Smallest plane you can drive a car into

[Sam Rutherford]

Somewhat lighthearted (though you never know), I'm looking to solve the permanent issue with flying somewhere - you need a car when you arrive.

So, what's the smallest plane around that has a ramp for a small car...?

Answers on a postcard!

Sam.

[treadigraph]

I'll start the bidding with a Skyvan...

[TowerDog]

With this car a C-206 may do..

[ShyTorque]

Smallest plane you can drive a car into

You can drive a car into any aeroplane....once.

[Jan Olieslagers]

The ability to carry a family car (of its era) was a design criterion of the Miles Aerovan:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Aerovan
Then again, there is picture of one the Burnelli creations carrying a car beneath the fuselage - making a tour of car dealerships in the USA. Not a smallish plane, though.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Without doing a rigorous search, this would be my first guess...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_330

G

[Squeegee Longtail]

Get a couple of these instead and any “plane” can carry them (within reason):

https://www.diblasi.com/home.htm

[First_Principal]

Here ya go Sam, first one on a postcard as requested, second one demonstrates the capability you're after :ok:


Courtesy famgus.se/Postcards/Aviation/Airlines:
http://famgus.se/Postcards/Aviation/Airlines/ABA%20AB%20Aerotransport/ABA-DC3-SE-BAB-1.jpg

Courtesy strijdbewijs.nl/birds:

http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/birds/dc3/dc118.jpg

FP.

[S-Works]

I remember Tony de Bruin carrying his car in the back of the Skyvan all over the place.

[The Ancient Geek]

Do you really need a car, you can fit a mobility scooter or a moped into a C206 or two into a GA8.
Not sure about 2 in a C206, you would have to try it and see.

[N707ZS]

A DTVA Pa 31 charter airline pilot used to take his petrol scooter with him!

[DirtyProp]

Sam, what you need is one of these:


rrc4aRFh4H0

A Velorex! :ok:

[Sam Rutherford]

Um, yes - thank you. :-)

[S-Works]

I just take my bike with me in the back of the jet. Always have transport to hand and at 6kg it has no load impact.

[B2N2]

Back in the day ( 90’s) The Duke of Brabant Airforce out of Eindhoven tried carrying a chop top Mini in the bomb bay of their B-25 to drive the crews around at air shows.
If I’m not mistaken the ‘authorities’ axed that project.

[Geriaviator]

https://s8.postimg.org/8g6i9v59x/sherpa.jpg

You might consider the Short Sherpa, 3-30 freighter variant produced for the USAAF to haul engines around Yurrup. But first suggestion is the best one -- you can't beat the Five Ton Budgie, still earning its corn in remote areas such as the Arctic.

[Capt Kremmen]

The question is in fact a pain,
Without the nub there's much to gain,
The means are there in all but name,
So let a taxi take the strain !

[Jhieminga]

Back in the day ( 90’s) The Duke of Brabant Airforce out of Eindhoven tried carrying a chop top Mini in the bomb bay of their B-25 to drive the crews around at air shows.
If I’m not mistaken the ‘authorities’ axed that project.
I cannot remember that plan. The B-25 used to have a fixed cargo pallet in the bomb bay that held spare oil, some parts and crew luggage. On the bottom a large sign showed one of the sponsors when the bomb bay doors were opened. With that in place, I don't think a Mini would have fit as well. Sounds like a story that originated in the bar if you ask me ;)

Getting back on topic, my vote would be for a Bristol Freighter. No need to skimp on the car in that case!
http://www.toxel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/smallcars07.jpg

[Jan Olieslagers]

Funny how the question about the smallest plane ( ... ) and all and sundry try and come up with the smallest car. Who said reading is an art?

[B2N2]

If only you could make THIS work (financially)


https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a3/ed/ae/a3edae0971a2c301e410e36494200282--yellow-roses-nose-art.jpg


I cannot remember that plan. The B-25 used to have a fixed cargo pallet in the bomb bay that held spare oil, some parts and crew luggage. On the bottom a large sign showed one of the sponsors when the bomb bay doors were opened. With that in place, I don't think a Mini would have fit as well. Sounds like a story that originated in the bar if you ask me

Maybe...I was told by Pencil 3
:ok:

Funny how the question about the smallest plane ( ... ) and all and sundry try and come up with the smallest car. Who said reading is an art?

That's pilots for ya :rolleyes:

[surely not]

A fair point Jan except that if you want the smallest aircraft you will need the smallest car, so the two demands are interlinked somewhat.

[chevvron]

I just take my bike with me in the back of the jet. Always have transport to hand and at 6kg it has no load impact.

David Lockspieser used to carry a folding bike in his LDA-01; at least whenever he visited Farnborough he did.

[Mechta]

The AZE Mizar deserves a look-in:

http://historygarage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/3ffa17_6e96c3ffcbd84eb08751ff5570d8ea08.jpg

Shame about the choice of car though.

[Squeegee Longtail]

I’ve heard RVs are good

[aox]

I’ve heard RVs are good

But if you're going to fit an RV in an RV, it's more likely to be the other way round.

[chevvron]

The AZE Mizar deserves a look-in:

http://historygarage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/3ffa17_6e96c3ffcbd84eb08751ff5570d8ea08.jpg

Shame about the choice of car though.
The Mizar Air Car project using a Ford Pinto was terminated abruptly when the 'aircraft' crashed killing the inventor. This didn't stop the makers of the Bond film 'The Man with the Golden Gun' from using a replica which appeared to fly which was actually an AMC Hornet rather than a Pinto in a sequence shot at Bovingdon in about '73 or '74.

[treadigraph]

The Miles Aerovan and the Short SD-330/C-23 Sherpa are actually linked...

Miles developed the Aerovan into the HDM-105 using Hurel-Dubois high aspect ratio wings. There were several projected developments of this one of which eventually became the Short Skyvan, which of course was developed into the SD-330.

Sam, how about one of these?

https://kekiongacomics.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/mil-and-bus.jpg

I know, I know, small it aint...

[flyingfemme]

Friend of mine picked up his new Mini in a De Havilland Caribou.........he could probably sell you one in working order.

[treadigraph]

If ya want a Caribou there a few here...! (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@39.0043165,-74.907828,183m/data=!3m1!1e3)

They were there when I visited about 15 years ago...

[IFMU]

The Avid Explorer would be a contender.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Global_Explorer
Not shown on the Wikipedia page but I remember the tail swung to the side to admit a boat to the cabin. It has the space and payload to hold one of today's small car substitutes. Not sure if the floor has enough structure.

[Geriaviator]

https://s20.postimg.org/3ly1bvilp/Skye_1983_for_postimage.jpg

Sorry Sam, we couldn't afford a car AND our Paro, let alone car and Skyvan!

[flybymike]

Originally Posted by bose-x
I just take my bike with me in the back of the jet. Always have transport to hand and at 6kg it has no load impact.

What sort of bike weighs only 6kg?

[slatch]

My Choice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkvXHoy0X8s

[DirtyProp]

The Avid Explorer would be a contender.There's also the smaller (chubbier?) version:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Private_Explorer

stuEsruClEI

[gasax]

The Global Explorer certainly did some flights with a Suzuki jeep in the back. I've seen a Private Explorer in Quebec state - Lake Tortue. Pretty big thing but built a little like an airship - however lots of air in it in this case.

Even with film company money the Global Explorer was seemingly too expensive to run... although from memory it only had two O-540s and about 90 odd kts!

[Jhieminga]

Maybe...I was told by Pencil 3
:ok:
That moniker doesn't ring a bell here unfortunately.

As for air-transportable cars, I have yet to meet a pilot who will settle for a small car, so we'll first have to establish the smallest model that Sam's ego will allow him to drive. We can then move on to selecting a suitable aircraft. We might still end up with a C-130..... ;)

[Sam Rutherford]

Hummer H1 or stretch Caddy as a minimum!

[Jhieminga]

See, now we're getting somewhere!
https://media.defense.gov/2017/Apr/05/2001726815/-1/-1/0/170402-F-KL377-023.JPG

[Sam Rutherford]

hey, I recognise the guy on the right...

[B2N2]

That moniker doesn't ring a bell here unfortunately.


One of the founders of DBAF and the then owner of Rainbow Aviation..EB
His ‘tactical’ was Pencil 3 afaik.
“ Always straight, never level”

[ChickenHouse]

Could somebody do a decent definition of "a car", please?
My choice - folding eBike, two G3 in the back, little under 40 lbs each, gorgeous.

[Mike Flynn]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Taffy Powell and Silver City Airways.

Lympne to L2K during the 1950's in these.
http://www.silvercityairways.com/Images/SiteImages/9-7_cars_being_loaded_superfreighters_lydd.jpg

http://www.silvercityairways.com/the_company.htm

[Jan Olieslagers]

That's perhaps because the opening question was about the SMALLEST plane (able to ...) and several have been mentioned that are a good deal smaller than this here Bristol Freighter. Not to mention its succession by modified DC4's.

Unless I missed something, and in as far as we talk about a "standard" 4-seat family car, none smaller than the Miles Aerovan has been suggested yet.

[Mechta]

The Edgar Percival EP9/Lancashire Prospector looks as though it could swallow most of a Mini Moke with the screen flat through those rear clamshell doors, although it may be a bit narrow. It should take a motorbike or two though.

https://www.na3t.org/images/thumbs/air/AG05915.jpg

[DirtyProp]

There's also the Transavia PL-12 Airtruk:

http://www.oy-reg.dk/billeder/l11534.jpg

[RAT 5]

3650

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnF2yua4KIw

Say no more, but I want one.

[Sam Rutherford]

Landing at 3m06 is, erm, firm?!

There does appear to be some thread drift...

[Jhieminga]

One of the founders of DBAF and the then owner of Rainbow Aviation..EB
His ‘tactical’ was Pencil 3 afaik.
“ Always straight, never level”
I know exactly who you're talking about now, his name is on the first line of my first logbook. Never knew his tactical, but I have seen him bashing the circuit in an F-16. Looked like he never strayed across the airfield's fence. :ok:
Landing at 3m06 is, erm, firm?!
With the rear wheels so far behind the CG you're never going to be able to land that thing gracefully. If you try to grease the rear wheels on you're going to create a large nose-down moment, which will cause the nose to slam into the ground.

[AN2 Driver]

So, what's the smallest plane around that has a ramp for a small car...?


Came across a nice AN26 in Speyer in the Museum. Nice one car garage in the back and plenty of creature space between it and the front.

http://www.hbdwc.ch/Speyer_005.JPG

http://www.hbdwc.ch/Speyer_Sony_069.JPG

I'd even think you can get them at a decent price....

[treadigraph]

Bulgarian AN-26 droned over here yesterday; they are quite noisy (not that I mind!).

Mind you, the AN-12s are noisier and it's been far too long since I heard the AN-22 which is a real filling rattler, even flying over at 30000'!

[Jhieminga]

The stunt shown on this page at least proves the practicality of driving a car in (and out of) a Skyvan.

https://jointheteem.com/skydiving-videos/skydiving-car-stunt-skydive-arizona/

[Mike Flynn]

This guy managed to drive an SUV into a C152:D

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3CXVt2OpcGY

[Jhieminga]

You could also get one of these:
xfEYry7-jww
(Actually, it's a 172 in the video in the previous post...)