That Time Canadians Made a Flying Saucer: Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar

Although pop-culture associations may have influenced the design of the Avrocar with the flying saucer shape. But engineers were probably less interested in creating an alien ship and were primarily trying to build vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. It seemed obvious that any new major conflict on the European continent would start with nuclear bombs that would destroy military installations—and airstrips—across most of the region.