Is it a bird, is it a plane... no it's the Taylor Aerocar
James May fulfilled a boyhood dream when he flew the Taylor Aerocar
As part of his 'Big Ideas' series James May went to the US to pilot the world’s only surviving flying car for its first flight in four years. The legendary Aerocar of the 1950s was once a darling of the skies, and with Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner and Lana Turner as previous passengers, it proved that a flying car can be glamorous.
The History of the Taylor Aerocar
Designed and built by Moulton Taylor in Longview, Washington, six were produced over three versions. The design dates back to 1946 when during a trip to Delaware Taylor met inventor Robert E. Fulton Jr., who had designed an earlier car/aeroplane, the 'Airphibian'. Taylor realised folding wings would be better than the detachable wings of Fulton’s design, and his prototype used folding wings that allowed the road vehicle to be converted into flight mode in five minutes by one person The rear number plate flipped up allowing the operator to connect the propeller shaft and attach a pusher propeller. The car engine drove the front wheels through a three-speed manual transmission, and when used as a car the wings and tail were towed behind like trailer. Aerocars could reaach up to 60 miles per hour while driving and have a top airspeed of 110 miles per hour.
Moulton Taylor Aerocar advertisement
Sales didn't take off
Taylor demonstrated his flying car on a popular 1950s television show 'You Asked for It' with host Art Baker. Driving the Aerocar on stage, Taylor showed off its car-like interior, the padded bench-seat equipped with two seat belts and a standard steering wheel. The dashboard held two sets of instruments: a speedometer and petrol gauge for driving and an altimeter and compass for flying. However though it attracted supporters and potential buyers, the weight of new government regulations cost Taylor the interest of Ford Motor Co, just as they were about to launch the Aerocar at their 4,000 dealerships.
(Pic BBC/Open University)
The last one flying
The last of the Aerocars still flying is owned by the Sweeney family who have had it for over 20 years. They bravely allowed James May to drive/pilot it, much to his excitement, as you can see in the video below. There's only just enough room for two people and it really does look happier as a plane than as a car. What do you think?
The Sweeney family can be seen in the video below being interviewed about owning the Aerocar.
Not the future?
Flying cars proved impractical for many reasons, not least that you still had to drive it to the airport and back, meaning that you would still get stuck in traffic. Should flying cars be given another try? Probably not, the regulations involved today would make those that bought the project to a halt look nothing, but it looks like it was fun.
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Comments (9)
The idea is 'flying' again. Looks like a really big person sized drone. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhKTCbbqbaE
Charming and adorable! Vehicle's not bad either.
I think we were separated at birth 😉
I just discovered this series a few weeks ago and couldn’t stop watching until I had seen all of the episodes. Then I watched them all again. I love how he starts with the high level concept, then asks questions and turns over stones, gradually winding his way through the subject before finally arriving at the conclusion. Truly enlightening, and very entertaining.
It was really good, very enlightening. It was a joint BBC & Open University production.
That shirt!
That magnificent man in a flying machine.