Flying Saucer Airboat: A 1955 Aircraft-Engined Marsh Runner
Macon Banks' 1955 airboat seats four, runs 35 mph and is pushed by a Continental A-65 aircraft engine and propeller.
Airboats belong to swamps and shallow flats, and the Flying Saucer is a fine example from the mid-1950s. Macon Banks built it around a 16 ft (4.9 m) keel and a Continental A-65 aircraft engine turning a Banks-Maxwell 660-36 propeller, good for about 35 mph. It seats four passengers, or three when you bring hunting or fishing gear. Hardwood frames, mahogany keel and chines and marine plywood planking make it a serious, satisfying build.
Flying Saucer Airboat at a glance
| Detail | Flying Saucer Airboat |
|---|---|
| Type | Airboat |
| Length | 16 ft keel (4.88 m) |
| Capacity | 4 passengers (3 with hunting or fishing gear) |
| Construction | Hardwood frames, mahogany keel and chines, 3/8 in. marine plywood planking |
| Power | Continental A-65 aircraft engine with Banks-Maxwell 660-36 propeller; 35 mph |
| Designer | Macon Banks |
| First published | Popular Mechanics, May 1955 |
| Plan sheets | 6 |
Built for the marsh
With the propeller in the air instead of the water, an airboat skims over weeds, mud and shallows where conventional boats cannot go. A 35 mph top speed with four aboard shows how capable this design is for crossing big wetlands. Hardwood frames with a mahogany keel and chines give a stiff backbone, and 3/8 in. marine plywood planking keeps the hull light. It is an ambitious project, but the six sheets lay it out step by step.
The original plan sheets
These are the 6 original sheets from 1955, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
Macon Banks designed the Flying Saucer airboat, published in Popular Mechanics in May 1955. The six sheets cover the hull and the installation of the Continental A-65 engine and Banks-Maxwell propeller.
Before you build
- Fit a strong guard around the propeller and keep everyone clear of it whenever the engine runs.
- Wear hearing protection, as an aircraft engine at close range is extremely loud.
- Respect the four-person limit, and three with gear, to keep the airboat balanced and safe.
Download the plan
The full 1955 Flying Saucer plan in one file, all six sheets ready to print or view on a tablet beside the build.
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