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Hall (Theodore P.) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10061.O/S
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Theodore Parsons “Ted” Hall Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10061.O/S
Physical Description:
3 Cubic Feet
9 Archival Boxes
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Theodore Parsons “Ted” Hall, was a noted designer of the Consolidated flying automobile. This collection contains information
on his life and flying cars.
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Theodore Parsons “Ted” Hall Personal Papers, San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Theodore Parsons “Ted” Hall, noted designer of the Consolidated flying automobile, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, December
18, 1898. He was a graduate of Syracuse University, with a degree in electrical engineering, and a graduate of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, with a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering.
He was employed by the Thomas Morse Aircraft Company in Ithaca, New York while attending Syracuse University, and, after graduation,
joined Cunningham-Hall Aircraft Company in Rochester, New York, working at Cunningham-Hall from 1928 until 1931. Cunningham-Hall
had been formed in 1928 by his older brother Randolph F. Hall, in partnership with James Cunningham, Son and Company. Randolph
Hall, a noted aircraft designer and inventor, was later associated with the formation of Bell Aircraft Corporation.
Ted Hall joined Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in Buffalo, New York in 1931 as a structural engineer, quickly advancing
to senior-level project engineering assignments. He came to San Diego when Reuben Fleet relocated Consolidated in 1935. He
was involved in the development of many of the Consolidated, later Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft models, including the PBY
(Catalina), B-24 and C-87 (Liberator), PB2Y-3 (Coronado), the B-32 (Dominator), and also received a patent for what eventually
became the XC-99.
His involvement with Catalina design and development was particularly significant, responsible for the design of such innovative
features as the integral fuel tanks and the retractable wing tip floats. He was also a leader in developing Catalina performance
improvements through use of designs which featured high wing loadings. He was later chief development engineer for the company.
Ted Hall first attracted national attention when he was at Cunningham-Hall, involved in the design of aircraft which minimized
landing speed through the innovative use of high lift devices, a feature more commonplace today. One aircraft design was entered
in the Guggenheim competition, with its performance very close to that of the winning Curtiss Tanager. Mr. Hall held several
early patents for his high-lift wing designs.
It was with this advanced development background that Mr. Hall was able to bring to reality a convertible car-airplane, more
commonly called the flying automobile. Many had tried to perfect the concept, but Mr. Hall was the first to introduce a successful
design. He began his convertible car-airplane program in 1938, and began construction of the prototype the following year,
all accomplished on “his own time,” still a Consolidated employee. The development vehicle was successfully test flown in
1940 at the Linda Vista Airport.
In 1946, Hall sold rights to his flying car program to Southern Aircraft Corporation for further development. Southern Aircraft,
however, after several months, returned all rights to Mr. Hall. He left Consolidated employment to continue development of
his flying car, and was able to secure the company’s development backing in 1946. In 1948, after a considerable expenditure,
Consolidated abandoned the project, transferring all rights of manufacture and the prototype back to Mr. Hall, in accordance
with their agreement.
He formed Airways Motors, Inc., as well as T.P. Hall Engineering Corporation in San Diego, but a lack of funding eventually
doomed continuation of his flying car program. Three vehicles had been developed, and all were successfully flown, the last
in 1948. There were approximately 140 flights during the program. Mr. Hall’s prototype was displayed at San Diego Air & Space
Museum until destroyed by fire in 1978. Hall’s two remaining roadable airplanes were stored at Camp Elliott in the San Diego
area, but were destroyed by vandals.
Theodore P. Hall passed away in San Diego on March 17, 1978. He was survived by his wife, the former Marion Parsons, three
daughters, and eight grandchildren.
9 archival boxes containing documents, photographs, articles, drawings and reports.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
General Dynamics Corporation. Convair Division
Flying Automobiles
Convair Model 116
Consolidated Aircraft (Firm)
Hall, Theodore P.