“The Jetsons” are here!
Traffic congestion is eating away at the gas in our collective tanks. You shouldn’t have to take out payday loans simply to meet your monthly fuel budget. But what if you had a flying car? Gridlock would be a thing of the past – or at least for a while…
Jonathan Skillings of cnet news reports that start-up company Terrafugia (Latin for “escape from land”) debuted their prototype flying car, the Transition. If you don’t believe me, check out the video below.
Terrafugia first captured the public’s imagination in 2006 with a one-fifth scale model of the Transition. With $30,000 and a dream, they moved forward and looked to the skies.
It is a car or a plane? What would Tattoo yell to Mr. Roarke?
At this point, it seems like more of a plane. Terrafugia, writes Skillings, describes Transition as “a roadable aircraft” and pitches the light sport aircraft as an easy way for private pilots to travel when difficult weather makes flying a dangerous proposition. In terms of convenience, the Transition also makes having to take a separate car to the airport unnecessary.
As you can see in the video, the Transition can fly. The maiden voyage occurred over Plattsburgh International Airport in New York. The pilot for this historic flight was a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel.
How does it handle as a car?
According to Skillings, the two-seat Transition is supposed to be easy on garages and oncoming traffic. The wings fold up nice and snug, and while folded, the craft is about 19 feet long, 80 inches wide and six feet, nine inches high. It’s just a few inches shorter as an airplane. The unfolded wingspan is 27 feet, six inches.
As far as fuel for this space-age marvel, the Transition runs off regular unleaded fuel. That’s for both ground and air travel. It can cruise at highway speeds and reach speeds in excess of 115 miles per hour in the air.
When will it be available to the public?
Hang on. The Woburn, Massachusetts-based Terrafugia has a long way to go with the Transition before it will be up for sale or mass produced. A production prototype has not been built as of yet, and that would have to be tested and certified. Terrafugia hopes to deliver their first Transition to an actual customer in 2011.
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From the Terrafugia website, you evidently only need 20 hours instruction to qualify for flying light sport aircraft, which the Transition qualifies as. If I can get my hands on two hundred grand by 2011 and the instruction, I’ll buy one.
Years ago, if you told someone there’s a car that could fly, they’d probably tell you to get lost (after calling you a lunatic). I think this is one of the best inventions ever made. I’m sure there will be a long waiting line way before 2011.
Wow!