Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
April 4, 2012 at 3:28pm
Major Milestone takes "Flying Car" Closer to First Delivery
New York, NY & Woburn, MA – (April 2, 2012): The Transition® Street-Legal Airplane is now a significant step closer to being a commercial reality. The production prototype of the Transition® Street-Legal Airplane completed its successful first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, NY on March 23, 2012 ... Developed by Terrafugia, Inc., the Transition® is a two seat personal aircraft capable of driving on roads and highways, parking in a single car garage, and flying with unleaded automotive fuel.
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Sep '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
The production prototype is different from the one shown in the YouTube video above. There's a nice video of the production prototype's first flight here.
First the cold water: every engineering design involves compromises, and in this case the result is a vehicle that's neither a very good car nor a very good airplane. It only seats two, and as a plane it's VFR only and has a cruising speed of just 93 knots. The company says that each of these "roadable aircraft" will cost $280,000. For that kind of money you could buy a new Cessna 172 (4 seats, IFR) that cruises at 120 knots; or you could buy a new Diamond DA-20 (2-seat, VFR) with a 135 knot cruise speed and still have $100,000 left over for a Porsche 911 to drive to the airport and back.
On the other hand, just seeing that flying car take off brought a smile to my face.
Edited on April 4, 2012 at 4:31pmFeb '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
I can't help thinking about how expensive it's going to be when you encounter a fender-bender while in "car" mode, and one of the folding wings is damaged...indeed, even if it's just parked and someone opens a door really hard.
May '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
The Transition does look beautiful, and like a "proper" flying car. As a stealth Dutchman (I'm only Dutch when it suits me), I was rather pleased to come across a Dutch model - the PAL-V. This looks pretty, can fly *today*, and since it fits pretty closely to existing regulations, is expected to go into production next year. Mind you, it is really a motor bike that converts into an autogyro, so not really the "proper" flying car. But hey, you might actually be able to buy it!
The demonstration drive and flight (real drive, real transition, real flight - no CGI) are impressive.
Mar '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Woah. Nifty. I'd like a test drive/flight (Dright? Flive?)
Sep '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Here's a nice video of the PAL-V. It probably wouldn't be street-legal in the US, but it might be in Europe.
Jul '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
No Claire. There is nothing cooler than a flying car.
It's a car and it flies. QED.
Mar '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Flies on unleaded automotive fuel? You mean fossil fuel? And this is supposed to be some kind of technological advancement? Come on!
May '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
I'll wait for the Jeep version.
Sep '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Claire, Claire, Claire--
By posting this, you forcibly drew me to YouTube to watch the video; where I had to watch the other videos; and then had to calculate which of my family members I could visit if I had one of these things.
This has prevented me from my work on digital energy meters for alternative energy projects--wind, solar, hydro--and sub-metering projects that reduce energy consumption. You have directly caused a delay in the implementation of new technologies that will revolutionize energy consumption, reduce humankind's Global Carbon Footprint, and make our dogs love us more.
You have wounded Mother Gaia. For shame!
Oct '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
From Road Rage to Dogfights, Hmmm.
May '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Does it meet the CAFE standards for DoT certification?
Dec '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Duane, to get the Average up in CAFE, all you have to do is put in some forward miles while gliding down, prferably while strafing Occupy gatherings.
Feb '12
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Do you really want to fly in something that comes with its own parachute?
Be me down for the 7.5 version
Nov '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
What kind of weaponry does it sport? Anything laser-guided? Cloaking devices?
Mar '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
A flying car has nothing on the Molnari gyrocopter.
motorcycle + helicopter (boom)
Helps that my friend, Dezso, is the inventor.
Mar '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Postscript to above: Dezso is a never-ending source of stories. He went to join SRL, an industrial machine club, back in the 90s. When asked what he had to offer, he responded with "jet-powered go-cart." (OK, you're in.)
He then worked as the crew chief for Craig Breedlove's attempt to break the speed of sound -- on land of all things. (The British team beat them.) I visited the playa one time only to go to the wrong camp. Had a great conversation with the train-spotting chief architect.
He helped design and serve as a judge for the inaugural X-Prize. (Won by SpaceShipOne). In 2000, he emailed and asked if anyone wanted to go to Russia to fly in a Mig jet. I thought why not. Got to go Mach 1 in an old Mig-21 (yikes).
Also did a zero gravity flight in a Russian cargo jet. Douglas Tito, the first space tourist, was on the trip. A photo 2 weeks later on the cover of USA Today showed him on a "training mission". Sadly they had cropped me out of the photo.
Mar '11
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
I have sat in the early prototype a few years ago Oshkosh. It is clever and being done by some very smart guys. But I think Dogsbody capture the economics about right. Slow, load limited, and expensive by airplane standards, same arguments by car standards. They have certain exemptions for the crash requirements. But for a rarefied few folks, they will buy it, it is just not an every mans (persons, pilots?) plane/car which has a long and illustrious history.
Jun '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Palaeologus: No Claire. There is nothing cooler than a flying car.
It's a car and it flies. QED. · 10 hours ago
You are mistaken. The one thing cooler than a flying car?
A plane you can drive, of course. Way cooler.
May '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
I want one! Then I can take off flyving on the weekends to visit friends out of town.
Jul '10
Re: Could There Be Anything More Cool Than a Flying Car?
Casey Taylor
Palaeologus: No Claire. There is nothing cooler than a flying car.
It's a car and it flies. QED. · 10 hours ago
You are mistaken. The one thing cooler than a flying car?
A plane you can drive, of course. Way cooler. · 1 minute ago
Quit messing with my head Casey.
You and I both know that will never happen.