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://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/rohowssgt/0_21_011109_FlyingCar1.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/rohowssgt/0111091216_M_011109_FlyingCar21.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/rohowssgt/0111091216_M_011109_FlyingCar41.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff15/rohowssgt/0111091216_M_011109_FlyingCar51.jpg)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479167,00.html
Very cool. Completely useless, but cool nonetheless.
Looks quite odd.
It's been done.
(http://inventorspot.com/files/images/Flying%20car--taylor%20aerocar%20restored.img_assist_custom.jpg)
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:
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.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on January 11, 2009, 01:00:59 PM
It's been done.
(http://inventorspot.com/files/images/Flying%20car--taylor%20aerocar%20restored.img_assist_custom.jpg)
Pshaw!
(http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/images/vehicles/tmwtgg/flying-amc-matador003.jpg)
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on January 11, 2009, 01:00:59 PM
It's been done.
(http://inventorspot.com/files/images/Flying%20car--taylor%20aerocar%20restored.img_assist_custom.jpg)
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.
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.
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.
(http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2496/jetsonsqy4.jpg)
I'm still waiting for THIS flying car. And a talking dog!
Cheers,
Madman of the People
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
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.
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.
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/ (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.