|
|
R
|
|
O
|
|
A
|
|
D
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
L
|
|
E
|
|
|
T
|
|
I
|
|
M
|
|
E
|
|
S
|
|
|
Mitzar Update - June 2008
A viewer of Roadable Times, a Mr. Paul Dunlop from "Down Under", noticed
a report that has been on this site for some 5 years, and which offers a rather complicated
access to the stories on the Mitzar (below). He sent the following letter -
"Regarding the comments you've made about accessing the Mitzar webpage at the Ford Pinto website -
here are direct links that take you straight to the relevant pages:"
www.fordpinto.com/mitzar1.htm
www.fordpinto.com/mitzar2.htm
www.fordpinto.com/mitzar3.htm
Many thanks, Paul. These reports are very complete and
well presented. L.S.
|
|
This is the unfortunate tale of the "Mitzar" flying
Pinto, built by modifying and combining a Ford "Pinto" automobile with a Cessna "Skymaster"
aircraft. We quote from Bill Higgins' report in the website Fordpinto.Com -
"Alas, sometime late in 1973, Msrs. Smolinski and Blake climbed aboard
the "Mitzar" and rolled down the runway.
|
|
During the takeoff, the peculiar marriage of wheels and wings divorced,
and the Advanced Vehicle Engineers found themselves sailing through the California
sky in a very un-advanced vehicle, a wingless Pinto. With the death of the
two principal developers, the Mitzar project dissolved."
|
Bill Higgins account of the affair has appeared
in several websites, but was originally written for "Doomed Engineers". You
may link directly to this report at -
http://world.std.com/~jlr/doom/blake.htm.
The email address for Bill Higgins shown there has changed however, and higgins@fnal.gov
is now the correct listing. For more information on the Pinto see the "fordpinto " website.
To reach Bill's report there, go to the home page of the website -
http://fordpinto.com
Please click on "Pinto Potporri". On the page that comes up,
click on Flying Pinto. Now you will see a flashing star marked
"NEW". Click on "NEW" and go to the bottom of that page. Now click on
"More Updates". This is complicated access, but the report really
is there.
An interview with one of the developers of the "Mitzar", Henry Smolinski, was supplied by the website
"www.racerchicks.com". For that interview click on
"oneinfuture.html"
|
|
_ _ _ _ _ _
"Roadable Times" Features and Departments
|
|