Airborn Scooter WW II

[PAUL161]

We all know that motor cycles were sent over seas for the troops to use during WW II, but did you know that scooters were made just for the military and not to be sold to the general public? Here's Cushmans WW II Airborne military version, probably worth quite a bit if one could be found. Of course, that was back when we actually made things here and they burned gasoline, not rice! PJ



I think this was the British version, not sure. PJ

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Shoot! I expected to see one taking off...ya know, becoming airborne.

 

[tlthorne]

The British one was Well-bike, with a Excelsior Spryte motor, after the war a variant were shipped to the states as a Indian papoose. I've got a motor here just can't seem to find pics of it. If I remember right Royal Enfield made Flying Fleas that were used by the military also.

 

[Basil]

That second one looks like it would be a little hard on the tail bone! Don't see anything to absorb road shock.

 

[NutmegCT]

Speaking of WWII vehicles, here's a "gyrocopter jeep" that was tried by the UK forces in '43-44. Was pulled into the air by aircraft; the non-powered rotor just gave it lift. Unfortunately it bounced and flapped wildly whiile in the air. One test pilot managed to land unharmed, but totally sweat soaked. Said "never ever never again".

The "rotajeep/rotabuggy" -

A tank version was planned - but mercifully never built.

Tom

 

[tlthorne]

I put a stick rule on top of the Spryte motor to give you an idea on how big these things are.
here is some good info on Royal Enfeild's Flying Flea https://royalenfieldflyingflea.weebly.com/

 

[Boink]

Speaking of WWII vehicles, here's a "gyrocopter jeep"

A tank version was planned - but mercifully never built.

Tom

And speaking of mercifully never developed further, what about the Hopi-Copter? I shot this photo at the Pima Air Museum (Tucson) just a month ago. Evidently, the "weak link" was the legs of the pilot... and a spill wasn't pretty. It was developed around 1950.

You'll notice that it has a counter-rotor so-as to eliminate the need for a tail-rotor. Yikes!

 

[MikeP]

While on one hand the open minded can do attitude that drove a lot of 20th century innovation is to be applauded, you have to wonder sometimes what they were thinking at the drawing table to not realize the difficulty or just down right unworkable nature of some things