GEM Model 2500 Air-Car

The GEM Model 2500 Air‑Car, introduced by Curtiss‑Wright in 1937, was an ambitious attempt to blend automobile convenience with light‑aircraft performance. Developed under the company’s General‑Purpose Experimental (GEM) program, the 2500 was a two‑seat, high‑wing monoplane powered by a 115‑horsepower Warner Scarab radial engine. Its most distinctive feature was the detachable, streamlined undercarriage that could be swapped for a set of road‑wheels, allowing the aircraft to be driven on paved highways at up to 45 mph. The fuselage utilized a welded steel tube frame covered with fabric, while the wings employed a wooden spars and rib construction, keeping the empty weight to a modest 1,150 lb. The cockpit was equipped with dual controls, a simple radio, and a bubble canopy that offered excellent visibility for both pilot and passenger. Though only twelve units were completed before World War II halted production, the GEM 2500 demonstrated the practicality of a true “air‑car” concept and influenced later hybrid designs such as the L‑13 and the post‑war Krause Ultralight. Its innovative approach earned a place in aviation museums and remains a celebrated example of interwar creativity in personal transportation.