Press Release Archives

For immediate release
15 June 2000

Canada Aviation Museum Displays a Flying Car

Ottawa—As of June 8, 2000, visitors to the Canada Aviation Museum will encounter a rare aspect of aviation history, you may have heard of an amphibian craft well now it is time to see an airphibian. The Fulton Flying car — an actual and authentic flying car, designed in the 1940’s, when anything was still possible in the world of aviation.

In 1945, Robert Fulton Jr., developed his Airphibian, currently on loan to the Canada Aviation Museum from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington as a flexible means of business and personal transportation. Fulton flew his own aircraft around the country which quite often had to be left at airports with no or slow means of transport into the city of his destination. This roadable aircraft would provide air travel to an airport and, with the disengagement of the wings and tail, it would become a car, capable of being driven to the final destination. In 1950, the Fulton Airphibian became the first roadable aircraft to be certificated by the Civil Aviation Administration.

The Airphibian represents a technical success as a flying car, however, it was not a marketable design, and as such it is a perfect centrepiece for the Canada Aviation Museum’s newest exhibit (opening summer 2000) Retrospective on the Future. This exhibit shows how dreams of a bright future permeated the world of aviation in the 20th century. This is a story of a future that never was. Giant airships and super fast airliners linking the continents. Suburban fathers going to work in their private airplanes. All these and more are included in this Retrospective on the future of flight.

The Canada Aviation Museum, Canada’s premier aeronautical collection, and among the best in the world, is located at the intersection of the Aviation and Rockcliffe Park. Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is $6 adults; $4 for students and seniors; and $2.00 for children 6-15; free for children under 6. A family pass is $12. Free on Thursdays after 5 p.m. Free parking. OC Transpo bus #129 Rockcliffe also goes to the Museum.

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General information: 613 993-2010 or 1 800 463-2038

Christina Lucas
Communications Officer 613 993-4243 or clucas@technomuses.ca