The dream of a flying car has only come a step closer to reality, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a hybrid ground plane that can take off at 100 km / h.
The Terrafugia crossing received a special airworthiness certificate for light sport aircraft from the agency that gave the green light to take off.
A single-fly version of the craft is now available to pilots and flying schools, although it will take another year before the car components are ‘legal’, but it must still meet safety standards.
Eventually, drivers can switch from driving to driving in less than a minute and take off and land at small airports or the highway.
Terrafugia hopes that the production and approval of the two-seater hybrid will be completed by 2022, but those interested in taking it for a spin need a driver’s license and a sport flight certificate.
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The FAA has approved Terrafugia’s Transition, a ‘flying car’ that can fly at a speed of 100 km / h and an altitude of 10,000 feet. Flight-only models are now available, with a full air-land version expected in 2022
Terrafugia, which is Chinese-owned, was too optimistic about the delivery of an ‘airplane’, a small aircraft with retractable wings that can both travel on roads and move into the open air.
It was first promised that the transition would be on sale in 2015, then 2018 and then 2019.
But Terrafugia general manager Kevin Colburn praised the team’s efforts during “an extremely challenging pandemic year”.
“Our team remained focused, improved our quality system, completed the critical aspects of the design, built the vehicle, completed 80 days of flight testing, delivered 150 technical documents and passed the FAA audit,” Colburn said.
The Transition has a wingspan of 27 feet wide, but its wings fold up for an easy story in a garage. Terrafugia intends for owners to land at a small airport or a stretch of highway and then drive home with their vehicle
“This is an important achievement that is building momentum in carrying out our mission to deliver the world’s first practical flying car.”
WHAT IS THE TERRAFUGIA TRANSITION?
The Terrafugia crossing was recently granted a special airworthiness certificate for light sports aircraft from the FAA.
The aircraft, which weighs about 1300 pounds, has fixed landing gear and folding wings out.
It can reach speeds of 100 km / h and an altitude of about 10,000 feet.
Owners need a driver’s license and a sport fly certificate.
Powered by a 100-hp Rotax 912iS Sport-powered engine, the Transition has a maximum flight speed of 100 km / h and a range of about 400 miles, with an altitude of 10,000 feet.
The aircraft engine can run on premium gasoline or 100LL of jet fuel, while the engine is powered by a hybrid electric motor.
Standard features include four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, a sturdy carbon fiber safety cage and a parachute.
The vehicle weighs about 1,300 pounds and has fixed landing gear and a 27-foot wingspan.
The wings actually fold up so that they can be easily stored in a single garage.
Terrafugia envisages owners having to land their crossing at a small airport or highway and then drive home.
It differs from flying car prototypes developed by Uber, Kitty Hawk, BMW and others, in which vehicles occupy commercial airspace.
According to Terrafugia, the vehicle was driving within minutes of flying to driving.
The two-seater Transition was at $ 400,000 in 2018, reports NBC News.
Terrafugia is developing several models of flying cars, including the TF-X for four people, a hybrid electric seat with vertical takeoff and landing.
The TF-X plans to be semi-autonomous, with computer controls that allow passengers to simply enter their destination.
It can automatically avoid air traffic, bad weather and limited airspace.
Terrafugia was acquired in 2017 by the Chinese company Geely, the parent company of Volvo.