1948 AeroFlite Falcon

[robandzoe]

I just found a really nice AeroFlite Falcon. Anyone ever heard of one? Really cool aluminum..Van Nuys Airport. Single Axle. It's all original and interior is decent. Outside it great. Trying to see what one is worth. And to get any info on these trailer types.

Rob

[eljay]

I'd love to see pictures! There was a 46 Zimmer for sale locally but I couldn't get around to seeing it. (I think my husband was afraid I'd try to bring it home...)

[74Argosy24MH]

Birchwood Beauties has a 1947, it is about halfway down the page. Pretty interesting history, they might be able to help with the price.

John

[maxandgeorgia]

I know you're not going to tell us, Rob(!) but I sit here wondering --how on earth do some of you come up with these incredible trailers? And all I hope to find is an Argosy 20/Minuet! I'm impressed

[robandzoe]

Well, I was over at this guys house where I found this 33 ft Spartan Mansion, pictures forthcoming, and I was trying to put the 68 Overlander tires from the junk yard on it (by the way, they fit perfectly 7.00 X 15). I needed to get some Liquid wrench after I broke of a stud, and so I went to the Hardware store, and saw a buddy of mine while there. He said he saw me there at the house getting the Spartan and asked if I saw the other trailer there. I said no, what are you talking about and he said a little farther down you could see another Aluminum trailer...so on my way back with the oil, I slowed down to see what I could see, and there it was...about 100 yards from my Spartan, a aluminum jewel...so, I squirted the oil on the lugs, and decided to walk over. Joe, the owner wasn't around, so I walked on back. The closer I got, the more excited, noticed one axle, and no dents, thinking it was a spartan on my way....but then, I noticed the little sign that said Van Nuys...huh, what is this. It even had the hub caps. So I searched on the outside, and there at the rear (all lights there) was a plackard saying AeroFlite. The door was not locked, so I went in, and it was NICE! Rear full bed, dinette up front, and the coolest lines on the outside. So, I went back up to work on the Spartan, got the tires changed, and was hooking up when Joe showed up...he said Happy Veteran's day, and then I asked him about the Old tiny trailer out beside the house...he said, oh that old thing. I said, will you sell, and he said yeah, and now I'm trying to see what he'll sell it for. I'll get some pictures, but it is a Falcon, but not sure of the year....47-49? I've got some research to do. Now it is fall, so the back yard shopping is easier, my time of year. And, like my grandfather taught me, it doesn't hurt to stop, say hello, and ask about something....you just never know.

Rob

[robandzoe]

It looks like this, but in better condition.

[maxandgeorgia]

Great story Nice photo Extraordinary find

[Stefrobrts]

Coooool! I love the lines on it! Can't wait to see the Spartan either. Is it one with the panoramic wrap around front windows?

[robandzoe]

I found this online tonight...Interesting. I'm excited to get it. I've got Aluminitus bad. Built near the same lot as Wally's.

Rob



DAVIS CAMPING TRAILER BROUGHT TO LIGHT
News of a Camping trailer built, or at least designed, by Gary Davis has come to our attention. In September we received an E-mail from one Rick Henderson of Lemon Grove, California, regarding his project of restoring a potential Davis camp trailer. Rick wrote (in part):

My name is Rick Henderson, I own a rare 1947 AeroFlite Falcon travel trailer (attached) that I am currently restoring. This AeroFlite trailer, and it's manufacture have been one of the biggest mysteries among an ever growing population of vintage travel trailer owners/collectors for a very long time now. My goal (quest) has been to discover information about this trailer, and to create a Web site that is dedicated to this wonderful futuristic trailer and it's history (similar to the ones you two have done for the Davis Car) that once and for all puts the mystery to rest. I have just started this research,and have come across a possible tie between the AeroFlite and Gary Davis. I wanted to contact you two gentlemen* first to see if there might be any information that you might be able to pass on?

And………………….1. .They were only made between 1947 & 1948 at the Van Nuys, CA. Metropolitan Airport in supposedly very small production runs. It has been said that only 20 or so of these trailers were manufactured between 47 & 48. I personally know of only 8 that exist today...some good sources say as many as 12-18 exist.
2. The Aeroflites were designed by people who also had designed fighter aircraft during WWII, and the trailers were built in a refurbished fighter plane hanger at the Metropolitan Airport.
3. The word around town for years has been that the business was disbanded after someone high up in the organization was caught doing something wrong (some thought stealing) and imprisoned.
4. There are only a few period photos that I know of that exist of these trailers...the two that I have are attached to this email. There are some others that were taken at a trailer show in LA in 1947 that are in a travel trailer book that is out on the market.
And Rick’s message further included:………….. In 1947 & 1948, there was only 4 Companies that were leasing space from them at the Airport...Lockheed Martin, Another larger company (I forgot the name he said...they're still around today) that was building drones for the government, the Curtis-Wright..Wally Byam (Airstream fame) group that were together in the same hanger. The travel trailers that Curtis-Wright and Wally Byam were building at the airport during this time are very well documented, and they look nothing like the AeroFlite Falcon; and lastly, Mr. Gary Davis who had taken over the hanger space (in 1947) from the debunked Timm Aircraft Company, in order to build the car of the future! We provided a link to Jill and Roy Wagner, and Jill did confirm that her dad had worked on a trailer project, so Rick is continuing to develop this part of his trailer’s history. Rick included some pictures of his trailer project, too. We are trying to keep this newsletter short and manageable, but it seems to be a fresh link to a new aspect of the Davis story.

[robandzoe]

I bet a Marine pulled this from Camp Pendleton, CA to Camp Lejuene here back in the day. I'll try to find out the history of it too.

Rob

[eljay]

Thanks for the pic. Great looking!

[Aeroman]

Hi Rob,

Great story! Can't wait to see it show up online.

Rob,.....GO BUY IT!

And Rob, please feel free to contact me. Lately, I seem to be gathering quite a bit of information about the Aero Flites, and as far as I know, I am the first to really start tearing into the restoration of one. The Falcon that you are speaking of would make the 5th - 1948 that I personally know about still being around. On 2 of the other 48's, I speak to the owners often, and would be happy to put you in touch with them...all very nice folks! One was found in New Mexico recently, The owner of this trailer and I both own old Divco milk trucks....what do you think the odds of that are?....2 people with Aero Flites and Divcos. I have many pictures.

Regards, Rick Henderson

[robandzoe]

Here are some pictures.

[robandzoe]

It is going on Ebay today. Just posted it. With the AeroLite, I don't need the Spartan...I got my fix just towing it. Now for the Aerolite.

Rob

[robandzoe]

Here are a few inside the 48 Falcon. Needs a good cleaning, but that is nothing.

Rob

[Stefrobrts]

I love love love LOVE that interior! The wood is beautiful, and is that aluminum trim all around? That will look so great cleaned up. You've really got your hands on something special there. New fabrics and curtains, and a ton of elbow grease, that could be a real showpiece! I'd love to see that show up at a vintage trailer rally!

[robandzoe]

Yes, that is all aluminum trim. The table is Stainless Steel, and the kitchen area is all aluminum....really neat. Yes, it will look really good once cleaned up. And the outside, all polished up too. I talk to the guy tomorrow, to go get it this week. It is just in a little wet area, so I've got to figure out how to get it out. I'll keep you all posted.

Rob

[robandzoe]

Here is some cool info on the Aeroflite. Does anyone know this Frederick C. Hoffman, and did he have any connection to Airstream. He was building these in a hangar right next to Wally.

Rob


The nice folks that own the newly found 1948 Falcon in New Mexico sent me a picture of their ID tag out of their trailer. I had never seen one of these before. It shows on it that their trailer was number 108 to come down the production line....more importantly, it has a patent number on it! I looked up the patent on the USA Patent web Site, and sure enough, there it is! The Aero Flites were invented by a Man named Fredrick C. Hoffman. He applied for this patent on Dec. 20th, 1946....The patent was issued on Feb. 17th, 1948...Pictures, Claims, everything!

Go to: http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html

Then - in the green box "click" onto "Patent Number Search"
Then - Type in... D148,701
Then - click the red outlined box that says "Images"....This will take you right to the page that has the design drawings. On the left side of these drawings you can see words that say - Front Page - Drawings - Specifications - Claims....you can click on any one of these.

One Mystery Solved! Now, who was the man? Wonder of any Airstream - Wally people ever heard this name before?

[SJ1]

I found this website on them:

Aero Flite Trailers

Quite interesting to read about. Too bad they didn't have enough success to continue.

[VIKING]

Originally Posted by robandzoe

One Mystery Solved! Now, who was the man? Wonder of any Airstream - Wally people ever heard this name before?

This is from the aeroflite website, discussing #101X, the first aeroflite built:


"Vanderbilt sold Aero Flite 101X to Wally Byam in late 1947. At the time, Byam was building trailers of his own, also at the Van Nuys Municipal Airport. Byam founded Airstream Trailer Corporation the following year, in 1948. Vanderbilt and Byam had known each other before Byam purchased 101X from Vanderbilt and they remained life-long friends. In 1948 they traveled throughout Europe together in Airstream trailers and later co-designed an Airstream model named the Commodore, in honor of Vanderbilt’s great grandfather."

Very, very interesting.
Rich the Viking