EXPERIMENTAL GYROSCOPICALLY STABILIZED VEHICLES FOREST SERVICE CARGO CARRIER & GYRO-X CAR XD51614

Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This reel of silent 16mm film footage shows tests of two groundbreaking, gyroscopically stabilized vehicles. The first part of the film shows a cargo carrier developed for the U.S. Forest Service. The second part, starting at about 13:30, shows footage of an experimental car called the Gyro-X. The film starts with shots of the unpainted, prototype cargo carrier at 1:00. This innovative machine was designed by an inventor and MIT grad named Herbert Harris. Harris spent part of his early career working for the U.S Forest Service, maintaining and building trails across the wilderness. That effort typically involved using mules or pack horses. Later, as director of the Forest Service’s Equipment Development Center in Missoula, Montana, Harris contacted engineer Tom Summers. Development of a gyroscopically stabilized trail maintenance vehicle began under Summers’ supervision in 1961. By 1965, two gyro-stabilized cargo carrier prototypes or “trail trucks“ were complete. The machines used gasoline powered engines built by Onan. Each had four wheels: two main and two stabilizers (these would retract once enough momentum was gained to keep the vehicle upright). Controls were located on the rear, and each had a cargo bed that was approximately 3x4 feet. The carriers underwent testing on roads and mountain trails near Missoula. After initial testing, the second prototype model (first seen at 2:05 in the film with the word “Gyrocar“ on the front in blank) was given a fresh coat of yellow paint and revealed to the public in Missoula in July, 8:15, the cargo carrier is shown operating on a fairly steep grade, although it is noteworthy that the trail it is on is relatively free of debris and boulders. In 1968 the Cargo Carrier was written about as a finished product. But sadly, the Cargo Carrier never left the prototype stage. It wasn’t for decades that the reason behind the project’s failure were revealed: the electronic controllers available during the 1960s did not respond quickly enough when the carrier hit large rocks, and once the carrier was part way over, the gyroscope literally threw it to the ground. (One imagines that modern stabilization systems such as those seen in the Segue would easily deal with that problem.) A surviving example of the cargo carrier can be seen at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee (). The Gyro-X experimental car seen at 13:30 is also at the Lane Motor Museum. It was constructed in 1966-67 by Gyro Transport Systems, Inc. The Gyro-X is an aerodynamic, two-wheeled, gyroscopically-stabilized prototype. The car was built by stylist Alex Tremulis, who worked on a series of Ford concept cars, including the Syd Mead-designed Ford Gyron -- a futuristic two-wheeled gyrocar first shown to the world in 1961. Stabilization engineer Thomas Summers, who during WWII developed guided missile navigation and stabilization systems, worked out the car’s mechanical systems which included a large, hydraulically powered gyroscope. The Gyro-X was intended to be an extremely fuel efficient and safe vehicle that was half the size of a normal auto, allowing twice as many drivers to use the highways. Like a motorcycle, the Gyro-X would have tremendous maneuverability and lowered wind resistance, and be able to achieve very high speeds with a small engine. Unlike a motorcycle, the Gyro-X would rely on its hydraulically powered gyroscope for stability, allowing it to take a 40 degree banked turn without tipping, slipping or sliding. The Gyro-X made its debut at the 1967 New York Int’l Auto Show and graced the cover of “Science and Mechanics“ magazine. Unfortunately, this car of the future became unstable at speeds above 50 mph, and the world wasn’t ready for such a radical design. Gyro Transport Systems went bankrupt in 1970. Eventually, the prototype car ended up in the hands of the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. It was almost completely stripped when the Museum received it, and insult to injury, it even had a third wheel added to keep it from falling over. The car was painstakingly restored by a team led by museum director Jeff Lane. After six years of hard work, the car was running again and won best of class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Special thanks to Lane Motor Museum’s Rex Bennett for supplying portions of this descriptive text. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit