Buckle up! Terrafugia flying car approved for roads

[AnimalMagnetism]

Talk about a way to beat traffic.

Actually, you won't be able to take off out of gridlock in Terrafugia's flying car, but at least you'll be able to drive it on roads to the nearest airport. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently granted special exemptions for the Transition "roadable aircraft."

The exemptions clear the way for shipping to begin from Terrafugia's Massachusetts plant following testing. The flying car is slated to enter production this year, with shipping in 2012.

The NHTSA stipulations involve the type of tires and windscreen the Transition will use as a land vehicle. The tires are rated for highway speeds and the windshield will be made of polycarbonate materials instead of automotive safety glass to save weight and prevent shattering in a bird strike.

Terrafugia says the Transition, which notched its maiden flight in 2009, is "the first (light airplane) to incorporate automotive safety features such as a purpose-built energy absorbing crumple zone, a rigid carbon fiber occupant safety cage, and automotive-style driver and passenger airbags."

The wings on the 19-foot-long two-seater take less than a minute to fold. In flying mode, it has a wingspan of 26 feet, and a width of 90 inches in driving mode. It has a range of nearly 500 miles.

It's not the futuristic "flying car" some of us dream of, but the Transition could be useful for pilots who'd rather drive and fly with the same vehicle. They can also avoid bad weather en route by continuing their journey on land

The Transition is tentatively priced around $250,000. Terrafugia is taking reservations with a $10,000 refundable deposit, and says it already has about 100 orders.

If you've got the cash, a driver's license, and a sport pilot license or better, then you're cleared for takeoff. But if you're going to be sneaky and land on a highway for kicks, have a care for us earthbound travelers.


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...-flying-car-approved-for-roads/#ixzz1RMaKeWAE

time to think about flying to work

 

[Babypowder]

thats not a flying car thats a fucking plane.

what a rip off

 

[AnimalMagnetism]

 

[lamgos]

but you still have to drive it to the airport, a helicopter car would be more practical

 

[Ceiling Cat]

Its sort of like tools, those multi function devices may look like a good idea but they never seem to work out.

 

[shack]

It's a transformer.

 

[Rono]

I have been following their progress over the last few years. Great concept, but like someone mentioned, you are only allowed to take off from an airport, so really what's the point.
If you were allowed to take off on isolated roads or highways and then land on them, I would have put a deposit down years ago.

 

[shack]

I have been following their progress over the last few years. Great concept, but like someone mentioned, you are only allowed to take off from an airport, so really what's the point.
If you were allowed to take off on isolated roads or highways and then land on them, I would have put a deposit down years ago.

At least you don't have to keep loading and unloading your luggage.

 

[S.C. Joe]

I believe it once it happens

 

[S.C. Joe]

Its sort of like tools, those multi function devices may look like a good idea but they never seem to work out.

Good point!

Why do we still have separate boats and cars? Why not make one that does both

 

[mandrill]

Been around for over 40 years. But they make a shitty car and a shitty boat

Actually the US Army had a floatable jeep back in WW2, as did the Wehrmacht. Those vehicles actually made sense for crossing small rivers.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

If someone cuts you off in traffic, you can chop him up with your propeller. Or fly over him and poop on his car.

 

[alex4you2]

I don't even want to ask about the stall characteristics of that thing... looks like a bitch to recover from one... if you can...

 

[AnimalMagnetism]

I don't even want to ask about the stall characteristics of that thing... looks like a bitch to recover from one... if you can...

did you miss the part in the video about pulling the handle to deploy the parachute to bring you safely to the ground? lol

 

[alex4you2]

did you miss the part in the video about pulling the handle to deploy the parachute to bring you safely to the ground? lol

That's precisely what I'm talking about... lol one little stall and boom! only way to save your skin is the BRS (with the consequent hull loss)

 

[S.C. Joe]

I heard it can fly only up to 115 mph, ah that isn't very fast. Heck cars can go faster than that, lol

Wounder how slow it is on the highways? $250,000 for something that does 2 half ass jobs, no thanks.

Shame on the regulators for allowing that pos on the public roads, anybody recall those Yugo's, think people would learn but no. So after those things kill just too many people then it be history.

It has to be unsafe on the road, just look at it. One big wing gust on the freeway and it lose control and crash.