The Wagner FJ-V3 Aerocar was a prototype 4-place flying automobile. The vehicle used

contra-rotating Contra-rotating, also referred to as coaxial contra-rotating, is a technique whereby parts of a mechanism rotate in opposite directions about a common axis, usually to minimise the effect of torque. Examples include some aircraft propellers, r ...

rotor helicopter technology for flight.

Design

The Aerocar was developed in the era of space-age futurism, and looked the part. It looked slightly like the

Jetsons ''The Jetsons'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. It originally aired in prime time from September 23, 1962, to March 17, 1963, on ABC, then later aired in reruns via syndication, with new episodes produce ...

flying car, with a large bubble cockpit, tailfins, and disproportionately small wheels for a car. It was developed from the Rotocar III design which was based on the Sky-trac 3 helicopter. The helicopter used counter-rotating rotors. On ground propulsion to the wheels was through a hydraulic linkage to the engine.

Operational history

A prototype with the registration D-HAGU was completed and flown in 1965. The Franklin 6AS-335-B engine was replaced with a 134lb, 420shp Turbomeca Oredon turbine engine with a front-mounted gearbox. The design was sold to Helikopter Technik München (HTM). HTM suspended development of the Aerocar in 1971.

Variants

HTM Skytrac The HTM Skytrac (originally known as the Wagner Skytrac) was a light utility helicopter developed in Germany in the 1960s and 70s. A later four-seat version was known as the Skyrider. Despite achieving certification from the German aviation autho ...

Specifications Wagner Aerocar

References

External links

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Flight International ''Flight International'', formerly ''Flight'', is a monthly magazine focused on aerospace. Published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1909 as "A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport", i ...

'', June 1968 *Aero Engines; ''

'', January 2, 1969 * {{Flying cars Aerocar, Wagner Single-turbine helicopters 1960s German helicopters Aircraft first flown in 1965 Single-engined piston helicopters Wagner aircraft Coaxial rotor helicopters