Is Terrafugia's Transition the Flying Car We Dreamed About?

As fans of technology, we have dreamed of owning flying cars since before we were able to get a standard driver's license. Now, early in the 21^st Century, Terrafugia is on the verge of making the flying car a reality for many with the vehicle it calls Transition. Terrafugia's Transition can be driven like a car and flown like an airplane. With foldable wings that allow it to fit into a normal sized garage, it is tempting to think of it as a car, but the Transition is really more of an airplane than anything else. Indeed Terrafugia calls the Transition a Roadable Aircraft. It's just that it is designed to taxi much more conveniently and further than ordinary aircraft.

Commuting by Air

Still the Terrafugia Transition does deliver on the promise of a flying car. The promise is that you can fly from your house to someplace near your destination avoiding traffic, and then drive the final mile or two and park in any ordinary space. For someone commuting from the suburbs of Boston to New York, for example, this might have some very substantial benefits. On the other hand, the Terrafugia Transition does come with some limitations. Classified as a Light Sport Aircraft, the Transition does require a pilot's license, though only 20 hours of air time is required because of the Terrafugia vehicle's classification.

The Cost of the Terrafugia Transition

First is the price tag. We all knew that flying cars would be expensive, and at an expected sale price of $194,000, the Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft is an expensive vehicle by any measure. Those with the means and desire to own a Transition of their own can order one today at the Terrfugia website with just $10,000 down.

Terrafugia Transition's Fuel Consumption

On the ground it gets a respectable 30 mpg says Terrafugia, but once aloft, expect to burn 5 gallons of gasoline per hour, giving the Transition a maximum range of 460 miles without refueling. That's brand new at factory specs, so anyone who doesn't leave an adequate safety margin to account for things like headwinds and other factors that can influence range, should probably make sure they spring for the full vehicle parachute option that Terrafugia thoughtfully offers.

Terrafugia Transition Lacks VTOL Capability

Another drawback is that, unlike some previous flying car designs, most notably the Moller Skycar, the Terrafugia Transition flying car does not have a vertical takeoff and landing capability. That means you'll need a runway available at both ends of your trip. According to the company, 1700 feet of runway for take-off. Think of that as more than five and a half football fields in length and then ask yourself if you've got room for that in your backyard. That more than anything puts the Terrafugia Transition more in the class of airplane than flying car. For most people, it will be limited to use between airports. At that point, it's little different than having an small airplane, except that you can drive it home and keep it in the garage instead of storing it at the airport itself.

My Verdict on the Terrafugia Transition

While I applaud Terrafugia's work to get a flying car concept this close to the market, I have to say that I am disappointed in the lack of Vertical Take-off and Landing capability that would make a flying car much more practical for many. I'll wait for a flying car with which I can take-off from my backyard, and plop down in a quiet corner of the grocery store parking lot. Of course, I'll be waiting for a couple of hundred thousand dollars that I can spend on such a toy, as well.