Finally - Flying Cars! Meet the Terrafugia Transition

Automotive and aviation history was made on March 18, 2009, when the world's first flying automobile took off and landed successfully at Plattsburgh International Airport, New York. Finally, thanks to Terrafugia Inc., we have flying cars!

Move Over, George Jetson! Flying Aerocar!

Don't get me wrong. I am annoyed by the idea of more traffic - traffic that goes horizontally as well as vertically in congested cities is not necessarily my idea of progress. However, haven't all American kids been waiting for flying cars ever since George Jeston commuted to work in his little aerocar? We have seen the Jetsons flying around in reruns since 1962! Never mind that the Terrafugia Transition, by Terrafugia Inc., looks nothing like George Jetson's jaunty saucer -- the car flies!

Up, Up and Away! Flying Cars by 2011!

How many times have you been stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic coming home from a hard day at work and wished you could just lift off in your vehicle and fly over the earth-bound traffic? Now those of you with an extra $194,000 to spend may get that opportunity. The brand-new flying car made by Terrafugia Inc. of Woburn, Massachusetts, has just been cleared for use on roads by the state of Massachusetts, and plans are currently under way to get the new flying machine approved for use in the air as well. If everything goes as expected, the flying car should be on the market by the end of 2011.

High Flight - Terrafugia Transition Takes Off

The Terrafugia Transition, a car/plane hybrid, is the brainchild of Terrafugia founder Carl Dietrich. The two-seat aircraft is designed to take off and land at local airports as well as drive on any road. The Transition runs on high-octane unleaded gasoline, and can go from drive to fly in 30 seconds -- the time it takes for the Transition's wings to extend. To turn the Transition from a plane into a car, the wings simply fold up to the car's sides, much like a Transformer. With its wings folded, the Transition will fit into a standard car garage!

The nifty little flying machine has a steering wheel like a car... as well as a pilot's telescopic stick, and rudder peddles on either side of the gas and brake pedals. Terrafugia states the new aerocar needs about 1,700 feet to take off.

Other Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines: Moller Skycar, Cardozo SkyCar

Others have been working on flying cars, like Paul Moller, who has been attempting to develop the Moller Skycar for many years. Another flying car called SkyCar, created by British inventor Giles Cardozo and a team of engineers took, off from London in January on a journey to Timbuktu, Mali, in West Africa. The SkyCar completed its journey the beginning of March...after crashing into a tree in mid-air.

Highs and Lows of Terrafugia Transition

Other than the cost-prohibitive price, the downside to owning this flying car are the Transition only gets about 27 miles to the gallon, and it only hits commuter speeds on the ground. Also, drivers... or pilots (what WOULD you call someone at the controls of a flying car?) would need a minimum of a light sport plane pilots license to fly the automobile.

The upside to owning one - did you read the article? The car FLIES!

To see photos of the amazing Terrafugia Transition, click here.

Sources

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/19/earlyshow/main4876591.shtml
http://www.manolith.com/2009/03/23/flying-cars-at-last-transformation-into-briefcase-left-out/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moller_Skycar_M400
http://www.skycarexpedition.com/news.php
http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-flying-car-pg,0,3102483.photogallery