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Moulton “Molt” Taylor was a Washington native, born in the town of Longview in 1912. He soloed as a pilot while still in high school and studied engineering at the University of Washington. After graduating from college, he joined the U.S. Navy and, during World War II, served as a naval engineering officer on pilotless and guided missile programs. At the war’s conclusion, Molt’s thoughts turned to civil aviation, initially focusing on amphibious aircraft. Always an innovator, he began to dream of a flying automobile, which would eventually become a reality as the Aerocar.
The Aerocar was a “roadable” airplane certified for use as both a plane and an automobile. The prototype was completed in 1949, but it took until December 1956 for the Civil Aeronautics Administration to certify the novel design. Though an ingenious concept, it was unfortunately never a commercial success, with only six units built. (A single “non-roadable” version of the vehicle, the Aerocar II, was offered in the 1960s.)
The initial Aerocar was prominently featured as the personal vehicle of actor Bob Cummings in his self-titled CBS television show in the early 1960s -- he owned Aerocar N102D in real life. Aerocar N103D was used by Portland, Oregon radio station KISN for real time traffic reporting in 1962-63, which included harrowing coverage of the epic Columbus Day Storm of 1962.
The most remarkable feature of the Aerocar, of course, is its ability to transform from automobile to aircraft, a process that takes less than 15 minutes. The Aerocar can either tow its wings and tail like a trailer, or simply leave them at the airport. To get ready for flight, the driver/pilot first connects the driveshaft (flip up the license plate to make the connection) in the tail. Then the wings swing around into position and are pinned into place. The flight controls -- movable steering wheel and rudder pedals -- slide into place automatically. The engine cannot start unless every connection has been properly made.
The Museum’s Aerocar III, N100D, has a mixed background. The wing and tail section was part of the Aerocar factory demonstrator in the 1950s. The car body originated as part of Aerocar N103D in the same timeframe. In the mid-1960s, Taylor bought it back after it had been damaged in a road accident. He refined the car section into the Aerocar III design and mated it to the N100D wing/tail section, first flying in that configuration in June 1968. It was the only Aerocar III built. Thanks to its large Lycoming 0-320 143-horsepower engine, the revised Aerocar was quite sporty. By all accounts, it also stable and pleasant to fly.
The Aerocar was exhibited at the EXPO ‘86 World’s Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia. Afterwards, the Museum exhibited it in the late 1980s and later permanently acquired the unique vehicle from Mrs. Lillian Verneil “Neil” Taylor in 1998.
Moulton “Molt” Taylor was a Washington native, born in the town of Longview in 1912. He soloed as a pilot while still in high school and studied engineering at the University of Washington. After graduating from college, he joined the U.S. Navy and, during World War II, served as a naval engineering officer on pilotless and guided missile programs. At the war’s conclusion, Molt’s thoughts turned to civil aviation, initially focusing on amphibious aircraft. Always an innovator, he began to dream of a flying automobile, which would eventually become a reality as the Aerocar.
The Aerocar was a “roadable” airplane certified for use as both a plane and an automobile. The prototype was completed in 1949, but it took until December 1956 for the Civil Aeronautics Administration to certify the novel design. Though an ingenious concept, it was unfortunately never a commercial success, with only six units built. (A single “non-roadable” version of the vehicle, the Aerocar II, was offered in the 1960s.)
The initial Aerocar was prominently featured as the personal vehicle of actor Bob Cummings in his self-titled CBS television show in the early 1960s -- he owned Aerocar N102D in real life. Aerocar N103D was used by Portland, Oregon radio station KISN for real time traffic reporting in 1962-63, which included harrowing coverage of the epic Columbus Day Storm of 1962.
The most remarkable feature of the Aerocar, of course, is its ability to transform from automobile to aircraft, a process that takes less than 15 minutes. The Aerocar can either tow its wings and tail like a trailer, or simply leave them at the airport. To get ready for flight, the driver/pilot first connects the driveshaft (flip up the license plate to make the connection) in the tail. Then the wings swing around into position and are pinned into place. The flight controls -- movable steering wheel and rudder pedals -- slide into place automatically. The engine cannot start unless every connection has been properly made.
The Museum’s Aerocar III, N100D, has a mixed background. The wing and tail section was part of the Aerocar factory demonstrator in the 1950s. The car body originated as part of Aerocar N103D in the same timeframe. In the mid-1960s, Taylor bought it back after it had been damaged in a road accident. He refined the car section into the Aerocar III design and mated it to the N100D wing/tail section, first flying in that configuration in June 1968. It was the only Aerocar III built. Thanks to its large Lycoming 0-320 143-horsepower engine, the revised Aerocar was quite sporty. By all accounts, it also stable and pleasant to fly.
The Aerocar was exhibited at the EXPO ‘86 World’s Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia. Afterwards, the Museum exhibited it in the late 1980s and later permanently acquired the unique vehicle from Mrs. Lillian Verneil “Neil” Taylor in 1998.
