Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive

Started by rohan, January 11, 2009, 12:09:54 PM

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rohan

January 11, 2009, 12:09:54 PM
I searched but didn't see this anywhere hope it wasn't already posted.


Is it a car? Is it a plane? Actually, it?s both. The first flying car, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month.

If it survives its first test flight, the Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater car to a plane in 15 seconds, 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 in 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, developed by former NASA engineers, is powered by the same 100 bhp engine on the ground and in the air.

Terrafugia claims it will be able to fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of gas at a cruising speed of 115 mph. Up to now, however, it has only been tested on roads at up to 90 mph.







http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479167,00.html



http://outdooradventuresrevived.blogspot.com/

"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from out children."

~Chief Seattle




Tave

#1
January 11, 2009, 12:29:10 PM
Very cool. Completely useless, but cool nonetheless.
As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me.

Quote from: thecarnut on March 16, 2008, 10:33:43 AM
Depending on price, that could be a good deal.

Cookie Monster

#2
January 11, 2009, 12:45:54 PM
Looks quite odd.
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

280Z Turbo

#3
January 11, 2009, 01:00:59 PM
It's been done.

J86

#4
January 11, 2009, 01:06:24 PM
Quote from: Tave on January 11, 2009, 12:29:10 PM
Very cool. Completely useless, but cool nonetheless.

Not at all!

"That's a good investment, but I'd still pull you over."

"Bullshit!  You couldn't pull me over, my car'd have wings, and I'd fly away."

:lol:

Byteme

#5
January 12, 2009, 10:49:21 AM
Quote from: J86 on January 11, 2009, 01:06:24 PM
Not at all!

"That's a good investment, but I'd still pull you over."

"Bullshit!  You couldn't pull me over, my car'd have wings, and I'd fly away."

:lol:

Alaska is the only state in the union where it is lawful to take off from roads.  So yu would need to drive to an airport to use it as an airplane.

The pilot would still need to hold a private pilot's license. 

Think of this as an airplane that can be driven on a road as opposed to a car that can fly.  The FFA is very picky about who can do maintenance and repairs to airplanes.  Get in a minor fender bender and you don't take it to a body shop; you take it to a certified airframe mechanic.  Ditto if for electrical problems.  Add a piece of equipment and you need the weight and balance data recertified. 

All in all a cute toy but like most multipurpose devices its utility is compromised in both missions.

     
18 months seems very optimistic for FAA certification of an entirely new design.

Byteme

#7
January 12, 2009, 11:05:36 AM
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on January 11, 2009, 01:00:59 PM
It's been done.



I've seen the one Robert Cummings used to fly in his television show in the 50's and I've talked to it's owner-pilot.  Not a very good car or airplane.  Quite unusual.

Nethead

#8
January 12, 2009, 11:13:37 AM Last Edit: January 12, 2009, 11:18:10 AM by Nethead
A unique and novel way to die unnecessarily...

But  it would be  damned  handy on those warm autumn nights when you drive over the edge of a quarry, caldera, or meteor crater.
So many stairs...so little time...

Nethead

#9
January 12, 2009, 11:17:24 AM Last Edit: January 12, 2009, 11:18:58 AM by Nethead
Quote from: Nethead on January 12, 2009, 11:13:37 AM
A unique and novel way to die unnecessarily...

And  it would be  damned  handy on those cooler autumn nights when you drive over the edge of a quarry, caldera, or meteor crater, too.
So many stairs...so little time...

Madman

#10
January 13, 2009, 07:50:36 AM


I'm still waiting for THIS flying car.  And a talking dog!


Cheers,
Madman of the People
Current cars: 2015 Ford Escape SE, 2011 MINI Cooper

Formerly owned cars: 2010 Mazda 5 Sport, 2008 Audi A4 2.0T S-Line Sedan, 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T wagon, 1998 Ford Escort SE sedan, 2001 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0 5-Door, 1997 Honda Odyssey LX, 1991 Volvo 240 sedan, 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo sedan, 1987 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 1990 Peugeot 405 DL Sportswagon, 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan, 1985 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983 Renault R9 Alliance DL sedan, 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon, 1975 Volkswagen Transporter, 1980 Fiat X-1/9 Bertone, 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit C 3-Door hatch, 1976 Ford Pinto V6 coupe, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ~ Isaac Asimov

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses." - Johannes Kepler

"One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts." - C.S. Lewis

Madman

#11
January 13, 2009, 08:11:42 AM
Here's another recent flying car experiment.  Not a plane, more like dune buggy meets para-glider.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7826330.stm


Cheers,
Madman of the People
Current cars: 2015 Ford Escape SE, 2011 MINI Cooper

Formerly owned cars: 2010 Mazda 5 Sport, 2008 Audi A4 2.0T S-Line Sedan, 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T wagon, 1998 Ford Escort SE sedan, 2001 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0 5-Door, 1997 Honda Odyssey LX, 1991 Volvo 240 sedan, 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo sedan, 1987 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 1990 Peugeot 405 DL Sportswagon, 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan, 1985 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983 Renault R9 Alliance DL sedan, 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon, 1975 Volkswagen Transporter, 1980 Fiat X-1/9 Bertone, 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit C 3-Door hatch, 1976 Ford Pinto V6 coupe, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ~ Isaac Asimov

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses." - Johannes Kepler

"One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts." - C.S. Lewis

Payman

#12
January 13, 2009, 12:46:59 PM
Stupid that people are still throwing away money on this pipe dream. A car is a car and a plane is a plane. You cannot efficiently combine the two.

hotrodalex

#13
January 13, 2009, 06:10:47 PM
Quote from: Payman on January 13, 2009, 12:46:59 PM
Stupid that people are still throwing away money on this pipe dream. A car is a car and a plane is a plane. You cannot efficiently combine the two.

If you have the money, why not? They can be cool and it's always a good thing when people try to do something different.

Vinsanity

#14
January 17, 2009, 11:24:16 AM
Quote from: Madman on January 13, 2009, 08:11:42 AM
Here's another recent flying car experiment.  Not a plane, more like dune buggy meets para-glider.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7826330.stm


Cheers,
Madman of the People


That seems like it would be more cost-effective, and IMO, actually more fun

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/from-london-to-timbuktu-via-parajet-skycar/
In this video, the blokes share their plan to literally fly the car to Timbuktu. The more I think about it, the more I think it would be an awesome once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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