Flying Car A Reality
What's that? It is a plane, is it a car? Well, it's both. Remember those childhood dreams you had of flying in your car. Careering at speed down the road, and then suddenly a super-engine comes out the back, and you blast off into the skies, avoiding the traffic below.
Well, this vehicle comes quite close. Terrafugia, a small, privately-owned business, has developed a car, which, put simply, really can fly.
The car is able to travel 740km at a speed of 185kph whilst up in the air, about a fifth of what a normal plane can achieve. The wings are fold-out, so when you land at the airport, you can fold them up, and then drive out of the airport. Unfortunately, you won't be allowed to just take off randomly in the middle of a road, so taking off has to be kept to airports, for the moment at least.
And there will be no need to buy special gas; it will run on a single tank of regular unleaded gas and will be released in America next year.
When on the ground, the car uses front-wheeled drive, and has a roll-cage and airbags. It will not be very economic however, with a 30mpg rate, plenty of money will have to be spent on fuel. It can however, achieve highway speeds should you wish. You also do not need to leave the vehicle to unfold or fold the wings, as it can all be done within the cockpit, like a retractable roof on a super-car.
Overall, it may have its faults, it may be quite expensive to buy and run, and it could well cause some extra air traffic, but this is definitely the car of the future, now. The aircraft is much more convenient than having to go to the airport, checking in, waiting in the terminal and finally boarding the plane. With the Terrafugia, you can book your place early, and then arrive and go.
Flightglobal's business and general aviation editor Kate Sarsfield reports that Terrafugia has secured US approval to boost the maximum take-off weight of its Transition roadable light sport aircraft by 50kg (110lb) to 650kg, the same limit already allowed for LSA seaplanes.
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flight-international/2010/06/flying-ca...
i think we need this in qatar for sure...... the ramada signal going towards airport is always jammed....
Drat! Terragugia beat me to it.
I had been working on such a project for ages, but couln't get the takeoff right :O(
Yes crossing the crazy signal and the mall roundabout in evening timings..
do we really need this in Qatar?
May be appropriate for emergency services :)
FS - But I could see that you were really scared. Was I going too fast :)
ajju - Thanks buddy. I remember watching it on Discovery Science but didn't remember the probable launch dates.
I hope Mannai takes the agency and starts the booking before ramadan.
yea FU took me for drive/fly on that..:)
Fried Unicorn:
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/9349
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/flying-cars-by-2011/
As for me, i had seen it on discovery science show. Can you imagine, texting while flying, or using cell phones while flying..Do we still have to use indicators :)
Soniya - Ok...but I need a 9.5 Mts X 12.36 Mts landing space.
FU, i don't want to come at RAMADA PARKING..he hehee..u've to come at the place of my choice..
aha... FU.... post a snap here... now v r curious 2 c it!!!
That car is not applicable here in QATAR...it will caused a lot of problems at the airport!
Almost all landcruisers here are flying anyways...
Cool Saad - After that we can have bitter water.
Fu.... i'll come and see the real thing then.... :D
Grea stuff.. The British government is probably already working on a "air tax", "takeoff/landing tax", "wing folding tax" etc etc , but how the hell are they going to get those speed cameras up there ??
ajmani - Link to the source please...I'am curious.
Soniya - I really have one.
Saad - You think I'am kidding lol I'll show you guys this thursday if you like. Come to Ramada parking thursday evening.I'll show you the real deal.
Pretty old news, but got to know that commercial model might be out as early as 4Q 2011
ohhh ! i wish to have one flying car to avoid traffic congestion...
They developed a flying car as far back as 1946 but the project fell apart within a decade. What's new.
hahahahahhaha..... :)
I own one of these here.