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Terrafugia Transition flying car passes FAA regulations

By Brett Davis |

America’s Federal Aviation Administration has certified the Terrafugia Transition flying car as a Light Sports Aircraft. Even though the car/plane exceeded the category weight limit by 50kg, Terrafugia argued that the plane has had to pass road and traffic regulations as well, while other Light Sports Aircraft do not have to account for such extra burdens.

The FAA is the regulatory aviation body in America, so this is like passing rego. It also means anyone with a basic Sport Pilot license can fly it. Apparently the license costs a lot less and takes less time and effort to receive than a full pilot’s license.

Turning the flying car dream into realisation was a small team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates who formed the company, Terrafugia. And while the flying car may still seem a dream for most of us, CEO, Carl Dietrich, insists the Transition will be available on the market next year.

The Transition needs just 520m to take off over an obstacle of 15m in height and can cruise at around 200km/h. It’ll also fly for a distance of about 700km before needing a refuel. The Transition only uses an average fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km on the road too, not bad for a car that absolutely flies!

Cost? Anticipated USD$194,000. Options? A complete vehicle parachute.


 
  • Shak

    1st Question: How much space do you need to take off and land?
    2nd Question: How fast do you have to be to get airborne.
    3rd Question: What altitude can you legally fly at, and are you classed as an Aircraft.

    • Andronicus

      4th Question: Do you think I could park this at my local Westfield?

  • TK

    Very interesting. Just wondering how long will the tyres last with the landing impact every time?

  • svd

    I can see it now – A letter from the Office of State Revenue containing a speeding ticket when I tried to take off.

  • TomJ

    How can it drive with the wings like that? Wouldn’t they hit all the other cars on the road.

    • RK

      They fold up when it’s on the road, unfold to go into plane mode. It’s ingenious. If I win the lottery I want one!

  • Aim

    The wings bend with hinges,
    The problem is not the take-off distance,
    The problem is that people will overload it, just like a car and the centre of gravity will be off… and lets not for get you will have to have atleast a ppl (private pilot’s liscence to fly it) and airport landing fees….

    Its a good concept, but it is like a spork… a bit of both but not great at a specific function!

  • vti07

    Think of the insurance costs…

  • James

    Another question… Are you allowed to take off from a deserted street or highway???

    • RK

      No, you couldn’t possibly guarantee that a 500m stretch of road will remain deserted long enough to do a full take-off. Not to mention needing to file a flight plan and stuff under Australian airspace regulations, which include taking off and landing at designated airstrips.

      The best you could do would be if you had a long private road on your own property (which you conceivably could have if you were rich enough to own one of these) and get it designated as a private airstrip.

  • Nick

    Good if your evading the police

  • greenroom

    looks like it was designed by Subaru.. butt ugly but efficient..

  • vti07

    Whats with the mismatched wheel covers?

  • Flying High

    I will be signing up! 200km/h (110 knots) flying speed is fantastic for what it is. And no more hangar fees as you drive it home is a bonus. This is a plane you can legally drive home after a day out at the airfield. What’s not too like?

  • Flying High

    Additionally, landing at Australia’s many remote airfields need never be a problem again as you can drive straight into town, get fuel, a feed and comfortable lodgings without any inconvenience. Normally speaking you will be relying on the good will of locals to get you anywhere in some places.

    Unless you are a sport pilot, you may not appreciate how fantastic an invention this thing is.

  • Banga

    Drug runners between mexico and usa border will probably be the first to put a deposit on this flying car.

  • el buitre

    you cannot drive by a border town in this abortion and not attract the law’s eye.I didn’t trust the solid wings on my Cessna.at one time Pipers were losing wings.I would never leave ground on the hinged screendoors of this platypus duckbill.