Moulton Taylor
Encyclopedia
Moulton B. "Molt" Taylor (September 29, 1912 – November 16, 1995) was an aeronautical engineer famed for his work on developing a practical flying car
.
and studied engineering at the University of Washington
. After graduation, he was accepted into the United States Navy
as a pilot, but spent much of World War II
working on the Navy's missile program, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit medal. Shortly after the war, he designed his first flying car, the Aerocar, and founded a business, Aerocar International
, in Longview, Washington
to develop, manufacture, and market it. To date, it remains the closest that any such design came to actual mass production, but eventually only six were built.
Although Taylor continued to push for the viability of the flying car throughout the rest of his life, he also designed a number of only slightly more conventional designs for the homebuilt aircraft
market, including the Taylor Coot amphibian and the Aerocar IMP
family of sportsplane designs.
Flying car
A flying car or roadable aircraft is an aircraft that can also travel along roads. All the working examples have required some manual or automated process of conversion between the two modes of operation....
.
Life
Taylor was born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and studied engineering at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. After graduation, he was accepted into the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a pilot, but spent much of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
working on the Navy's missile program, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit medal. Shortly after the war, he designed his first flying car, the Aerocar, and founded a business, Aerocar International
Aerocar International
Aerocar International was a roadable aircraft manufacturer, founded by Moulton Taylor in Longview, Washington. Work continued until the late 1960s when changing legislation made Taylor's designs impractical.-Aircraft:...
, in Longview, Washington
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
to develop, manufacture, and market it. To date, it remains the closest that any such design came to actual mass production, but eventually only six were built.
Although Taylor continued to push for the viability of the flying car throughout the rest of his life, he also designed a number of only slightly more conventional designs for the homebuilt aircraft
Homebuilt aircraft
Also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch," from plans, or from assembly kits.-Overview:...
market, including the Taylor Coot amphibian and the Aerocar IMP
Aerocar IMP
The Aerocar IMP was an unconventional light aircraft designed by Moulton Taylor and marketed for homebuilding...
family of sportsplane designs.
Awards and honors
- He was awarded the Edward Longstreth Medal from the Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
in 1960. - Six days before his death, Taylor was inducted into the Experimental Aircraft AssociationExperimental Aircraft AssociationThe Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
Hall of Fame. - The Kelso-Longview Regional AirportKelso-Longview Regional AirportSouthwest Washington Regional Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Kelso, in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States...
is also known as Molt Taylor Field.