Trautmann RoadAir Flying Car

The RoadAir flying car was designed and built by Herbert L. Trautmann. In 1955, Trautmann was granted U.S. Design Patent # D177445 for his flying automobile, named RoadAir. Trautmann envisioned a vehicle that could seamlessly transition from driving on roads to flying in the air. With the help from a wind tunnel test model, Trautmann worked on the project near his home in Santa Maria, CA until the project was completed in 1959.

After completing the RoadAir, Troutman began taxi testing the vehicle at Ryan Field near Hemet, CA. During one test, with the wings deployed, the RoadAir lifted off the ground, reaching an altitude of about 3 feet. Unfortunately, the aircraft was difficult to control and received damage to the front fuselage during landing. In 2016, unaware if the RoadAir had flown, the Trautmann family located a retired pilot that stated he had flown the RoadAir to an altitude of about 100 feet. The flight occurred in the early 1960s near San Bernardino, CA. This was the only evidence that the RoadAir had ever flown.

Manufacturer
Trautmann

Designation
RoadAir

Registration
N6892C