The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Adelard Gero Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10189
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
8/2016
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Adelard J. Gero Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10189
Physical Description:
.3 Cubic Feet
This is a one box collection measuring 15 ½ x 12 ¼ x 5 inches. The collection contains many sketches, notes, references papers,
patent documents, drawings, negatives, and templates for Adelard J. Gero’s V/S.T.O.L designs. Gero came up with innovative
designs for personal automobile aircraft as well as commuter and commercial transportation.
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Adelard Gero came up with innovative designs for personal automobile aircraft as well as commuter and commercial transportation.
Biographical / Historical
Adelard J. Gero was an engineer, innovator, and inventor. He was committed to creating V/STOL aircraft for commercial and
civilian use. He created many blueprints and patents for his Sky-Car, the V.T.O.L. Air Commuter, and the Gero Airbus.
Scope and Contents
This is a one box collection measuring 15 ½ x 12 ¼ x 5 inches. The collection contains many sketches, notes, references papers,
patent documents, drawings, negatives, and templates for Adelard J. Gero’s V/S.T.O.L designs. Gero came up with innovative
designs for personal automobile aircraft as well as commuter and commercial transportation.
The drawings are in the archives drawings section, and stored in box D-2383. The drawing identification numbers range from
RD 11340 to 11353.
Related Materials
VTOL Subject Files
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to use by appointment.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
VTOL
STOL
Gero Skycar
Gero Airbus
Gero Commuter
Gero, Adelard
Series I: Sketches/Drawings/Templates
Folder 1 – Original Sky Car Drawings, February 27, 1985
Physical Description: This folder contains a variety of sketches of the Gero Skycar and the Skycar Commuter and the parts that compose them.
Folder 2 – Old VTOL Sketches
Physical Description: This folder contains many sketches and designs of the interior and exterior frame of Gero’s projects. It also includes lift
and rotational diagrams.
Folder 3 – Conceptual V.T.O.L Design
Physical Description: This folder contains a 2 page explanation of why VTOL designs work, and a few sketches of the Gero Skycar, its components,
and how it functions (theoretically).
Folder 4 – Phase I, II, & III Cylinder Drawings & Prints (checked December 28, 1983)
Physical Description: This folder contains dozens of sketches and designs of cylinder structures, rotational cylinders, cross section views, and
rotors.
Folder 5 – Phase III – 24” Diameter Bicycle Wheel, Intra, Rotary Shrouded-Centripetal Effect, Lift-prop-fan Concept Test,
June 10, 1983
Physical Description: This folder contains conceptual designs and results of various tests on graphs from wind tunnel experiments.
Folder 6 – Phase II & III Rotors & Turbo Compressor Tandem Designs & Sketches
Physical Description: This folder contains dozens of sketches and designs of cylinder structures, rotational cylinders, cross section views, and
rotors.
Folder 7 – Top Annular air-powered Lift test rig, February 1, 1996
Folder 8 – Model Templates 1 of 2
Folder 9 – Model Templates 2 of 2
Folder 10 – Unlabeled Drawings & Blueprints 1 of 4
Folder 11 – Unlabeled Drawings & Blueprints 2 of 4
Folder 12 – Unlabeled Drawings & Blueprints 3 of 4
Folder 13 – Unlabeled Drawings & Blueprints 4 of 4
Folder 14 – Sky Car Drawings Sketches and Notes
Folder 15 – Reference Words List 1981-1998
Physical Description: This folder contains dozens of pages of notes of conceptual explanations and keywords. The notes range from November, 1988
to November, 1998.
Folder 16 – Notes – June, 1996 (Small copies original – 1985?)
Folder 17 – Latest Patent Notes – January, 1993 – August, 1995
Folder 18 – Latest Orbital Rotary Ducted Bi-Tandem Airfoil & Lifting, Bi-Lifting Duct-Pod & Body, VTOL Sky-Car Notes, May,
1980
Folder 19 – SAARS Description
Physical Description: This folder contains a hundred page paper on Gero’s invention titled “Shrouded Aerodynamic Airfoil and Resultant Systems and
VTOL-Hypersonic Flight Vehicles Therefor.”
Series III: Large Drawings
Series IV: Oversized Negatives
Series V: Scrolls/Blueprints
RD 11344 - Two copies of the drawing Gero – Airbus, 40 passengers; Dated – March 9, 1954; Scale – 3/16” = 1 Ft. Dated – March
9, 1954.
RD 11341 - One copy of the drawing Gero – V.T.O.L. – Air-Commuter – 48 passenger Speeds – V.T.O.L. – 500 M.P.H. Dated – June
24, 1963 Scale – ¼” – 1’. June 24, 1963.
RD 11340 - Gero – S.T.O.L. – Airliner 50-60 passenger Speeds – S.T.O.L. 20-30 M.P.H. High – 400 – 500 M.P.H. Dated – March
6, 1957. Scale – 3/16” = 1 Ft.
RD 11345 - Orbital Ducted – Lift – Fan Scale – Full. Dated – March 17, 1982.
RD 11346 - Orbital Ducted – Lift – Fan Phase II – Tested Rotor Slotted Tandem Airfoil Blades Scale – Full. Dated – November
25, 1981.
RD 11347 - FWD. Blade – Tandem, True Plan View. Dated – April 20, 1982.
RD 11348 - AFT. Blade – Tandem, True Plane View. Dated – April 7, 1982.
RD 11342 - Gero – Aircar. Dated – February 20, 1954. Scale – 1”=1’.
RD 11343 - Gero VTOL Airbus, 60 passenger, Scale – ¼” = 1’. Dated – February, 1968.
RD 11349 - Gero – V.T.O.L. – Air-Commuter, 48 passenger, Speeds – V.T.O.L. – 600 M.P.H. Dated – June 24, 1963. Scale – ¼”
– 1’
RD 11350 - Gero – Aircar. Dated – February 20, 1954. Scale – 1” = 1’.
RD 11351 - Unidentified Scroll – Gero Aircar
RD 11352 - Unidentified Scroll. Dated – March 27, 1967. Scale – ¼” = 1’-0’.
RD 11353 - Original Patent Drawings 1985-1990 Scale 1 ½” = 1’ Dated April 21, 1989 Scale 3” = 1’ Dated – April 11, 1989 Revised
May 21, 1989 Scale 3” = 1’ Dated – April 20, 1989 Scale – 1 ½” = 1’ Dated June 7, 1989
