The Terrafugia Transition - a flying car in every garage?

Is the Terrafugia Transition a flying car … or a driveable airplane? Actually, it's the world's first "roadable aircraft" according to Terrafugia, the aviation-slash-automotive company making the contraption. Whether the Transition flies in the air or down the highway became a stronger possibility, the company announced Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration classified the Terrafugia Transition as a "light sport aircraft" with a special exemption. This classification makes it easier for Transition owners to get certified by the FAA to live their dreams behind the wheel of a flying car.

Source for this article: The Terrafugia Transition – a flying car that fits in your garage by Personal Money Store

A flying car sized for your garage

The Terrafugia Transition fits in a garage and blends into traffic—as a car. According to CNET's Johnathon E. Skillings, the Terrafugia Transition looks like a "Volkswagen in the belly of a carp". He reports that the vehicle burns unleaded fuel from the corner gas station on the road and in the air. It gets 30 miles to the gallon on the highway and has a top speed of 65 mph. It has a 450 mile range in flight cruising at 115 mph. According to Terrafugia, the plane can be transitioned from aircraft into road going vehicle in just 30 seconds.

The rules for light sport aircraft

The Terrafugia Transition has been designated as a light sport aircraft, the smallest private plane classified by the FAA. The maximum weight is normally 1,320 pounds. But Terrafugia couldn't work in the air bags, crumple zones and roll cage mandatory for cars at that weight. Terrafugia wanted the FCC to classify the plane as a light sport aircraft, Jalopnik reports, because owners will only need 20 hours flying the Transition to be licensed by the FAA. The FAA granted an exemption for the extra 110 pounds, and Terrafugia can now sell the Transition as long as it informs buyers about the weight difference.

Transition flies, will Terrafugia?

Terrafugia says one of the major advantages of the Transition over ordinary light aircraft is safety. If the weather is too severe for safe fight, The Telegraph reports, pilots can simply fold their wings and drive home. But don't expect to see the Terrafugia Transition in your rear view mirror for awhile. The Transition that performed for FAA inspectors is a one-off prototype. A production model for customers isn't expected from Terrafugia until 2011. But that hasn't stopped 70 potential customers from reserving their space in line when that happens. A $ 10,000 refundable deposit from each potential customer is being held in escrow for now, in the event that Terrafugia goes into a tailspin before the Transition can soar.

More information available at these websites:

cnet.com

jalopnik.com

telegraph.co.uk