Aerocar Flies Again – With FADEC (Really)

Modern technology has come to the rescue of a persistent problem, which, had it been addressed in its time, might have made Molt Taylor's Aerocar more appealing in its day. The aircraft flew to Sun 'n Fun (it's the only flying example of five left) from its home away from home at a museum in Kissimmee, Fla. with its O-360 engine equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). Owner Ed Sweeney said that through most of its life the machine suffered chronic running faults because of the geometry of its old carburetor installation.

Sweeney explained that on the old engine, the carburetor had to be offset to accommodate the drive shaft. As a result, two cylinders got most of the fuel while the others were starved. "It runs better than it ever has," said Sweeney, who knew Taylor and first flew in the aircraft when he was 17. The Aerocar was owned by actor Bob Cummings for years and it came into Sweeney's hands about 20 years ago.