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November 26, 2014
Into the air junior birdmen!
and besides this photo and a brief mention of the vehicle in a newspaper clipping from Andalusia, Alabama, it might as well have not existed at all. According to the story, the photo above is of Jess Dixon; it was supposedly taken sometime around 1940. Although it’s considered a flying car by aviation history buffs, the machine is actually closer to a “roadable helicopter,” due to the two overhead blades spinning in opposite directions. In other words, it’s a gyrocopter that can also roll.9 Of The Most Unusual And Unique Flying Cars | Unusual Corner
Posted by gerardvanderleun at November 26, 2014 6:33 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
That hat is the most amazing thing in the photo.
Posted by: chuck ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://americandigest.org/sidelines/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 26, 2014 6:50 PM
That hat is the most amazing thing in the photo. Keeping it on must have played a considerable role in the design of the frame.
Posted by: chuck at November 26, 2014 6:53 PM
Indeed, it's shaped just like a gyrocopter.
That's pretty convenient!
Though prolly pretty heavy.
Posted by: ghostsniper at November 26, 2014 8:16 PM
Gyrocopter was a new term for me. Apparently it replaced "Autogyro" after I retired.
This seems to show an early helicopter, not a gyrocopter.
It appears both rotors are powered but is suspect not. The lower one may only autorotate. It would also be tilted to control motion. (Gearing for powering both rotors would have been tricky for the time.)
Notice the balance, with roughly a 150# pilot the center of mass is directly below the rotors as it should be. There are three small wheels but one is obscured.
And the builder seems to have used two automobile tires for the pilots footrest. They would also absorb shock incase of a hard landing. Very economical.
A nice piece of work.
Posted by: Ken at November 26, 2014 10:55 PM
If that is going to roll down a road as a car, those lanes better be wide.
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at November 27, 2014 4:15 PM