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Presenting the newPortsmouth Aerocar

Presenting the newPresenting the newPortsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar

From Aerocar to Motor Car in a few easy steps

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Origin of the Portsmouth Origin of the Portsmouth AerocarAerocarThe Portsmouth Aviation Companys Portsmouth Aerocar emerged in the immediate post war period as a versatile, multi-role light general aviation aircraft. The ideas for the Aerocar originated from the managing director of Portsmouth Aviation, Lionel Balfour. He had anticipated that after the war the commercial aviation industry would be faced with a shortage of aircraft. The Aerocar was envisaged as being suitable for re-instating the sort of air service operated by PSIOWA in the 1930s and could be easily adapted for a number of roles.

The Aerocar concept was conceived and developed by Lionel Balfour. The Aerocardesign took the form of a high wing twin engined, twin boom configuration with an under-slung fuselage pod that could be tailored for a number of different roles without affecting the basic design. Key aspects of the design were its practicality, versatility and simplicity.

The Prototype Aerocar G-AGTG was flown in 1947 when it was exhibited at the 1947 SBAC Show held at Radlett. The pod and boom layout and its multi-role capability attracted much interest, despite the fact that the prototype was somewhat under powered/over weight.

However, after a promising start financial backing for full development and production was not forthcoming such that by the latter part of 1948 the Aerocarproject was abandoned following re-structuring of the Portsmouth Aviation Company.

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar General General ArrangementArrangement

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ArtistArtists impression of the Portsmouth s impression of the Portsmouth AerocarAerocar

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar AeroplaneAeroplaneAdvertisementAdvertisement

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar LandLand--plane plane VariantVariant

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar SkiSki--plane plane VariantVariant

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar FloatFloat--plane plane VariantVariant

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar in Aerial in Aerial Drop/PickDrop/Pick--up Roleup Role

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar as a as a Private/Light Executive TransportPrivate/Light Executive Transport

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar in in Flying OfficeFlying OfficeRoleRole

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar Under Under Construction at Portsmouth c1946Construction at Portsmouth c1946

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar PilotPilots Control s Control PanelPanel

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RotolRotol Variable Pitch Propellers for the Variable Pitch Propellers for the Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocarss First Flight on June First Flight on June 18th 194718th 1947

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar on Show at on Show at RadlettRadlett in 1947in 1947

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Portsmouth Aviation Stand at the Portsmouth Aviation Stand at the SBAC Farnborough Show in 1948SBAC Farnborough Show in 1948

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Peter Peter MasefieldMasefield takes a look at the takes a look at the Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar ready for a flightready for a flight

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar makes a low makes a low pass to impress spectatorspass to impress spectators

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Portsmouth Portsmouth AerocarAerocar seen at Portsmouth seen at Portsmouth c1947 with several Airspeed Consul c1947 with several Airspeed Consul

(converted military Oxfords) aircraft parked (converted military Oxfords) aircraft parked in the backgroundin the background

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Novel design of the Portsmouth Novel design of the Portsmouth AerocarAerocar is evident in this air to air is evident in this air to air

publicity shotpublicity shot

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Although the prototype was underAlthough the prototype was under--powered the Portsmouth powered the Portsmouth AerocarAerocarappeared to be set for a successful appeared to be set for a successful

future future

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Demise of the Portsmouth Demise of the Portsmouth AerocarAerocar

Lionel Balfours vision of the Portsmouth Aviation Companys Portsmouth Aerocar as the main element of its business in the post war era was sadly not realised.

Despite the fact that the Aerocar was a practical, imaginative and affordable aircraft design that showed much promise of being capable of fulfilling a variety of roles for civil and military purposes, financial constraints and adverse circumstances beyond the control of the company meant that backing for the project diminished to a point where the Aerocar project could not continue.

The main chance of success for the Aerocar rested on an agreement for licence manufacture in India. However, the deal collapsed as a result of the Indian principals being unable to proceed due to internal troubles arising from partitioning of India as part of the process of granting the Indian nation independence to become part of the British Commonwealth.

The knock on effect of this situation was that the Portsmouth Aviation Company financial position became untenable and as result the company was re-organised and restructured financially whereby Lionel Balfour nolonger had any financial interest in the company. Further development of the Aerocar ceased and G-AGTG was stored for a few years and then scrapped.