William Bushnell Stout was a prolific designer of road vehicles and aircraft, including the Ford Trimotor series. He was founder of the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company and in 1931 designed the Skycar which was specified for easy handling and provided with automobile-style comfort. Single examples of four variations on the basic design were produced between 1931 and 1944.[1]
The Skycar I was first displayed at the spring 1931 Detroit Show. The aircraft was a two-seat high-wing monoplane, accommodating the occupants in tandem layout. It had an all-metal steel-tube frame covered with corrugated metal skin. Centre-line nose and tail-wheels plus a standard landing gear were fitted. The rear fuselage was constructed from an open framework carrying a single fin and rudder, inside which was located the rear pusher engine.[1] The Sky Car was displayed with a Moorhouse engine (Alfred Moorhouse of Detroit, assignor to Packard Motor Car Company). Fuel was carried in two tanks in the leading portion of the central section of the engine housing, from where it was fed by gravity to the engine.[2] At a later date the aircraft was fitted with twin booms carrying the single fin and rudder (see photo of preserved aircraft). The aircraft featured balanced pivoting outboard wingtips rather than ailerons.[3] Stout attempted to design a simple aircraft that would have controls similar to early model Fords including the ignition switch and the starter button. Stout planned to build the Sky Car (i.e. its original name was "Sky Car" but various newspaper and magazine articles spelled it "Skycar") [4] and sell it at the price of a moderately priced car (approximately $2000) if mass-produced in numbers.[5]
The Skycar II of 1941 was a higher-powered version utilising stainless steel construction and twin tail booms. The four-wheel landing gear was intended to facilitate a later rebuild to roadability which never occurred. It was built with support from Fred Fisher of General Motors.[1]
The Skycar III of 1943 had a higher-powered Lycoming engine to enable operation at higher gross weight, but was otherwise similar to the Skycar II.[1]
The Skycar IV of 1944 was also known as the Spratt-Stout Model 8 and the Convair 103. It was similar to the Skycar III with twin tail-booms, but fitted with twin fins and rudders.[1]
The Skycar II was evaluated by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) as the XC-65 light transport. It was destroyed in a hangar fire circa 1942.[1]
The Skycar III was tested by the USAAF as the XC-107.[1]
90 hp (67 kW) Franklin 4ACG pusher engine, later 125 hp (93 kW) Lycoming O-290C. (1 built)
Weick W1
Fred Weick of NACA, with permission, built his own aircraft based roughly on the Skycar for safety and control tests. The tested features were later applied to his ERCO Ercoupe design.
Specifications (Skycar I)Edit
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931,[7] Aerofiles: Stout[1]
^Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd.
BibliographyEdit
"The Stout Skycar". Flight. Vol. XXIII, no. 1164. April 17, 1931. p. 334.
Ogden, Bob (2007). Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN978-0-85130-385-7.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stout Skycar.
Aerofiles data and photos of the Skycars
August 29, 2023
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The Stout Skycar was a series of four one off American light aircraft of the 1930s SkycarThe Skycar I as later modified on display in the National Air and Space Museum workshops Silver Hill Maryland in June 1982Role Two seat light aircraftNational origin United StatesManufacturer Stout Engineering LaboratoryDesigner William B StoutFirst flight 1931Introduction 1931Status Skycar I preservedNumber built 4 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications Skycar I 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksDevelopment EditWilliam Bushnell Stout was a prolific designer of road vehicles and aircraft including the Ford Trimotor series He was founder of the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company and in 1931 designed the Skycar which was specified for easy handling and provided with automobile style comfort Single examples of four variations on the basic design were produced between 1931 and 1944 1 The Skycar I was first displayed at the spring 1931 Detroit Show The aircraft was a two seat high wing monoplane accommodating the occupants in tandem layout It had an all metal steel tube frame covered with corrugated metal skin Centre line nose and tail wheels plus a standard landing gear were fitted The rear fuselage was constructed from an open framework carrying a single fin and rudder inside which was located the rear pusher engine 1 The Sky Car was displayed with a Moorhouse engine Alfred Moorhouse of Detroit assignor to Packard Motor Car Company Fuel was carried in two tanks in the leading portion of the central section of the engine housing from where it was fed by gravity to the engine 2 At a later date the aircraft was fitted with twin booms carrying the single fin and rudder see photo of preserved aircraft The aircraft featured balanced pivoting outboard wingtips rather than ailerons 3 Stout attempted to design a simple aircraft that would have controls similar to early model Fords including the ignition switch and the starter button Stout planned to build the Sky Car i e its original name was Sky Car but various newspaper and magazine articles spelled it Skycar 4 and sell it at the price of a moderately priced car approximately 2000 if mass produced in numbers 5 The Skycar II of 1941 was a higher powered version utilising stainless steel construction and twin tail booms The four wheel landing gear was intended to facilitate a later rebuild to roadability which never occurred It was built with support from Fred Fisher of General Motors 1 The Skycar III of 1943 had a higher powered Lycoming engine to enable operation at higher gross weight but was otherwise similar to the Skycar II 1 The Skycar IV of 1944 was also known as the Spratt Stout Model 8 and the Convair 103 It was similar to the Skycar III with twin tail booms but fitted with twin fins and rudders 1 Operational history EditThe Skycar I sometimes referred to as the Model 11 W It was flown as a personal aircraft by Stout for several years 1 and was later donated to the Smithsonian Institution It is on display in the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport Virginia 6 The Skycar II was evaluated by the United States Army Air Forces USAAF as the XC 65 light transport It was destroyed in a hangar fire circa 1942 1 The Skycar III was tested by the USAAF as the XC 107 1 Variants Edit Data from Aerofiles Stout 1 Skycar I 75 hp 56 kW Michigan Rover R 267 pusher engine later 90 hp 67 kW Warner Junior 1 built Skycar II 90 hp 67 kW Franklin O 200 pusher engine Gross weight 1550 lbs 1 built Skycar III 125 hp 93 kW Lycoming O 290 pusher engine Gross weight 1825 lbs 1 built Skycar IV 90 hp 67 kW Franklin 4ACG pusher engine later 125 hp 93 kW Lycoming O 290C 1 built Weick W1 Fred Weick of NACA with permission built his own aircraft based roughly on the Skycar for safety and control tests The tested features were later applied to his ERCO Ercoupe design Specifications Skycar I EditData from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1931 7 Aerofiles Stout 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 23 ft 11 in 7 3 m Wingspan 43 ft 0 in 13 1 m Wing area 188 5 sq ft 17 51 m2 Empty weight 950 lb 431 kg Gross weight 1 425 lb 646 kg Powerplant 1 Michigan Rover R 267 4 cylinder in line air cooled piston engine 75 hp 56 kW Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch pusher propellerPerformance Maximum speed 95 mph 153 km h 83 kn Cruise speed 80 mph 130 km h 70 kn Stall speed 35 mph 56 km h 30 kn Range 320 mi 510 km 280 nmi Wing loading 7 6 lb sq ft 37 kg m2 Power mass 19 lb hp 12 kg kW References EditNotes Edit a b c d e f g h i j Eckland K O Stout aerofiles com Retrieved 27 December 2018 Flight Air Progress 18 November 1978 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Air Flivver Built Like Auto Lands on Tennis Court Popular Mechanics June 1931 Air Flivver Ready To Fly Weighs Only 1 000 Pounds June 1931 Popular Science article on Skycar I Ogden 2007 p 534 Grey C G ed 1931 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1931 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd Bibliography Edit The Stout Skycar Flight Vol XXIII no 1164 April 17 1931 p 334 Ogden Bob 2007 Aviation Museums and Collections of North America Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 978 0 85130 385 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stout Skycar Aerofiles data and photos of the Skycars Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stout Skycar amp oldid 1145145243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
