Page 9 - Aerotech News and Review, February 5, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
Louis Setter and his dream:

The General FM-1 Flying Motorcycle

by Bob Alvis derstand the man, I turned to the inter- The General FM-1 Flying
special to Aerotech News net. Even though old articles and obitu- Motorcycle
aries were sources of much information “Since 1950, I have been fascinated
Funny how things come into my life about his life, there was a sizable void with the thought of designing, build-
and ending up being typed out on this in those black op areas, going as far as ing and operating a flying car or flying
old laptop of mine. sites that had pictures of him removed three-wheeled motorcycle. My first de-
There’s not much rhyme or reason when depicting aircraft and individu- sign concepts were pretty clunky, with
to it, but when a story shows up from als working in that realm on a dry lake high drag and were impractical, but all
“wherever,” I take a hard look to see far away! were integrated designs: that is, wings
if it has an unknown quality that will Reading about his military and ci- and tail were folded for ground opera-
be something new and appealing to a vilian years, I don’t think there was tions; the wings and tail were not left
reader. ever an aircraft or program he was at the airport, as is the plan for a lot of
The life of Col. Louis Setter is pretty not involved with. When it came to designs I have seen. The advent of Burt
well documented as a pioneering Air the world of flight test engineering, he Rutan’s radical and very successful
Force pilot and flight test engineer. pretty much had the “Right Stuff,” to designs, particularly his asymmetrical
Many around the Antelope Valley are use a well-worn phrase in the world of designs, fascinated me and convinced
familiar with his accomplishments and aviation pioneers. me that my design could actually be
exploits, having heard his story via his- After reading and thumbing through built and successfully flown and should
tory panels and other events he was a different pages of his recollections, I be both fun and economical to drive
part of. Colonel Setter passed away felt he was having a hard time looking and fly.
back in 2019 and, before that, he was Courtesy photograph for how his life could best fit the writ- My design requirements are stated
looking to take many of his stories and Louis Setter ten text — but I believe he found it in in detail below but I feel strongly that
put them into some literary format, to the project he had pursued since 1950, this design, based on motorcycle tech-
tell of his years pushing the envelope and ramped up when the glory years of nology and which could be licensed as
and being a part of many firsts in aero- for a future book that was, sadly, never many years after a program or test flight test and military adventures were a motorcycle, a very big advantage, is
space history. started, except for the rough drafts rest- project was completed and information in his rear view mirror. I will share his practical and doable. If I can keep the
In my travels, I come across all kinds ing in folders in a scattered format. As was released, he still would not share written words about a project that for weight within the maximum for light
of people and many have grown up or I looked them over, I realized his book information and complied with the decades was in the back of his mind. It sport craft aircraft, which would only
shared community with many of these would have been a difficult write, as strict code of silence that surrounded was only when he had time to pursue require a car driver’s license, it would
greats like Setter. One such person is many of the projects he was involved the projects he was privy to, even after his own dreams that he detailed the be another great advantage.
Pat Arnold, who had come into pos- with were of a very sensitive nature. 63 years. next steps into realizing a concept he
session of Setter’s notes and comments He even mentions in his writings that, When I started to read and try to un- had envisioned for many years. See SETTER, Page 10

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