About this episode
The hosts dive into the quirky world of flying cars, discussing unique hybrids like a Pinto combined with a Cessna and the challenges of making flying cars practical. They share amusing anecdotes about iconic station wagons from TV and explore the history and engineering behind experimental flying vehicles, including prototypes linked to movies and ambitious pilots. The conversation blends humor, nostalgia, and technical curiosity, touching on community vibes in Portland's car scene and teasing upcoming listener call-ins and SEMA event stories.
A Pinto a Cessna, what could go wrong?
Recorded @iapdx
Recorded & mixed by Emdognightmare & Queen of the Vans
Editor: Emdognightmare
Production & research Queen of the Vans & Emdognightmare
Find us: Car Krush
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Hugs, thank you & high fives to Greg Meleney for the killer tunez!
station wagon
"Emily EP36: That's where we're at. If you are gonna talk to us about station wagons though, we're talking to you from the future in the... Rose EP36: I think, I mean, am I tripping? Like is there a more iconic station wagon outside the Griswold family? Truckster."
A station wagon is a type of car that has extra space in the back for carrying things or more people. It's like a regular car but longer and good for families.
A station wagon is a car body style characterized by an extended rear cargo area with a rear door or hatch, combining passenger and cargo space. They were popular family vehicles especially before SUVs became widespread.
Hemi powered
"Rose EP36: Alex sent me a reel of this and it was like a fifties car uhhuh, somebody elongated in the center and they put it on rails and they would, it was like Hemi powered and they would use it to drive the workers for this mineshaft out into the middle of the fucking desert."
Hemi means the engine has a special shape inside that helps it make more power and run better. It's a type of engine used in some fast cars.
Hemi refers to an engine design with hemispherical combustion chambers, which improves airflow and combustion efficiency, resulting in more power. The term is often associated with high-performance V8 engines from Chrysler.
Griswold family Truckster
"Rose EP36: messed up part is we didn't talk about the Griswold family Truckster, at Emily EP36: Okay. Again, I, I don't know who that is, Rose EP36: Yeah, there wasn't much more than that. But, um, I think, I mean, am I tripping? Like is there a more iconic station wagon outside the Griswold family? Truckster."
The Griswold family Truckster is a made-up car from a funny movie about a family going on a road trip. It's a big station wagon that looks a bit silly but is famous in movies.
The Griswold family Truckster is a fictional station wagon featured in the National Lampoon's Vacation film series. It is known for its exaggerated and humorous design, symbolizing the quintessential American family road trip vehicle in pop culture.
pre-orders
"Galpin Ford came in and decided to be the distributors and they logged 34 pre-orders."
Pre-orders mean people promise to buy something before it is actually available.
Pre-orders are customer orders placed before a product is officially released, often used to gauge demand and secure initial sales.
Galpin Ford
"Our friends at Galpin Ford came in and decided to be the distributors and they logged 34 pre-orders."
Galpin Ford is a car dealership that sells and distributes cars, sometimes special or custom ones.
Galpin Ford is a well-known automotive dealership and distributor based in California, recognized for its involvement in unique and custom vehicles.
self-tapping screws
"mention the self-tapping screws Rose EP36: the string from the ends of the tie rods back to the rudder"
Self-tapping screws are special screws that make their own hole when you screw them in.
Self-tapping screws are screws designed to drill their own hole as they are driven into materials, commonly used in automotive and aerospace assembly.
rudder
"the string from the ends of the tie rods back to the rudder"
A rudder is a part on a plane or boat that helps it turn left or right.
A rudder is a primary control surface on aircraft and boats used to steer by controlling yaw.
tie rods
"the string from the ends of the tie rods back to the rudder"
Tie rods are parts that help turn the wheels when you steer the car.
Tie rods are components in steering systems that connect the steering rack to the wheels, allowing directional control.
Project Excelsior
"This is Project Excelsior and his first high altitude jump was from about 76,400 feet."
Project Excelsior was a set of very high parachute jumps to see if people could survive falling from very high up in the sky.
Project Excelsior was a series of high-altitude parachute jumps in the late 1950s and early 1960s designed to test human survival at extreme altitudes.
stall
"The two, Red Bull guys put their planes into a stall and then they tried to jump over to the each other's plane and then start them and take off again."
A stall is when a plane stops flying properly because the air can't flow over the wings right.
A stall in aviation occurs when the airflow over the wings is disrupted, causing a sudden loss of lift and potential loss of control.
cushion of air
"it ran these like high output fans that actually put the car on a little cushion of air, about six inches."
A cushion of air means a small layer of air that holds something up so it doesn't touch the ground.
A cushion of air refers to a thin layer of air that supports an object above a surface, similar to how hovercrafts operate.
Lucid Air
"... that actually put the car on a little cushion of air, about six inches. Now I know there's a lot of p..."
The Lucid Air is a fancy electric car that can drive a long way without needing to recharge. It has a special feature that lifts the car a little bit off the ground to make the ride feel softer and more comfortable.
The Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan known for its advanced technology, impressive range, and innovative features like an air suspension system that can lift the car slightly for a smoother ride. It represents a significant step forward in electric vehicle performance and comfort, often discussed for its cutting-edge engineering.
flying car
"put the car on a little cushion of air, about six inches. Now I know there's a lot of people in this country that are confused on what's six inches, but it's short little cushion of air for this flying car. Quote unquote"
A flying car is a car that can also fly like a plane.
A flying car is a vehicle designed to operate both on roads and in the air, combining features of automobiles and aircraft.
50 cc engine
"Six 50 cc engines turned on their side. So the output shaft's pointing up and it ran these like high output fans"
A 50 cc engine is a small motor that powers small vehicles like scooters.
A 50 cc engine is a small displacement engine commonly used in motorcycles, scooters, and small vehicles, indicating the volume of the cylinders.
high output fans
"it ran these like high output fans that actually put the car on a little cushion of air"
High output fans are strong fans that move a lot of air to help things work better.
High output fans are powerful fans used to generate airflow, often to provide lift or cooling in vehicles or machines.
Ford Pinto
"... on. It had the wings would Emily EP36: Yeah, the Pinto story's great. And I thought maybe the, uh, a car..."
The Ford Pinto was a small car made a long time ago that had a problem where it could catch fire if hit from behind. People talk about it because it shows how important car safety is.
The Ford Pinto was a compact car produced in the 1970s, infamous for its design flaws, particularly a fuel tank that could catch fire in rear-end collisions. It's often discussed as a cautionary tale in automotive safety and corporate ethics.
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