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Photo: Robert Deering 10/23/2006 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Chantilly, Virginia |
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In 1934,
the Bureau of Air Commerce recognized the Waterman
Arrowplane as one of the two award-winning designs for its
flivver (i.e., light, easy-to-fly and affordable) aircraft
competition. Waldo Waterman's improved Arrowplane, the
Aerobile #6, fulfilled his dream of designing a tailless
roadable airplane. The Aerobile was a two-place, high-wing, cabin monoplane with a transmission drive system that operated the propeller in the air and the rear wheels on the ground. The one-piece wing was removed by moving a lever and pins. Painted in "Buick blue," it had many standard Studebaker, Ford, Austin, and Willys automobile parts to keep the price down and maintain the look of a car. It received FAA certification in the experimental category in 1957, but no market materialized. Dimensions: Wingspan: 11.5 m (38 ft.) Height: 2.6 m (8 ft. 8 in.) Length: 6.3 m (20 ft. 8 in.) Weight: 952.5 kg (2,100 lbs.) Materials: Metal and steel tubing with fabric cover
Source:
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum |
