Charles Pritchard of Emporia, Virginia, was a railroader by profession, set out to build an all-aluminium wingless combined aircraft/car which had been ten years in the making.
The Rocket Air Ship plane has short baffles or fins in place of wings, a 90 hp engine, a conventional propeller and tail assembly and a tricycle landing gear. It was 21 feet long, 98 inches wide and weighed 800 lbs.
The body of the plane is made entirely of aluminium. Each side has baffles (or fins) of varying length. The fins “hold air in the proper channel over the hull of the ship to give the hull its lift”.
Ailerons for changing direction in flight are on the sides of the plane. Conventional equipment on the wingless craft includes a tricycle landing gear, metal propeller, 90 hp engine and flight instruments.
Built for less than $1500, Pritchard was helped in the construction by Billy Davis of Emporia.
“Charles Pritchard, designer builder and pilot, makes first test of his wingless Rocket Air Ship on mile lone runway at Emporia, Virginia, airport.
Plane has short baffles or fins in place of wings, 90 hp engine, conventional propeller and tail assembly, tricycle landing gear, is 21 feet long 98 inches wide weighs 800 lbs. Pritchard made eight runs along runway, but didn’t; get off the ground. Says he’ll make modifications and try again.” (circa 1955)
