Aerocar International
Aerocar International was a roadable aircraft manufacturer, founded by Moulton Taylor in Longview, Washington. Work continued until the late 1960s, when changing legislation made Taylor's designs impractical.
Aircraft
* Aerocar I (1949) – S ...
's Aerocar (often called the Taylor Aerocar) was an American
roadable aircraft
A flying car or roadable aircraft is a type of vehicle which can function both as a road vehicle and as an aircraft. As used here, this includes vehicles which drive as motorcycles when on the road. The term "flying car" is also sometimes u ...
designed and built by
Moulton Taylor
Moulton B. "Molt" Taylor (September 29, 1912 – November 16, 1995) was an American aeronautical engineer famed for his work designing, developing, and manufacturing on a small scale one of the first practical flying cars, the Aerocar.
Life ...
in
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 37,818 at the time of the 2 ...
in 1949. Although six examples were made, it never entered large-scale production. It is considered one of the first practical
flying cars.
Design and development
Taylor began designing a roadable aircraft in 1946. During a trip to Delaware, he met inventor Robert E. Fulton, Jr., who had designed an earlier roadable airplane, the
Airphibian, with detachable wings. Taylor's prototype, the Aerocar, utilized folding wings that allowed the road vehicle to be converted into flight mode in five minutes by one person.
When the rear license plate was flipped up, the operator could connect the propeller shaft and attach a
pusher propeller
In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...
. The same engine drove the front wheels through a three-speed manual transmission. When operated as an aircraft, the road transmission was left in neutral (though backing up during taxiing was possible by the using the reverse gear). On the road, the wings and tail unit were towed behind the vehicle. Taylor also put the propeller on the back of the car so it did not have to be removed when the Aerocar went on the road.
Aerocars could drive up to 60 miles per hour
[ Just years before his November 1995 death, Molt Taylor was selling plans for his latest version. ] and had a top
airspeed
In aviation, airspeed is the speed of an aircraft relative to the air. Among the common conventions for qualifying airspeed are:
* Indicated airspeed ("IAS"), what is read on an airspeed gauge connected to a Pitot-static system;
* Calibrated ...
of 110 miles per hour. An early-1950s "Industry on Parade" film shows Taylor driving and piloting his Aerocar, as well as footage of manufacture.
Testing and certification
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) granted the Aerocar civil certification in 1956, and Taylor reached a deal with
Ling-Temco-Vought
Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was a large American conglomerate which existed from 1961 to 2000. At its peak, it was involved in aerospace, airlines, electronics, steel manufacturing, sporting goods, meat packing, car rentals, and pharmaceuticals, amo ...
for serial production provided he could obtain 500 orders. When he was able to obtain only half that number, production plans ended. Only six examples were built. One is still flying as of 2008, and Taylor rebuilt another into the only Aerocar III. In 2013 the Disney film ''
Planes'' honored Aerocar with a character based on it—Franz, aka Fliegenhosen.
Produced examples
There are four Aerocar I's, one Aerocar II, and one Aerocar I that was rebuilt as Aerocar III.
''N4994P''
![Aerocar at EAA](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Aerocar_at_EAA.jpg)
''N4994P'' (1949, originally ''N31214'') is yellow with silver wings. It was the very first Aerocar and is on display at the
EAA AirVenture Museum
The EAA Aviation Museum, formerly the EAA AirVenture Museum (or Air Adventure Museum), is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historic and experimental aircraft as well as antiques, classics, and warbirds. The museum is lo ...
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
[Steeves, Richard]
"Taylor Aerocar - N4994P."
''Airventuremuseum.org.'' Retrieved: March 4, 2012. It is maintained in flying condition but is not flown.
''N101D''
![1954 Taylor Aerocar Serial Number 3 registered as N101D](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/1954_Taylor_Aerocar_Serial_Number_3_registered_as_N101D.jpg)
''N101D'' (1954) is owned by Greg Herrick's Yellowstone Aviation Inc.
It is maintained in flying condition and is on display at the Golden Wings Flying Museum located on the south west side of the
Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis. This aircraft is featured flying overhead on the cover on the book "A Drive In the Clouds" by Jake Schultz. In December 2011, N101D was being offered for sale at an asking price of USD1.25 million.
''N102D''
''N102D'' (1960) is yellow and green. The last Aerocar built and the only one still flying, it is owned by Ed Sweeney and is on display at the
Kissimmee Air Museum
The Kissimmee Air Museum was located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Kissimmee, Florida, Kissimmee, Florida. It housed vintage aircraft from World War II to the Vietnam War including an outdoor showroom.Frommer’s."Flying Tigers Warbird Rest ...
located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Kissimmee, Florida. N102D was the only Aerocar built with the larger O-360 Lycoming powerplant giving it much better performance. It is the only road legal and driven Aerocar left. It is currently flown by the owner's son Sean Sweeney. It was previously owned by actor
Bob Cummings
Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) was an American film and television actor who appeared in roles in comedy films such as ''The Devil and Miss Jones'' (1941) and ''Princess O'Rourke'' (1943), and in d ...
, who used it in his
TV sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
''
The New Bob Cummings Show
''The New Bob Cummings Show'' is an American sitcom which was broadcast by CBS during the 1961–62 television season. The series was originally titled ''The Bob Cummings Show'' when it first appeared on the CBS schedule on October 5, 1961; howe ...
''.
It also appeared on the TV show ''
James May's Big Ideas'' on
BBC2, aired in September 2008. Inspired by this vehicle, Ed Sweeney is currently developing the
Aerocar 2000
The Aerocar 2000 was a proposed flying car under development in the early 2000s in the United States. The Aerocar 2000 was designed by Ed Sweeney, who was inspired by Moulton Taylor's Aerocar of the 1950s (and is the owner of the only still-flyi ...
via his
Aerocar firm.
''N103D''
''N103D'' (1956) has been repainted to red/black with red wings. It has been owned by Carl Felling and Marilyn Stine of Grand Junction, Colorado
[Simon, Scott]
" Weekend Edition Saturday: Aerocar Goes Up for Auction."
''NPR,'' September 30, 2006. Retrieved: March 4, 2012. since 1981. It once flew
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; ; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 200 ...
's brother,
Raúl Castro, in
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
.
The aircraft was damaged when hit a horse on the runway.
From 1961 to 1963 the Aerocar was operated under contract between Star Stations (Don Burden) and Wik's Air Service, Inc. It was used as a traffic-watch (AIRWATCH) aircraft for
KISN (910AM) radio station in
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
where it was flown by "Scotty Wright" (Scotty Wright was the alias used by the acting pilot of the Aerocar during traffic-watch transmissions). Several pilots provided the AIRWATCH service beginning with World War II veteran pilot Guilford Wikander, President of Wik's Air Service, Inc. Guilford was followed in order by his sister Ruth Wikander, W. John Jacob, Wayne Nutsch and Alan Maris. Scotty Wright reports Nutsch having 350 flying hours in N103D performing AIRWATCH duty. Traffic reporting was from 7:00 AM–8:30 AM and 4:30 PM–6:00 PM. During the Aerocar's AIRWATCH missions, it was painted white with red hearts and had the letters KISN on the top and bottom of the wings.
The aircraft was equipped with an emergency police/fire receiver for use in reporting emergency events on KISN radio stations broadcast. When flown for KISN it was based at Wik's Air Service,
Hillsboro Airport
Hillsboro Airport , also known as Portland–Hillsboro Airport, is a corporate, general aviation and flight-training airport serving the city of Hillsboro, in Washington County, Oregon, United States. It is one of three airports in the Portland, ...
(HIO), Hillsboro Oregon. On one of its more eventful flights for KISN it survived the
Columbus Day Storm of 1962
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 (also known as the Big Blow, and originally, and in Canada as Typhoon Freda) was a Pacific Northwest windstorm that struck the West Coast of Canada and the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States on October 12, ...
without damage after its evening traffic reporting flight. W. John Jacob was piloting the aircraft at that particular time and should be credited with the successful landing during extreme wind conditions (perhaps more than 100 mph), but Ruth Wikander, who was in the aircraft to assist him, received the acclaim. Ruth Wikander was an active member of the 99's, the International Organization of Women Pilots. In 1962 Ruth Wikander drove the Aerocar as an automobile while trailering the wings in the annual Portland Rose Festival parade. The Aerocar was an integral part of KISN Radio along with photos of famous rock musicians and KISN DJ's of the times.
Last flown in 1977, the aircraft is no longer
airworthy
In aviation, airworthiness is the measure of an aircraft's suitability for safe flight. Initial airworthiness is demonstrated by a certificate of airworthiness issued by the civil aviation authority in the state in which the aircraft is registe ...
and has been in storage ever since.
It is currently listed for sale for the price of US$2.2 million.
''N107D'' (Aerocar II)
''N107D'' (1966) is an
Aerocar Aero-Plane
__NOTOC__
The Aerocar II Aero-Plane was an unusual light aircraft flown in the United States in 1964. It was developed from designer Moulton Taylor's Aerocar roadable aircraft, but could not be driven as a road vehicle. It used the wings and tail ...
, or Aerocar II.
["Aircraft N107D, 1966 Aerocar II C/N 1."](_blank)
''Airport-data.com,'' November 22, 2008. Retrieved: March 4, 2012. It is not a roadable aircraft but is based on the original Aerocar design. It uses the wing and tail section from the Aerocar. It seats four and is powered by a 150 hp IO-320 Lycoming engine. Only a single example was built. It is presently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado owned by Ed Sweeney owner of N102D.
''N4345F'' (Aerocar III)
The sixth Aerocar (''N4345F''), Moulton Taylor's final flying car effort, is red with silver wings. It began as one of the original Aerocars, which Taylor bought back from a customer when it was damaged in an accident on the ground in the 1960s. Taylor rebuilt it as the Aerocar III, replacing the original cabin with a sleeker, more streamlined front-wheel drive version (although it still "fell far short" of the sporty lines Taylor wanted to give it
eference?/sup>). The automotive unit weighs 1,100 lbs and is powered by a 140 hp
Lycoming O-320
The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. They are commonly used on light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee. Different variants ...
. The trailer wheels for the wings in towed configuration are deployable from a compartment on the outside of each wing's leading edge. The propeller driveshaft contains fine ball bearings that swing outward with centrifugal force, creating stiffness and damping. The four retractable wheels are extended for takeoff and landing, partly retracted for road travel, and fully retracted in flight. Taylor attracted some interest from
Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
in the Aerocar III, but no production resulted. The single prototype is displayed at Seattle's
Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is a private non-profit air and space museum in the Seattle metropolitan area. It is located at the southern end of King County International Airport (Boeing Field) in the city of Tukwila, immediately south of Seattle. ...
with the registration ''N100D''.
"Taylor Aerocar III."
''Museum of Flight.'' Retrieved: March 4, 2012.
Specifications (Aerocar I)
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
* Schultz, Jake. ''A Drive in the Clouds: The Story of the Aerocar ''. New Brighton, Minnesota: Flying Books International, 2006. .
* Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1961.
* Winchester, Jim. ''The World's Worst Aircraft: From Pioneering Failures to Multimillion Dollar Disasters''. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2005. .
External links
*
EAA AirVenture Museum's Aerocar
* ttps://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6172226 "Aerocar Goes Up for Auction."''NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
'', September 30, 2006.
N101D location
{{Aerocar aircraft
Roadable aircraft
1940s United States civil utility aircraft
Aerocar
Aerocar International's Aerocar (often called the Taylor Aerocar) was an American roadable aircraft designed and built by Moulton Taylor in Longview, Washington in 1949. Although six examples were made, it never entered large-scale production. I ...
Single-engined pusher aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1949
High-wing aircraft