March 4, 2008 — Flight testing of the Terrafugia Transition roadable vehicle is on target to begin before the end of the year with the first deliveries anticipated in late 2009.
Carl and Anna Dietrich, the MIT grads who created the flying car, displayed the engineering mockup and conducted a folding wing demonstration at the US Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring in late January. Their next appearance will be at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, held July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport.
The $148,000 two-seat vehicle, which will meet light-sport aircraft (LSA) standards, is anticipated to have a top speed of about 85 mph on the road and a cruising speed of 100 kts (115 mph) in the air. It will be powered by a single Rotax 912 engine. An LSA pilot certificate will be required to fly the Transition, which will feature a safety cage and crumple zone designed to survive the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety off-set frontal impact crash test.
Two of the four main carbon fiber composite components of the proof-of-concept vehicle have been completed and have come out of the molds. One of these, the left half of the fuselage, includes the full passenger safety cage and crumple zone built directly into the skin of the vehicle; the carbon fiber box beams used are stronger by weight than traditional automotive steel safety structures.
The Transition is targeted at pilots who travel between 100 and 500 miles at a time. Changing from car to plane and back again is easy; the only thing the pilot must do is push a button. The wings fold via hinges at two points for each wing and are driven by a linear electric actuator at the root of each wing. A clutch transfers engine power from the wheels to the propeller, which is locked in place when the vehicle is in ground-transportation mode.
Terrafugia is loosely translated as “Escape the Earth.”
Another flying car?
Terrafugia isn’t the only company working on a flying car.
Entrepreneurs have been trying to develop and mass market flying cars since the early 1900s, but to date, haven’t been very successful. For instance:
Moller Enterprises has developed the M400 Moller Skycar, but so far has only done teethered test flights. Macro Industries of Huntsville, Alabama is developing the Skyrider X2-R and is seeking investors to help fund its research. Moulton Taylor created the Aerocar in 1949 and while it worked, it was difficult to convert between airplane and automobile and it never took off (pun intended). New versions of the Aerocar also look stalled — its Web site hasn’t been updated since 2002.
The Milner Flying Car is the newest to enter the race. It was scheduled to debut alongside Milner’s electric car at the New York International Auto Show March 21-30.
The AirCar is a four-seat advanced-composite structure that features a foldable main wing in the rear of the vehicle and a canard, or smaller wing, in the front. The initial prototype is non-flying, but can be driven. It is expected to retail for $450,000.
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The Transition can take the form of a car or a plane.
Photo credit: Terrafugia.
The Terrafugia team poses at EAA AirVenture 2007.
Photo credit: Terrafugia.
The Milner Flying Car will debut in March, but so far the prototype can only be driven. Photo credit: Milner Motors
The Moller Skycar has completed tethered test flights.
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