MANAGEMENT IN AVIATION HISTORY BENCH MARKS


now exhibited at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy facility in Virginia.


SUCCESS — ALMOST Moulton “Molt” Taylor (1912-1995), was born in Oregon, and earned


a degree in Engineering at the University of Washington before he joined the Navy as a pilot during WWII. After the war, he focused on aircraft design, and ultimately the hybrid concept of a flying car. After successful prototype tests, Taylor


applied for, and was granted CAA type 4A16 in 1956. As it was originally designed, the Aerocar sat on four tires, powered by a 160hp Lycoming engine on land and in the air. The detachable wings were towed behind the Aerocar in a specially designed trailer. Taylor built five Aerocars at his factory in Longview, Washington, offering them for sale at $13,500. Unfortunately, slow sales and several changes in certification regulations grounded production. Although it failed to sell during the 1950s, one of the remaining three Model One Aerocars is currently advertised at $2.2 million. In lieu of owning, you can visit an Aerocar where I last saw it exhibited at the Seattle Museum of Flight, sitting like a wind-up toy next to the enormous SR-71 Blackbird. Today’s technology has made a


roadable aircraft feasible. In prior years I was among those who fantasized about driving and flying a roadable aircraft. But I now I’d prefer to pedal a Sky Cycle, made famous by Cromwell Dixon [1892-1911] in 1907. I envision myself floating quietly above ground (but not too high) at a slow pace sharing the air with a flock of birds. Like Curtiss, Waterman, Taylor,


Trautman and others, one can dream. Want to know more? All you need


to know about roadable aircraft can be found at: https://io9.gizmodo.com/a-


treasury-of-flying-cars-from-the- golden-age-of-aviat-510910460


Giacinta Bradley Koontz


is an aviation historian, magazine columnist and author who has received the


DAR History Medal and honorable mention from the New York Book Festival. She has appeared on the History Channel and in PBS documentaries. For more information, visit www.GiaBKoontz.com.


10 DOMmagazine.com | nov 2019 Rapco 1-2 page Fuel twin.indd 1 7/22/19 3:35 PM


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