After WWII, America was certain that a new age of science and technology would make flying cars an everyday event. Several flying cars were made, but they all had the worst of both worlds. They were lame airplanes, which converted to lame automobiles. Any airplane that had to carry a automobile wheels, suspension, and drive train, is going to be a lame airplane. The first to get CAA certification was the Airphibian, made by Robert Fulton.
It was designed to be a fully functional, if somewhat lame, automobile, which converts to a fully functional, if somewhat lame, airplane. However, the idea sure sounds fun, and one wonders if current technology could produce an updated Airphibian with better performance.
The Airphibian was designed by Robert Fulton Jr. in 1945, and was intended to fly into an airport, drop the propeller, wings and tail, and drive into town from the airport.
It was a high wing monoplane, with four wheels. Steering of the car was by turning the steering wheel, and use of the pedals for brake and clutch functions. It would do 55 mph on the ground, and 110 mph in the air.
Several production models were made, and over the years, experienced 200,000 miles on the ground and 6000 + conversions. However, sales never caught on, and the conversion process was considered complicated. Performance in the air was poor, due to the weight problems mentioned above. The Fulton Airphibian inspired other car/plane conversions, but none have given us the flying car dreamed of as a commuter car.
In 1951 or 1952, Bob's test pilot< Pat ( and I forgot his last name,) had an accident in his Global Swift in Chicago IL. ,if I remember right, and Bob asked me, an 18 year old who worked for Stan Konecko, if I would consider taking Pats place. I foolishly declined, for which I shall be eternally sorry, and now today, I would give my eye teeth to again have the chance to fly that plane. I was there when old doc Gaffney "flew" the Champion, into the side of the airphibian with Bob's wife (and I'm afraid I've forgotten her name), standing in the open doorway and somehow miraculously, she reappeared on the other side of the "Phibian" when the dust had settled. Bob knew me as "Red". So, I'd love to hear from you folks, sometime, and I just learned that there is one of your "planes" in Cleveland, so I'm definitely going to get to at least see it this summer. I've already made plans with my wife, to show her this aircraft, that I have told her so much about, over the years. I.m thrilled to have found this info on the 'puter, since I.m NO 'puter expert.........LOL....Hope to hear from you.Karl......
Posted by: Karl Linstrum | May 12, 2006 at 10:22 AM
It’s great that more people are focusing on making better environmental choices. Plus technology is making it more economical now, and that’s what people really notice. Wind energy, solar power, hybrids and zap EV’s, our choices are good. There are now electric cars being sold everyday, you just plug it into a regular power outlet. When people test drive them they say it’s far more fun to drive an EV.
Posted by: Web | March 24, 2008 at 05:45 PM
I remember a TV program, probably a situation comedy, starring Bob Cummins and he drove such a vehicle. I was 11 or 12 so that puts it around 1961-62, boy I wanted one just like it...
Posted by: Brian DiBartolomeo | April 27, 2008 at 08:13 PM
I am sorry, I wrote in haste and from memory, it was "The Bob Cummings Show" 1961 (I got that right) and it was an aerocar that he drove...
Posted by: Brian DiBartolomeo | April 27, 2008 at 08:32 PM