Aerocar -
Combination single-engine aircraft and automobile on the comedy
adventure THE NEW BOB CUMMINGS SHOW/CBS/1961-62. The Aerocar was
owned by Bob Carson (Bob Cummings), a bachelor pilot who earned a
living flying charter flights and hiring himself out as a
detective. He accepted his assignments as long as they weren't
"Illegal, immoral or underpaid." When not used to fly the friendly
skies of Southern California, the Aerocar (sans detachable wings)
converted into a fully functioning road car in about ten minutes.
Its inventor never got the venture capital to mass produce the
vehicle, so he sold his prototype model to Bob Carson, the plane's
original test pilot. For longer flights, Bob used a twin-engine
aircraft.
TRIVIA NOTE: The Aerocar used on the TV series was
designed by Molt Taylor, the dean of "roadable" airplanes who
has devoted most of his adult years to making the Aerocar a
reality. The Aerocar IV, is based on a Geo Metro. You can see
Taylor's Aerocar at the EEA Museum in Oshkosh, WI.
Also, in 1946 airplane designer Robert Fulton from Newtown, Connecticut
created a combination plane and car called "The Airphibian." (No.
N74154). Upon landing, the propeller was detached from the front
of the plane and stored on the plane's wing section. The wheeled
cockpit portion of the plane disengaged from the main body to
become an automobile.
