I’ve long said that if you want a camper that oozes style, look to the past. Long before the camper was just a box on a frame with some swoops, manufacturers were putting out elaborate designs that I’d say could qualify as art. Last weekend, I found what might be one of the most gorgeous campers ever built. This 1947 Aero Flite Falcon is simply stunning from every angle and the breathtaking beauty doesn’t stop when you hop inside. Its also ridiculously rare as the company that built it apparently assembled just 120 trailers in the just four years it was in business. Of those, perhaps 25 exist today.
A lot of readers have been sending in vintage campers. So many of them are oh so pretty and I promise to try to get to them all! One thing is pretty clear, a lot of you like gazing at the perhaps endless creations from decades ago. I can’t blame you. While a handful of independent camper makers today have distinctive, head-turning designs, it can be argued that they have nothing on the campers from about half of a century or longer ago. Back in those days, a large swath of camper producers all created what they felt were the future or the best camper you could buy. In the 1940s, Aero Flite called itself “The Nation’s Smartest Trailer” with an all-aluminum construction built like an aircraft.
![Vidframe Min Top](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/vidframe_min_top1.png)
![Vidframe Min Bottom](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/vidframe_min_bottom1.png)
![345240080 6348153361949256 10084](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/345240080_6348153361949256_10084.jpg)
Aviation Origins
The story for this camper takes us back to the early days of aviation. As the San Diego Air and Space Museum writes, in 1910, a young Wally D. Timm started working as a mechanic for Al Wilson in exchange for flight lessons. In 1921, Timm flew from Venice, California, to Lone Pine, California, and landed in Bishop, California. This flight set a record time of four hours and five minutes.
![9405111234 Bd5e13972e O](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/9405111234_bd5e13972e_o.jpg)
Timm was known for air racing, being a flight instructor, and flying for Hollywood productions. Timm and his brother Otto didn’t just fly planes, but also built them for clients including the aforementioned Hollywood productions. Notable aircraft include modified planes for the 1930 Howard Hughes film Hell’s Angels and the Golden Shell Special for Shell Oil. Timm also launched a Curtiss JN-4 from the Los Angeles Railway building for the 1921 film Stranger Than Fiction.
As the San Diego Air and Space Museum writes, in 1934, Timm would found the Timm Airplane Company with Otto. He would also create the Wally Timm Company. Both companies, which were based in Glendale, California, developed innovative aircraft. Eventually, Timm sold the Wally Timm Company in 1942. The successor company, which was based in the same location, was called Aero Services, Incorporated. Aero Services was a Civil Aeronautics Authority-certified repair station for civil and government aircraft.
![9402349597 551bf84c7c O](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/9402349597_551bf84c7c_o.jpg)
As a history by Aero Flite owner Kevin Reabe claims , Aero Services was successful until work orders began drying up after World War II. At the time, J. Gordon Hussey was at the helm of company. Hussey had a prior business relationship with Timm when, in 1941, Hussey was running Aetna Aircraft Corporation and purchased the design for the Timm Aerocraft 2AS. The Timm Aerocraft 2AS was itself a trainer developed from the Kinner Sportwing that was designed for the U.S. government-sponsored Civilian Pilot Training Program that trained civilian pilots before and during WWII.
Hussey apparently decided to branch Aero Services out into building trailers. In 1945, Aero Lines was created for this venture and that year, Aero Services aircraft engineer Frederick C. Hoffman designed what would become the Aero Flite trailer. This prototype trailer was shown to the public in 1945 before getting put into production in 1946.
![1499078314814152361 D0148701](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/1499078314814152361-D0148701.jpg)
The trailers would be built at Van Nuys Airport at the factory where Aero Services rebuilt aircraft. That year, Frederick C. Hoffman filed for a patent for a “new, original, and ornamental design for a house trailer.” Aero Services would also cease business that year. Hoffman’s patent was granted in 1948.
The Aero Flite Trailer
![357387948 6409848279103238 10518 (1)](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/357387948_6409848279103238_10518-1.jpg)
Aero Flite Trailer, through its parent company Aero Lines, sold an estimated 110 to 120 trailers over the span of just four years between 1946 and 1949. Apparently, there are a lot of rumors and tales as to why Aero Flite failed, but the likely reason is that Aero Lines just couldn’t find enough buyers for its fancy trailers.
That’s a shame because the trailers that came out of the other end are breathtaking.
![344382938 6271589146270290 69725](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/344382938_6271589146270290_69725.jpg)
![357614955 6347907455294046 70731](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/357614955_6347907455294046_70731.jpg)
Aero Flite offered two designs to the public. The first was the 13-foot Eagle and the other was the 20-foot Falcon. It’s unclear if Aero Flite built more than just the single Eagle prototype. I couldn’t find any out there, even in the Wayback Machine Internet Archive. It is known that Aero Flyte did build about 110 to 120 trailers in total before closing up shop. Of those, it’s estimated that maybe 25 are still out there. This Aero Flite Falcon is one of them.
The 1940s after WWII were a time when trailer builders came up with designs inspired by aircraft. The era saw teardrop builders finding a way to incorporate aircraft aluminum into their trailers. It was also a time when Airstream went back into production with its own aluminum trailers.
![357635418 7021739451174203 19468](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/357635418_7021739451174203_19468.jpg)
Aero Flite differentiated itself from the pack with even more extensive use of aluminum than the competition. Aero Flite trailers feature an aluminum chassis and attached to it is an aluminum body. Magnesium was also used in the construction of these monocoque trailers. Aero Flite frames featured aluminum C-channels, aluminum plate, and aluminum crossmembers. On top of that chassis was an aluminum or magnesium floor with balsa-core aircraft plywood layered on top.
The riveted aluminum body also had some neat tricks going on. The louvers up front are functional. This was before air-conditioning made its way into campers, so the louvers helped provide filtered fresh air inside. The roof was also designed in part for this. The center of the roof sits a little bit higher than the rest of the trailer to provide headroom. A ventilation system up there exhausts hot air out of the trailer. Meanwhile, the trailer’s rear end hangs some 36 inches off of the frame. This area wasn’t given a full-height roof as it’s where the bed is and thus, not an area where you need to stand.
![354481745 9417017178368818 77684](https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/354481745_9417017178368818_77684.jpg)
Inside, the high style continued with mahogany wall panels and cabinetry, hardwood ceiling panels, and an aluminum and stainless steel kitchen. Original equipment included a stove, oven, broiler, two double beds, and a 100-pound ice box. A refrigerator was optional. The company advertised “scores of distinguished appointments and special features.” Aero Flite also advertised its trailers as the only trailers in America built to aircraft specifications. While the body and chassis were aluminum with some magnesium parts, the axle was steel. The trailer also had electric brakes and 10-inch baby moon hubcaps.
This 1947 Aero Flite Falcon
This particular trailer was restored by Flyte Camp in Bend, Oregon in 2018. Flyte Camp is known for bringing vintage campers back to life in stunning detail. Click here for a jaw-dropping portfolio of classic campers brought back to their prime.
The seller describes a rather long list of goodies:
• 10 gallon black water tank
• 20 gallon fresh water tank
• All 12 volt LED lights
• Marmoleum flooring
• 4 matching art deco slip shade sconces: Midwest origin, circa 1936
• Original refurbished all aluminum kitchen
• Norcold dual voltage ice box conversion
• Horseshoe shaped front dinette area with art deco fabric, curved back with pie-shaped pieces, and triangular table post
• Ribbon cut mahogany interior
• Original mahogany preserved on cabinet door fronts and tops
• 2” Aluminum shades on all windows
• Recreated rolled headboard
• Plexiglass front window
• Preserved swatch of original fabric with upholsterers tag
• Go Power 80 watt solar panel included
• All original hardware on cabinetry
• Snap on vinyl rock guard for front window
• Single propane tank with aluminum shroud
Something I love here is the addition of something that wasn’t there, while maintaining the original aesthetic of the camper. This Aero Flite did not come with a toilet, but Flyte Camp added one and the 10-gallon black tank. Adding the toilet did mean the removal of two closets, but I think that’s worth it. Oh, and it should weigh around 2,000 pounds, so you could tow it even with a crossover.
As you could expect, a seriously rare restored trailer is going to command some good, hard money. The seller in Spokane, Washington wants $79,900 for it, which seems fair given the quality of the work and the fact that you’re unlikely to find another one of these in this condition for a very long time. Maybe you’ll never see one of these for sale again. One thing’s for sure, if you roll into a campground with this trailer, you’re bound to be the coolest person there.
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This thing is absolutely gorgeous. Like a beautiful vintage Chris Craft dual-cockpit boat, oozing style and purpose in equal measure.
This is my trailer and this an awesome review! Thank you so much. Any chance I could get a copy of the article? It will be in Spokane Fairgrounds this weekend for tours.
Thanks again.
Cynthia Russell
I had some Marmoleum on my toast this morning! A little greasy, kinda salty, just right
Oh that is beautiful! Love the wood and the restoration looks good. Not in the market right now but if I was…
Oh man this is just heraldific. Old school basic design gave us more art than any modern designer of anything today. Just from the August looks i would say failure was based on qualified customers owning their own rail cars and satisfied with reach.
The interior somehow gives me ’30s/’40s ocean liner vibes, which seems perfectly appropriate for a travel trailer.
this seems very reasonable given how much trailers cost these days, gosh I’d love this!
The heyday of Art Deco was a couple of decades before this trailer was marketed, but it would’ve fit right in, especially that interior. This sure ain’t no Jayco.
Exactly. Hercule Poirot (the David Suchet version) would be right at home here.
Absolutely beautiful. Wish I was in a position to drop 80K on a trailer right now… and still be alive to use it.
I’m sure that you or I could have this thing paid off by at least age 140.
That is SUPER COOL looking!
Truly stunning. There’s nothing that grabs my eye like Streamline Moderne.
Beautiful trailer. Great article, Mercedes
The polish job on the aluminum is totally awesome. Not to mention lack of dents and dimples.
Fantastic, this looks like a luxury cruise liner cabin from the golden age of sea travel
What a gorgeous camper. That maroon is not a color I see on campers and really looks good with the aluminum.
How much does the camper weigh?
About 2,000 pounds!
That is fantastic, what would be the coolest tow vehicle for this?
’56 Thunderbird
Not bad. I’d go for 61-63 Bullet Bird myself.
A 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible.
I found a perfect example from a few years back.
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1947-CADILLAC-SERIES-62-CONVERTIBLE-97071
This is the correct choice. Or maybe a ’52.
that is a fine looking automobile!
1948 Chevrolet Suburban.
With a supercharged LS, 10 speed auto, and retro A/C! Yeah baby. Maybe disc brakes too….
Deusenberg
My car.
’49 Hudson Commodore
Tatra Type 87.
Or Tucker Torpedo if you want to keep it American.
1954 Olds F88
1939 Graham Model 97 Supercharged Sedan:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graham_Model_97_Supercharger_4-D_Sedan_1939.jpg
1949 Hudson Commodore Eight.