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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Downtown in Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

World’s First Flying Automobile

 
 
World’s First Flying Automobile Marker, main panel image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, November 30, 2018
1. World’s First Flying Automobile Marker, main panel
This panel faces Colorado Avenue.
Inscription. From 1935-1938 at this location pioneer aviator and inventor Waldo Waterman created the most successful of his “roadable aircraft,” the Arrowbile, which had the capability to fly in the sky and drive on the street.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & SpaceRoads & Vehicles.
 
Location. 34° 0.84′ N, 118° 29.481′ W. Marker is in Santa Monica, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Colorado Avenue and 5th Street, on the right when traveling west on Colorado Avenue. It is across from the Santa Monica Expo Line Metro Station at the entrance to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 425 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica CA 90401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rapp’s Saloon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mayfair Theater (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Santa Monica Pier Carousel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Santa Monica Pier (approx. 0.4 miles away); Will Rogers Highway (approx. 0.4 miles away); Playland Arcade (approx. half a mile away); Sinbad's & Moby's Dock (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Monica.
 
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia Entry for Waterman Arrowbile. “The wheel in the two-seat cabin controlled the Arrowbile both on the road and in the air. Outer wing elevons moved together to alter
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pitch and deferentially to bank. The rudders, interconnected with the elevons when the wheel was turned, moved only outwards, so in a turn only the inner rudder was used, both adjusting yaw as normal and assisting the elevon in depressing the inner wing tip.” (Submitted on March 11, 2019.) 

2. Wikipedia entry for Waldo Waterman. “Waterman built his first aircraft, a biplane hang glider, in 1909 while still in high school. He successfully flew the biplane hang glider on a slope near his home and by auto-tow. He then took on a partner to help build a powered aircraft that he entered in the first Dominguez Air Meet in January 1910. The aircraft was not completed in time for the meet. However, he began testing the aircraft on North Island. It was under-powered and required an auto-tow assist to get airborne. He flew the aircraft with some success but crashed, breaking both ankles.” (Submitted on March 11, 2019.) 
 
World’s First Flying Automobile Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, November 30, 2018
2. World’s First Flying Automobile Marker
Two-panel marker is on the gray post at the corner of the building.
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, November 30, 2018
3. Courtyard by Marriott Hotel
Marker is on the gray post on the corner. The Santa Monica light-rail Metro station is on the left.
Second Panel, Facing 5th Street image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 11, 2019
4. Second Panel, Facing 5th Street
The Arrowbile’s most notable flight was in 1937 from Santa Monica to the National Air Races in Cleveland.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 241 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.   4. submitted on June 12, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.

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Mar. 29, 2024