Flying Pinto, Page 2 of 3

12/18/99- Updated Information has arrived about the Flying Pinto, Thanks Mark!   Click here!

It's a pity the Mitzar can't be driven on the road as is; can you imagine a driver's reaction seeing this in front of him?

Lois McDonald taxis the Mitzar onto a runway at Van Nuys airport to begin the taxi-test demonstration.

And here it comes! AVE engineers have actually had the thing a couple of feet of the ground (don't tell the FAA) and admit the temptation to head into the wild blue yonder was strong.

PROTOTYPE
For those auto enthusiasts not familiar with aircraft, AVE has capitalized on existing product design in the aircraft as well as automotive industry. The prototype airframe came from a Cessna Skymaster, but once production is underway, AVE will produce its own airframes, or more correctly, have them produced by subcontractors. At this time, the corporation does not envision engaging in full-scale auto/plane manufacturing, but will contract instead with outside manufacturers for airframe, STOL device, aircraft engine, flight instruments, etc.. Then they will assemble the components into finished Mizars.

The prototype which you see pictured here was equipped with Teledyne Continental 210-hp engine for initial tests and was first unveiled to the press on May 8, 1973 at Van Nuys airport where it was given a series of taxi tests. After the taxi tests for the press, the Mizar was scheduled for a concentrated series of engineering flight and demonstration tests as well as static display at Galpin's showroom and several upcoming Southern California auto shows. A public relations agency has been retained to focus attention on the Mizar. Behind the scenes, a second Flying Pinto is being test flown for FAA certification. AVE ran afoul of an annoying bureaucratic ruling in its quest for FAA certification. It seem that no plane without it can leave the ground at Van Nuys or any other metropolitan California airport, yet certification cannot be granted until it has undergone a complete flight test program as specified by the FAA. As a result, AVE had to make special arrangements to test fly the Mizar at the Navy's test facility Point Mugu, California.

Within a few weeks after the completion of the initial FAA evaluation, the AVE Mizar prototype will make a year-long tour of 40 major cities in the U.S. as part of a progam to develop public interest and line up potential dealerships. Bert Boeckmann has nothing solid at this time in the way of a commitment from Ford Motor Company, but fully expects that Ford will lend its considerable support to the Mizar-and with the number of their cars he sells, there's no reason why they shouldn't. Three additional units presently being assembled will be used to complete the FAA flight certification program during the tour of the prototype. 

As was said earlier, flying cars have come and flying cars have gone over the past half-century, but if this one tickles your fancy, you'd better start saving your pennies today. Production is scheduled to begin in 1974 and the modified Pinto carries a base price of $5974. The three different airframes are expected to sell for $12,319, $17,440 and $22,974-or about half the price of an aircraft with the same specs. You can drive/fly your own Mizar off the lot for between $18,300 and $29,000. In the meantime, step right up-who's going to be the first on the block to own the ultimate in bolt-on Pinto modifications-and be the envy of all your friends! Uses could be endless. Can't you see it now?


"Be right back ma....I'm going to fly over to the super market!"