Date: Fri 25-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fulton-Airphibian-CNN

Full Text:

"Airphibian" Returns To Its Nest In Newtown

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Robert Fulton's world-renowned Airphibian was back in Newtown this week after

spending the past 30 years on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

The 90-year-old Mr Fulton, a longtime Newtown resident, brought his invention

back to his home on Platts Hill Road to prepare it for next month's antique

auto show at the Rockefeller Center. And while the Airphibian can both fly and

drive, it made the trip back on the back of a truck.

The Airphibian has received plenty of publicity lately, including a two-minute

spot on CNN Tuesday night just before Larry King. CNN's Jeanne Moos and a

camera crew converged on the small runway last Friday to interview Mr Fulton.

The famous adventurer, inventor, sculptor, writer and poet built the flying

car back in the late 1940s, then flew and drove his invention all over the

country and to other parts of the world.

The Airphibian was very convenient. When you landed somewhere, you simply

screwed off the propeller, removed the wings and away you went, Mr Fulton

said.

The Airphibian often made appearances at state fairs and other events as it

traveled the country. Mr Fulton fondly displayed one photo showing a calf

inside the auto/plane at a fair in Ohio.

The Fultons have three other skeleton Airphibians on the property and plan to

refurbish them using the model from the Smithsonian as a guide.

Mr Fulton believes that flying cars will eventually be made available to the

public. Just imagine the air traffic control problems.

Mr Fulton's 50-acre property along Platts Hill Road features a 2,900 foot

grass runway. The emergency air strip is listed on most flight maps and is

still used frequently by Robert Fulton, Jr.