Econintresect: Terrafugia, a Woburn, MA company, has designed and demonstrated what the company claims will be the first commercially produced flying car. They are currently taking reservations for future delivery (date not specified) with a refundable deposit.
Videos, specs and commentary follow the Read more >> jump.
The Terrafugia Transition® model is the first product offering from the company. It is a two-passenger vehicle which Econintersect would classify as an airplane that can be legally driven on the highway rather than a flying car. One of the limitations seen for the vehicle on the highway are giant blindspots created on both sides of the vehicle by th folded wings. This creates a dependence on mirrors or other supplemental devices for safe operation in traffic.
Here is a brief description from the company’s website:
The Transition® brings a new level of freedom, flexibility, and fun to personal aviation by combining driving and flying in one state-of-the-art vehicle. Glass cockpit avionics, carbon fiber construction, and innovative mechanisms make the Transition® easy and fun to fly, drive, and convert. A steering wheel and gas and brake pedals on the ground make it familiar to drive while a stick and rudder pedals provide responsive control in flight.
By being able to land and drive, not only is the “last mile problem” solved but inclement weather will no longer stop your trip. Running on premium unleaded automotive gasoline, the same engine powers the propeller in flight or the rear wheels on the ground. Converting between flight and drive modes is comparable to putting down the top on your convertible and you can keep the Transition® at home in the garage: flying has never been so convenient!
The first video below is a 1-minute ‘quickie’ illustrating a drive from a homer garage to take-off and flight from the local airport.
The base price for the two-passenger Transition is anticipated to be $279,000, about $50,000 less than the least expensive Piper aircraft which have higher weight and passenger capacity, as well as higher airspeed and longer flying range. But of course the Piper aircraft can not be driven down the highway.
Specs for the Transition from the company’s website:
| Cruise Speed, Vc: | 100 mph (160 km/h) |
| Range: | 410 mi (660 km) plus 30 min. reserve |
| Takeoff Roll: | 1700 ft (518 m) over 50 ft obstacle |
| Useful Load: | 500 lbs (227 kg) |
| Fuel Burn at Cruise: | 5 gph (18.9 L/h) |
| Useable Fuel: | 23 gal (87 L) |
| Mileage on Road: | 35 mpg (6.7 L / 100 km) |
The next video is a longer 8-minute view of an airport demonstration of the capabilty of the Terrafugia Transition.
The company has future plans for a plug-in hybrid four-passenger flying car that will feature vertical take-off and landing. So, provided there is suficient airspace clearance, the future Terrafugia vehicles will eliminate the drive to the airport in some situations. This future vehicle will become even more of an airplane that incidentally can be driven on the highway.
Sources:
- Terrafugia Transition flying car makes first public flights (David Szondy, gizmag, 16 August 2013))
