October 9, 2011 Flying Pinto

CaliforniaMama · 10-09-2011, 12:56 PM

Image compliments of dirt bike dave

Image compliments of Roadable Times

In the early 1970's, Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) of Oxnard, California, built a flying car called a Mizar. It was basically a Cessna Skymaster grafted to a Pinto.

In 1973, the engineers, Henry Smolinski and Hal Blake, took it for a test flight. The wings and car "ungrafted." What was seen was a Pinto flying through the air sans wings.

The Pinto crashed, ending the careers of the two engineers, as well as that of the flying car.

Originally discovered at (and image compliments of) Paleofuture.

BigV · 10-09-2011, 12:59 PM

They do tend to go up in flames, don't they, those Pintos.

There's one in the neighborhood painted blue with red, orange and yellow flames. Coming forward from the rear bumper.

Sad story though.

Trilby · 10-09-2011, 01:03 PM

I drove a robin's-egg blue pinto from '79-'82.

RIP, old girl. RIP.

Crimson Ghost · 10-09-2011, 01:24 PM

Right before the crash, did the passenger turn to the driver and say "I've always loved you"?

glatt · 10-09-2011, 01:28 PM

According to wikipedia:
"Even though the Pinto was a light car, the total aircraft was already slightly over gross weight without passengers or fuel. One observer reported that the wing struts were attached to the car with sheet-metal screws and that "...everything was really bad." However, in addition to poor design and loose parts, the National Transportation Safety Board reported that bad welds were partly responsible for the crash, with the right wing strut attachment failing at a body panel of the Pinto."

Undertoad · 10-09-2011, 01:58 PM

These gentlemen were not in any sense of the word "engineers". Unless they drove trains for a living.

newtimer · 10-09-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson Ghost

Right before the crash, did the passenger turn to the driver and say "I've always loved you"?

I got your reference. As Axel Rose would say, "Good way to use your allusion."

BigV · 10-09-2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

These gentlemen were not in any sense of the word "engineers". Unless they drove trains for a living.

So, it's only engineering if it works?

wolf · 10-09-2011, 10:06 PM

They should have used SuperGlue. As far as I know, that fellow is still hanging from the girder by his hardhat.

BigV, engineering is nowhere near as seat of the pants as it used to be. It's all computer model this and simulator that ... nobody wants to commit money on untested shit these days.

Now, of course, they probably weren't aeronautical engineers, just a couple of good ol' boys with a Pinto who bumbled onto half of a Cessna one day down the junkyard.

They were probably friends with the JATO unit guy.

Lamplighter · 10-09-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

<snip>
They were probably friends with the JATO unit guy.

Then it would have been rocket science.

jimhelm · 10-09-2011, 10:11 PM

Did you just confuse classic man and Big V, or were you prefacing your statement with 'Classic'?

classicman · 10-09-2011, 10:33 PM

????????

Pico and ME · 10-09-2011, 10:40 PM

Its kinda like he put the post in the wrong thread or something.

classicman · 10-09-2011, 11:13 PM

???????????? Who, Jim?

ZenGum · 10-10-2011, 01:49 AM

Whau?

That car would have worked if McGyver had done it.

Please pretend I posted the video of the rich English eccentric who hurls old cars with a giant Trebuchet. That's a flying car, kind of.

10-09-2011, 12:56 PM	#1
CaliforniaMama I wonder . . . Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be. Posts: 1,278	October 9, 2011 Flying Pinto Image compliments of dirt bike dave Image compliments of Roadable Times In the early 1970's, Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) of Oxnard, California, built a flying car called a Mizar. It was basically a Cessna Skymaster grafted to a Pinto. In 1973, the engineers, Henry Smolinski and Hal Blake, took it for a test flight. The wings and car "ungrafted." What was seen was a Pinto flying through the air sans wings. The Pinto crashed, ending the careers of the two engineers, as well as that of the flying car. Originally discovered at (and image compliments of) Paleofuture.

10-09-2011, 12:59 PM	#2
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	They do tend to go up in flames, don't they, those Pintos. There's one in the neighborhood painted blue with red, orange and yellow flames. Coming forward from the rear bumper. Sad story though. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

10-09-2011, 01:03 PM	#3
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I drove a robin's-egg blue pinto from '79-'82. RIP, old girl. RIP. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

10-09-2011, 01:24 PM	#4
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	Right before the crash, did the passenger turn to the driver and say "I've always loved you"? __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

10-09-2011, 10:06 PM	#9
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	They should have used SuperGlue. As far as I know, that fellow is still hanging from the girder by his hardhat. BigV, engineering is nowhere near as seat of the pants as it used to be. It's all computer model this and simulator that ... nobody wants to commit money on untested shit these days. Now, of course, they probably weren't aeronautical engineers, just a couple of good ol' boys with a Pinto who bumbled onto half of a Cessna one day down the junkyard. They were probably friends with the JATO unit guy. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

10-09-2011, 01:28 PM	#5
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	According to wikipedia: "Even though the Pinto was a light car, the total aircraft was already slightly over gross weight without passengers or fuel. One observer reported that the wing struts were attached to the car with sheet-metal screws and that "...everything was really bad." However, in addition to poor design and loose parts, the National Transportation Safety Board reported that bad welds were partly responsible for the crash, with the right wing strut attachment failing at a body panel of the Pinto."

10-09-2011, 01:58 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	These gentlemen were not in any sense of the word "engineers". Unless they drove trains for a living.

10-09-2011, 10:11 PM	#11
jimhelm a beautiful fool Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 39.939705 Posts: 4,504	Did you just confuse classic man and Big V, or were you prefacing your statement with 'Classic'? __________________ There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool

10-09-2011, 10:33 PM	#12
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	???????? __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

10-09-2011, 10:40 PM	#13
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	Its kinda like he put the post in the wrong thread or something. __________________ Jesse LaGreca in 2012 “Seven Deadly Sins: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Science without humanity, Knowledge without character, Politics without principle, Commerce without morality, Worship without sacrifice.” – Mahatma Gandhi

10-09-2011, 11:13 PM	#14
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	???????????? Who, Jim? __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

10-10-2011, 01:49 AM	#15
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Whau? That car would have worked if McGyver had done it. Please pretend I posted the video of the rich English eccentric who hurls old cars with a giant Trebuchet. That's a flying car, kind of. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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