches as a multiple rocket launcher is fired near Sirte, one of Muammar Gaddafi's last remaining strongholds, September 24th, 2011

A Free Syrian Army fighter prepares to fire a RPG as Syrian Army tank shell hits a building across a street during a heavy fighting in Salaheddine neighborhood of central Aleppo. August 11th 2012

ENTIRE Atomic Power of Prayer & Prophetic Intercession by Dr. Cindy Trimm!

World Of Technology: 5 Fatty Foods that Make You Skinny

World Of Technology: 5 Fatty Foods that Make You Skinny: #1: Grass-Fed Beef   Grass-fed beef is a little pricey. But its higher ratio of good-for-you fats make it well worth the cost: A study i.......

  Fatty Foods that Make You Skinny
#1: Grass-Fed Beef
  Grass-fed beef is a little pricey. But its higher ratio of good-for-you fats make it well worth the cost: A study in Nutrition Journal found that grass-fed meat contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce the risk of heart disease. And when it comes to your waistline, grass-fed beef is naturally leaner and has fewer calories than conventional meat. Consider this: A 7-ounce conventional strip steak, trimmed of fat, will run you 386 calories and 16 grams of fat. But a 7-ounce grass-fed strip steak is only 234 calories and five grams of fat--you'll save more than 150 calories and your steak will taste better.

#2: Olive Oil
 Olive oil is rich in cancer-fighting polyphenols and heart-strengthening monounsaturated fats, and when it comes to looking lean, it's backed by some pretty strong facts. A recent study from Obesity found that an olive-oil-rich diet resulted in higher levels of adiponectin than did a high-carb or high-protein diet. Adiponectin is a hormone responsible for breaking down fats in the body, and the more you have of it, the lower your BMI tends to be. Reap the benefits by making olive oil your cooking fat of choice and using it in dressings and sauces.


#3: Coconut
Coconut is high in saturated fat, but more than half of that comes from lauric acid, a unique lipid that battles bacteria and improves cholesterol scores. And get this: A study published in Lipids found that dietary supplementation of coconut oil actually reduced abdominal obesity. Of the participants, half were given two tablespoons of coconut oil daily and the other half were given soybean oil, and although both groups experienced overall weight loss, only the coconut oil consumers' waistlines shrunk. Sprinkle unsweetened flakes over yogurt or use coconut milk in a stir-fry to start whittling your waist.

#4: Dark Chocolate
 Good news for your sweet tooth: Chocolate can help you flatten your belly. Dark chocolate, that is. But to truly take advantage, don't wait until dessert: A recent study found that when men ate 3.5 ounces of chocolate two hours before a meal, those who had dark chocolate took in 17 percent fewer calories than those that ate milk chocolate. The researchers believe that this is because dark chocolate contains pure cocoa butter, a source of digestion-slowing stearic acid. Milk chocolate's cocoa butter content, on the other hand, is tempered with added butter fat and, as a result, passes more quickly through your GI tract. Because dark chocolate takes more time to process, it staves off hunger and helps you lose weight.


#5: Almond Butter
Numerous studies have indicated that almonds can help you lose weight despite their high fat content. In fact, a study from the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders compared two diets over the course of six months. One group followed a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet (18 percent fat) and the other followed a moderate-fat diet (39 percent fat) in which the extra fat was supplied by almonds. The latter group lost more weight than the low-fat dieters, despite the fact that both groups consumed the same amount of total calories. Furthermore, the almond eaters experienced a 50 percent greater waistline reduction. How is this possible? Almonds contain compounds that limit the amount of fat absorbed by the body, so some passes through undigested. Try stirring almond butter into your oatmeal, spreading it on toast with banana slices, or eating a couple spoonfuls as a snack.

BACK-MASKING': IN THE EXPLOSION OF ROCK, PUNK, AND HEAVY METAL MUSIC, ARE EVIL MESSAGES HEARD WHEN LYRICS ARE REVERSED?

See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available.On any number of occasions we've expressed concern about modern music, and particularly the rock music that exploded in the late Fifties and throughout the Sixties.

The fruits have not always seemed so good (despite our own youthful affections for it).

As if cursed, rock stars have often died in their twenties. Usually, drugs are involved. The messages of their songs helped fuel the sexual, drug, New Age, and feminist revolutions. Even "nice" love songs often carried connotations.


This is relevant because music has a preternatural ability to bore into the soul; people are greatly impacted by it.

Music imprints itself on us. It taps deeply into instincts and emotions.

As we have reported, some musicians have directly dabbled with the occult. Rock stars have even been known to visit an rural crossroads in Mississippi where legend has it a blues guitarist who some consider to be a founding father of rock was conferred sudden talent by the devil (with whom he made a pact). Whatever the truth of that, the dark side certainly had a role to play in modern music. Musicians have been prone to idolize a famous satanist named Aleister Crowley (there are songs dedicated to him, and a picture of him is on "Sergeant Pepper").

In all this mix, there also have been the claims of "back-masking" -- that is, the alleged hiding of messages in songs, messages that are decipherable only when a recording is played backwards.

When heard in reverse, it was alleged that the band Led Zeppelin's huge hit song, "Stairway to Heaven," contains the words, "Oh here’s to my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan. He will give those with him 666. There was a little tool shed where he made us suffer, sad Satan.”

Is there really any truth to this -- or do we hear what we want to: does the mind simply construe barely audible sounds in a subjective manner (as is claimed with many "miraculous" images)? The idea comes from what they call psychoacoustics, which refers to the temporal masking of quieter sounds before or after louder ones.

In the Beatles song "Number Nine," the repeated phrase “number nine” became “turn me on dead man” when played backwards, in the opinion of many who have listened to it. Played forward, another song had the vague and barely audible words, "I buried Paul" at the end.

In the early 1980’s, the band Queen was accused of hiding a reverse message in their song “Another One Bites the Dust.”

Christian evangelists claimed that when played in reverse the lyrics “another one bites the dust” becomes “It’s fun to smoke marijuana."

"The backmasking-Satanism connection can be traced to a 1913 book by mystic Aleister Crowley, who recommended that those interested in black magic would do well to 'learn how to think and speak backwards,'" asserts one accuser. "Sixty years later, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page moved into Crowley’s old mansion [actually a cottage]." An image of Crowley is on the cover of "Sergeant Pepper."

The question always has been: how could a human cause lyrics that say one thing when played forward say something completely different -- using the very same sounds -- when played in reverse? And why bother? Who listens to songs in reverse? Does the subconscious really turn backward messages forward and absorb them? Could musicians really be so technologically clever (it's one thing to use reverse recording sounds, as the Beatles did in some songs, but they were only understandable when played one way, not both forward and backward; it's quite another thing to have the same sounds form two different sets of words). Is it a demonic phenomenon or a case of simple coincidences?

"An alleged practice of certain evil people, especially rock musicians, of saying or singing words which, when listened to backward contain evil messages such as 'My sweet Satan' or 'Kill yourself,'" notes a blog skeptical of the alleged phenomenon. "Or they might contain messages such as 'it's fun to smoke marijuana' or 'sleep with me, I'm not too young.' Of course, you probably won't hear these messages until somebody first points them out to you. Perception is influenced by expectation and expectation is affected by what others prime you for. Since most people do not listen to their music backward, the belief in such messages seems to be predicated upon one or two false notions. Either the brain can be influenced subliminally by garbled words whose meaning is directly grasped by the subconscious or the conscious mind translates clear speech into reverse speech where the "true" meaning is understood by the subconscious mind. In either case, the subconscious mind allegedly then directs the conscious mind to believe bad things or do bad deeds. There is no evidence that such mechanisms exist.

Are there hidden messages in cartoons? Even Disney has been accused: in the movie "Aladdin," some hear a mysterious voice in the background when Aladdin is talking to a tiger. "Good teenagers take off your clothes" is said to be audible (in this case, nothing backward, just subdued, as in psychoacoustics).

There are claims of subliminal messages in "Pokeman" shows and merchandise. And subliminal advertising certainly does exist. Companies have long used suggestive words or images that are just barely noticeable in advertisement.

But back-masking?

In one of their tracts the band Judas Priest was alleged to have formed the words "I took my life" in the lyrics that played forwardly said, "beyond the realm of death." (The words, "Do it! Do it!" are also claimed; the band was even sued when one boy who was a fan committed suicide.)

And that haunting song "Hotel California" (which some believe spoke of an underground satanic church in that state)? Hidden in that, say some, are the words, in reverse, "Yeah, Satan organized his own religion."

The list goes on. Like so many things, we're not sure what to think.

We report; you discern.

Ark Of The Covenant Found According To Archeologist

An archeologist who claims to have found the Ark of the Covenant directly below the crucifixion site of Jesus Christ has died after giving a deathbed interview.



 
Noah’s Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Ark of the Covenant, the crucifixion site of Jesus Christ, and more have been the subject of controversial claims made by an archeologist who spent much of his life documenting sites and events from the Bible.

Ron Wyatt died after a lengthy battle with cancer, but his quest to provide information that would lead to more people accepting the teachings of the Bible continues at Wyatt Archeological Research, a non-profit, non-denominational organization in Tennessee.

Reached just before his death, the telephone interview with Wyatt was to last only a few minutes because of his very weak condition. He actually spoke for nearly an hour. A few days later, Wyatt succumbed to the disease.

The evidence of the various finds Wyatt claimed to have made has been debated by religious leaders, scholars and lay people, for at least a decade. There are many who believe his findings are genuine, and there are a few who are not so willing to accept his claims.

According to Wyatt, he was able to physically locate the Ark of the Covenant, the container for the original tablets of the Ten Commandments, with the Mercy Seat intact on the top. It was found in a chamber just outside the walls of ancient Jerusalem about 20 feet below what Wyatt also claimed was the actual site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Wyatt said he found an earthquake crack directly below where the cross would have been. It extends down through the rock to the resting place of the Mercy Seat atop the Ark of the Covenant.

The blood of Christ would have flowed through that crack after his death and after his side was pierced by a soldier’s spear.

The site of the crucifixion appears to have evidence that it was once enclosed in a first century building, apparently a church. The site includes a large round stone which perfectly fits the Garden Tomb accepted by many as the place from which the body of Christ rose from the dead.

The Bible teaches the concept of sacrifice of animals, symbolic of the actual blood sacrifice Christ would make. The act of Christ, regarded by some as the great High Priest, permitting himself to be sacrificed and placing his own blood upon the Mercy Seat was the great and final act in the process of blood sacrifice, according to the writings of Wyatt.





Wyatt believed that the Ark of the Covenant, along with other sacred objects from the first Temple in Jerusalem, were all secreted away just prior to the entrance of the Babylonians into the city about 600 years before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There are many tunnels beneath Jerusalem even to this day. These most sacred objects were protected in a chamber and the entrance was sealed and hidden.

“When Christ died, the earth quaked. The rock was split right below his cross and this crevice extended right down into the hidden chamber which contained the undefiled ‘earthly’ Throne of God,  the Ark with its Mercy Seat,” explained Wyatt in one of his research letters. “After he was dead, when the centurion stuck his spear into Christ’s side and pierced his spleen, the blood and water came out, falling down through that crack and was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat.”

Wyatt explained that in the former Temple service, the high priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat. Wyatt said Christ, as the great High Priest, was the only one who could physically sprinkle the blood on the Mercy Seat. It was an act of God that everything was in the right place, and that there was an earthquake which enabled Christ to spill his own blood onto the Mercy Seat in fulfillment of this ancient rite, he explained.

Wyatt did not make any claims of grandeur, nor did he claim to be a prophet. He said his only role was to be a willing servant.

“God has a way of communicating his wishes to people, and I’m not the only one able to do that so I don’t flatter myself to think that I’m something special. I was there, I was willing, so therefore God allowed me this privilege. There are others who are in communication with him. There are others who are familiar with this material who will see that it is presented."

It was back on Jan. 6, 1982 when Ron Wyatt realized what he had found during the excavation of the Ark of the Covenant.

“I just went from stunned to more stunned I guess,” he described . “When I started making the excavation I wasn’t looking for the Ark of the Covenant. I had no idea or intent to be looking for the crucifixion site, so as I proceeded with the excavation and found this crucifixion site, it was a thrill and a happy set of circumstances, and I didn’t make the connection with the blood on the mercy seat until I actually saw it.”

He said the significance of the find took on a new meaning when he actually found the crack which extended from the Mercy Seat all the way up through solid rock to the location he had found above where the crucifixion took place.

Wyatt claimed that he was authorized to make his excavations by the Antiquities Department, but that bureaucrats within that agency insisted that his findings must be kept secret. He was told that Jewish extremists might view the discovery as a sign that it was time to rebuild the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The Muslim Dome of the Rock now sits on the site that Jewish fundamentalists believe must one day be destroyed and a new Jewish temple built.

Wyatt has made public a significant amount of his research and findings, but he has withheld certain documents and photographs to comply with the agreement he made with Israeli officials. His refusal to provide everything resulted in criticism from some.



The day after the death of Wyatt, one detractor sent an e-mail to WorldNetDaily saying, “The world has lost one of the most colorful charlatans of all time.” He predicted that nothing will ever come of the discoveries and even claimed that Wyatt is not with God now because he must account for his lies.

“There’s nothing can be done to prevent ridicule that I’m aware of. I don’t think it would be appropriate to deny people the opportunity of using ridicule because I think that’s part of showing their true character.”

This discovery of the Ark of the Covenant and the crucifixion site are more important to the non-Christians than to the believing Christians, according to Wyatt. He believes the discovery will help to bring people of other faiths to Christ

“They’ve been taught something else all their life. So God is doing this show-and-tell through these revelations and these discoveries to prove to them real quick that the Bible is historically accurate and divinely inspired,” Wyatt explained. He quoted from Jeremiah 16:19-22 predicting unbelievers will come from all parts of the earth to learn of the discoveries.

“Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods,” quoted Wyatt.

“This last revelation is for the inhabitants of the earth who don’t have a clue, as well as for those of us who do have a clue and have been commissioned by Christ to reach out to help bring these people who don’t have a clue into the fold. So these are tools that God has given the believers to strengthen their faith and to reach out with. They are tools that will be extremely effective in these the last pouring out to the entire population, all inhabitants of the earth,” he explained.


Wyatt has been involved in a number of significant archeological studies of biblical sites and artifacts. These have included Noah’s Ark, the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses, Mount Sinai, Sodom and Gomorrah, and others. Nothing else has the significance of the Ark of the Covenant and its tie to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, he explained.

“My personal assessment is that this is the culmination of the whole plan of salvation. I believe it’s the finishing off and the final proof and evidence for what has happened here on this planet. And I think that it’s being presented at a time just before probation’s closed while people can still decide to go along with God,” Wyatt stated.

WorldNetDaily made contact with sources within the U.S. intelligence community that have been reliable in past investigations. Experts on both Israeli and Muslim politics and beliefs were contacted to determine their assessment on the impact of Wyatt’s discoveries.

Both sources expressed disbelief that the Israeli government wanted to hide the discovery for the reason they gave Wyatt. Instead both agreed that it was likely the Israelis are concerned that when Jews learn of the connection of the crucifixion site with the Ark of the Covenant there could be large conversions which would threaten Jewish control of the government, assuming that the discoveries are true. Neither source was aware of the discoveries previously.

Wyatt did say that he did not expect the Ark of the Covenant would ever be removed from its current resting placed. The access tunnel used by Wyatt’s archeological team has been sealed. The pictures and videos of the find are what he said would soon be shown worldwide.

“The blood and all of that part will be shown, all of that, on video. The only thing that will be shown typically that people will be able to have a look at and maybe touch, you know I don’t know what the restrictions will be on that, and that’s the tables of stone,” said Wyatt, referring to the tablets containing the Ten Commandments found inside the Ark of the Covenant itself.

Wyatt said he did not believe the Jews will ever successfully rebuild the Temple because they would want to resume the practice of blood sacrifice within the Temple, something that he says God would not permit to happen.


“I believe that if they do set about to do a Temple thing, it will be part of Satan’s deception,” he added.

He said that when the Ark of the Covenant and the Temple furnishings were moved to the hidden chamber, that location became the Temple of the Lord, or the Holy of Holies. It remained untouched and undefiled so that Christ could complete his ultimate sacrifice.

He is confident they remain where he found them. He does not believe they have been secreted away.

“Let me say this, and this is a touchy point and I try to avoid it. There’s some 14 to 16 individuals that have died because they have tried to in some way to manipulate this,” he explained without providing the details.

“Some have had to do with withdrawing a permit and others have had to do with, shall we say, trying to actually get in there and move the furnishings. So I believe that God has adequately demonstrated, at least to me, that He is not going to allow this to be moved.

I do know this, and that is that nothing will happen to this that is not in God’s plan because this is the most important part of the plan of salvation that has been carried out. This is it, the heart and soul of it. There’s no way he’s going to allow people, demons, or any other forces to interfere with it being done exactly as he wants it done,” he stated.

The crucifixion site was found on the side of the Golgotha hill, or Place of the Skull just outside the old north wall of Jerusalem, not far from the Garden Tomb. It was discovered under many feet of soil with actual holes in the rock where crosses were placed, and niches in the rock wall behind where three signs were placed. The large circular stone used to cover the garden tomb was also located there, and it was all surrounded by the foundation of a first century building. The central, main cross hole has an earthquake crack beside it.

Photographic evidence was obtained, and then the site was covered back over with 12 feet of dirt and a garden established. Wyatt says it was landscaped to avoid controversy. The entrance to the system of caves and tunnels, found by the Wyatt team in the cliff wall was also sealed over.

In conclusion, Wyatt was asked to describe his spiritual growth since his discoveries. What is the difference in his gospel understanding before the discoveries and since?

“Basically, getting to know God and complying with his required character changes and all of that. I was experiencing those things, and of course I had a hunger and a thirst. I had a big curiosity. To be perfectly honest that may have outweighed the other consideration and then the difference between what I felt then and now is I believed what the Bible said. I believed what it says to be true, that’s the Authorized King James by the way. However, now I know that what it says is true,” he concluded.

Ron Wyatt's Last Interview and Transcript






Sources: