Portsmouth Aviation Aerocar

[Bailey]

The Portsmouth Aerocar was a British postwar attempt to produce a Dragon Rapide replacement for the Air Taxi and Feederliner market.

Portsmouth Aviation are still going, and they have a PDF download available on the history of the Aerocar.
Link: http://www.portsmouth-aviation.co.uk/downloads.aspx

Included are some of the projected versions of the Aerocar, the most interesting being the floatplane version shown below.

Portsmouth Aviation also produced a Seaplane Jet Fighter project, see http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,645.0.html

Regards Bailey.

 

[robunos]

Very Interesting, do you have any more data on
this, besides the dimensions quoted in the PDF?

Portsmouth Aviation are still going,

I see they make the UK version of the Paveway LGB.... :

Regarding the Aerocar, my first thought whenever I see it
is 'Miles Aerovan', although the latter is somewhat larger,
and, of course, designed as a freighter.
Of course, DH weren't going to let go of the Rapide replacement
market, the DH Dove appearing in due course...


cheers,
Robin.

 

[Maveric]

Was the Aerocar Major the same as Aerocar Minor with more powerful plants?

Aerocar Minor projekt with Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 (90HP) / Aerocar Major Blackburn Cirrus Major III (155HP).

Servus Maveric

 

[Bailey]

Some articles from Flight, giving more information.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946 - 2224.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201096.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946 - 0515.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%200516.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%202270%20-%200024.html

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%202270%20-%200025.html

Wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth_Aerocar

Regards Bailey.

 

[Bailey]

Four models were to have been offered:-

Aerocar Junior 2 x Cirrus Minor II, Fixed undercarriage.
Aerocar Senior 2 x Cirrus Major III, Fixed undercarriage.
Aerocar Minor 2 x Cirrus Minor II, Retractable undercarriage.
Aerocar Major 2 x Cirrus Major III, Retractable undercarriage.

G-AGTG was C/n 02, C/n 01 was an Aerocar Minor to which the registration G-AGNJ was allocated. It was never completed.

Regards Bailey

 

[alertken]

History of Co and Aerocar by founder's son: SPITHEAD EXPRESS, The Pre-War Island Air Ferry and Post-War Plans, Christopher Balfour, Magna Press,1999. WW2 Civilian Repair Organisation contractor (Oxford, Horsa). Aerocar to be an early case of production out-sourcing to a 1947 new entity in Jamnagar, new-India: 288 "provisional orders", but fell apart in financial turmoil. The Co. turned to specialist/make-to-print/short-order work, such as (IIRC) drop tanks; a component design role on UK's nuclear weapons; (per Robunos above ) licencee for Rockwell Paveway LGB.

 

[Bailey]

History of Co and Aerocar by founder's son: SPITHEAD EXPRESS, The Pre-War Island Air Ferry and Post-War Plans, Christopher Balfour, Magna Press,1999.

New to me, thanks for passing that on.

Regards Bailey.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Greetings All -

Some artwork of the Aerocar courtesy of the San Diego Air & Space Museum archives.

Also a Flight article not previously listed:

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201096.html

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[Jemiba]

Another article about the Aerocar was published in the Wingspan magazine.
For those interested, I'll can make a scan.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Hi Jemiba -

I might have that now that you mention it. Do you know what issue?

Thanks! Mark

 

[Jemiba]

Sorry for the delay, had to digg out that issue before (my mags are kept on the attic, which
in the moment is in a state of total mess, due to preparations for a renewal of the roof).
It was the January/February issue 2002.

 

[hesham]

Anther pictures to Aerocar.

 

[hesham]

With floats;

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%201609.html?search=Portsmouth%20Aerocar

 

[hesham]

From Aeroplane Monthly.

 

[hesham]

From Britsih Civil Aircraft Since 1919.