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http://www.retromobile.fr/1/art.php?id=22 (in French only)
Don't worry here the translation
August 1968, heading for his summer vacation spot, Robert Lebouder paintingly drive along Highway 10 between Paris and Saint Jean de Luz as the headlights of his VW Beatle battle versus the surrounding dark of the night. The ensuring long hours of driving allow however Robert to review his thoughts.
Initial dreams go for something able to cover the distance in less than 4 hours. Initial solution thought of was buying a plane, but then what about next to landing ? Solution number two, loading the car in the plane. But it soon surfaced that a twin engined aircraft would be required. The idea was discarded as too expensive in keeping up a gas-guzzler. Finally Robert came up with the idea to make the car fly ...
So the vacation were dedicated in sketching a prototype. Interestingly, Robert never got close to an aircraft ! Back home, Robert starts working on the idea by buying aeronautical magazines and publications while his garden is turned as the assembly plant.
Three years will be necessary to come up with something. The Civil Aviation Inspector in charge of certification gets himself for his lifetime surpriseas the Autoplane boast better performances than many standard small planes ...
Robert will use the Autoplane during 4 years until the main undercarriage folded. Damages extended to the propeller and Robert made up his mind not to fix it. Instead, he presented the craft to a close friend.
Thirty years later, Robert Lebouder and the Autoplane have been among the 10 day long 2005 edition of the Retromobile vintage motor show top attractions.
Foot note of mine, the events able to shadow Robert Lebouder were yet plentiful :
- 30th year of the show
- 50th year of the Citroën DS and the Peugeot 403
- 40th year of the Renault 16 hatchback 5-door sedan (saloon for the Brits)
And last but not least
- originally importated in 1965 by Ford and sold by a Ford dealership near Versailles, a Mustang gets back to its first owner and driver ...
Alain
Don't worry here the translation
August 1968, heading for his summer vacation spot, Robert Lebouder paintingly drive along Highway 10 between Paris and Saint Jean de Luz as the headlights of his VW Beatle battle versus the surrounding dark of the night. The ensuring long hours of driving allow however Robert to review his thoughts.
Initial dreams go for something able to cover the distance in less than 4 hours. Initial solution thought of was buying a plane, but then what about next to landing ? Solution number two, loading the car in the plane. But it soon surfaced that a twin engined aircraft would be required. The idea was discarded as too expensive in keeping up a gas-guzzler. Finally Robert came up with the idea to make the car fly ...
So the vacation were dedicated in sketching a prototype. Interestingly, Robert never got close to an aircraft ! Back home, Robert starts working on the idea by buying aeronautical magazines and publications while his garden is turned as the assembly plant.
Three years will be necessary to come up with something. The Civil Aviation Inspector in charge of certification gets himself for his lifetime surpriseas the Autoplane boast better performances than many standard small planes ...
Robert will use the Autoplane during 4 years until the main undercarriage folded. Damages extended to the propeller and Robert made up his mind not to fix it. Instead, he presented the craft to a close friend.
Thirty years later, Robert Lebouder and the Autoplane have been among the 10 day long 2005 edition of the Retromobile vintage motor show top attractions.
Foot note of mine, the events able to shadow Robert Lebouder were yet plentiful :
- 30th year of the show
- 50th year of the Citroën DS and the Peugeot 403
- 40th year of the Renault 16 hatchback 5-door sedan (saloon for the Brits)
And last but not least
- originally importated in 1965 by Ford and sold by a Ford dealership near Versailles, a Mustang gets back to its first owner and driver ...
Alain
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