The Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater road car to a plane in 15 seconds, is scheduled to take to the air next month.
If it survives its first test flight, the technological breakthrough, is expected to land in showrooms in about 18 months’ time. Its manufacturer says it is easy to keep and run since it uses normal unleaded fuel and will fit into a garage. Carl Dietrich, who runs the Massachusetts-based Terrafugia, said: “This is the first really integrated design where the wings fold up automatically and all the parts are in one vehicle.”
The Transition has been developed by former Nasa engineers and is powered by the same 100bhp engine on the ground and in the air. Terrafugia claims it will be able to fly up to 460 miles on a single tank of petrol at a cruising speed of 115mph. However, up to now it has been tested only on roads at up to 90mph.
Dietrich said he had already received 40 orders, despite an expected retail price of 200,000 dollars.
Transition’s specs:
- The Transition is being designed to be a factory certified Light-Sport Airplane.
- Two seats, side-by-side.
- GTOW: 1320 lbs (600 kg)
- Useful Load: 550 lbs (250 kg)
- Fuel Capacity: 20 gal (120 lbs / 54 kg)
- Engine: 100 hp Rotax 912 S (four-stroke)
- Vs = 45 kts (51 mph, 83 km/hr)
- Vr = 70 kts (80 mph, 130 km/hr)
- Cruise Speed (75% power): 100 kts (115 mph, 185 km/hr)
- Fuel Consumption (75% power): 4.5 gph
- Range: 400 nm (460 mi, 740 km)
- Takeoff Distance over 50 ft obstacle: 1,700 ft (520 m)
- Fuel: Super-unleaded autogas
- Wingspan: 27.5 ft (8.4 m)
- Length: 18.75 ft (5.7 m)
- Height: 6.75 ft (2.1 m)
I will book a Transition when a four seater version is launched 
.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Nope – it isn’t the first flying car – a guy in the UK converted his 4WD into a flying car with large paraglider chute and rear mounted fan. He’s preparing to fly from England to Timbuktu, next month.
Very cool, a 4 seater is highly unlikely though. The very regulation that, according to the founder, was crucial in the development of the Transition, namely the new Light Sport aircraft classification mandates it to have no more than 2 seats.
Besides, a 4 seater flying car would weigh down a lot when flying. Might work if you excluded the extra load capcity (430 pounds) and if you didn’t have a bunch of sumos riding in it. *Chuckles* The design wasn’t so good because you would need a runway for it to launch. The design would be better if it was a helicopter car. Excluding how the propellers would fit and how you would have an excuse if your neighbor wakes up.