Terrafugia's flying car Transitions into a safer, better, tamer-looking personal transporter
By Vlad Savov 
posted July 27th 2010 5:54AM
posted July 27th 2010 5:54AM
"Flying Car" Moves Closer to First Delivery
Design of Next Generation Transition® Unveiled
Oshkosh,WI – July 26, 2010: At a press conference today at AirVenture, Terrafugia, Inc., developer of the Transition® Roadable Aircraft, or "Flying Car", released specifications and computer graphics of the exciting new Transition®. Terrafugia chose AirVenture, the center of the aviation universe, to unveil a scale model of the next generation design, currently under construction at Terrafugia's facility inWoburn, MA, to both the aviation press and aircraft enthusiasts alike. Deliveries of the Transition® are scheduled to begin in late 2011.
The improvements to the design are based on data acquired during drive and flight testing of the Proof of Concept (POC) Transition®, successfully completed in 2009, and extensive computer-aided design and optimization. The recent grant of 110 pounds (50 kg) by the FAA for the Transition® within the Light Sport Aircraft category also allows the next generation design to incorporate modern automotive-style safety features currently unavailable in other light aircraft. Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with Fluent®, finite element analysis (FEA) with CATIA® V5 and simulated dynamic crash testing - complete with airbag deployment and digital crash test dummies - have all been used to optimize the design and build confidence that the vehicle will meet the stringent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Terrafugia's Transition® is the only light sport aircraft to simulate crash testing in this manner. When combined with a full-vehicle ballistic parachute system and the ability to drive in bad weather, the Terrafugia team expects the Transition® will prove itself to be one of the safest LSAs in the world.
Some features of note in the next generation design include:
Automotive-style crash safety features including an energy absorbing crush structure in the nose of the vehicle and a rigid safety cage to protect the occupants.
A customized, intuitive touch-screen interface in the cockpit.
An improved wing with an optimized airfoil and a folding mechanism that operates smoothly & safely from inside the cockpit.
A pusher propeller with an open empennage that makes efficient use of the 100 hp Rotax 912S mid-mounted engine in flight and is locked in place when driving.
Rear-wheel drive with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and tuned independent suspension for responsive road handling.
Terrafugia (terra-FOO-gee-ah), based inWoburn, MA, is comprised of a team of award-winning engineers who have been advancing the state of personal aircraft since 2006. Founded by five pilots who are graduates of MIT and supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors, Terrafugia's mission is the innovative expansion of personal mobility. "Terrafugia" is Latin for "escape from land."
For more information, high resolution images, or to schedule an interview, contact Richard Gersh at Terrafugia: +1-781-491-0812, visit http://www.terrafugia.com, or e-mail: press@terrafugia.com
Updated specifications can be found online at http://www.terrafugia.com/aircraft.html
Decepticons, prepare to face your fear! Cuz Prime got a new ally.
@cdf74dc9
It's called Humiliation.
@cdf74dc9 I though the Delorian was gonna be released this year.
@Andrew5000
roflcopter comes to mind...
@cdf74dc9
This video is sad. c'mon guys you make FREAKING airplanes... make it sexy.
http://www.iconaircraft.com/
And if you don't want people to overtake you on the highway, just extend those wings!
@TheSpoonyBard
I can imagine your buddy riding with you in the air. "What does this button do?" as he presses it and collapses the wings in mid-air.
@Cwilkers
Holy blindspots batman!
Apparently the folded wings won't block your side view?
YES! Now The Cops Will Never Catch Me In The Air!!!
Ohhhhh imagine going over speed bumps in that thing. Dang!!!!!
So this thing can really fly? Wow make it look a tad bit better and I think you've got something here.
I just want a chopper.
This would not become too popular. You would need tp learn how to fly, learn about air traffic, and its probably really expensive. I mean expensive as in 99% of the country doesn't make the cost of this thing in 3 years
@JaZzo I don't think I would trust anyone with any aircraft right now! I can picture upcoming laws for this vehicle.....
@JaZzo It's designed more for pilots than anyone else.
sry, if this is offtopic.
but I just checked the apple store and its down.
since when is it?
@iHack13
google to find out?..
@mayhem121
uh.. I'm checking engadget and macrumors and you still tell me that.. uh whatever.
engadget finally posted. so, done.
@iHack13
moron
Unfortunately there is nothing practical about this
@T0astedP0Ptart
actually......in developing countries.........or countries such as australia, i think it would well be useful, if the gave it a 4 wheel drive capability? lol
@stoney1973, sorry but have you actually been to Australia? We have both roads and airports with a copious number of planes so thanks but no thanks. If you didn't die of shame for buying one of these POS, you'd certainly get beaten to death with a rubber hose for owning one of these.
Awww its looks so cute, i cant wait to see the death toll these cause.
@boost No worries. Nobody is going to buy this POS
They did something similar in 1949 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerocar , although this still looks interesting
Autopilot, please! I don't wanna have to keep my hands on the wheel.
This beats a radar detector any day of the week.
1) see red/blue flashing lights
2) extend wings
3) pull up
4) .....
5) PROFIT!
@pple is poo Idiot
@Ducman69 Hey, dumbass.....you think it is not EASIER to track someone in the air? They gotta come down sometime, now don't they?
@Ducman69 Yeah, that's all well and good but one thing you can count on with US authorities and their "can do" attitude, is that if there is something in the air that they want on the ground, they have some impressive ways of making it happen. Can you imagine the F-15s drawing up along side as you hoist this bad boy up over an upcoming Washington traffic jam? "Pull over driver..."
Yeah! TerraFUGLYa FTW!
@subcode actually looks like a beautiful design to me. Pusher prop, twin booms. That would be a wing in a light sport aircraft. Sort of a modernized BD-5 crossed with a P-38.
How can you call that FUGLY?
So what. Who is going to buy this stupid thing.
The very first time some imbecile tries to take off on a highway this thing is going to be banned from every state roadway in America anyway. They won't sell 10 of these things.
@cpd5c45
Actually most interstate highways were designed to be emergency landing strips for airplanes as well. I don't see why they can't take off from them too. Since the vehicle has license plates, FAA numbers and supposedly an FAA transmitter, it would be more then easy enough to track the vehicle if it is breaking the law and issue citations accordingly.
@rjbass3 True, but there'd be no end of safety risks trying to take off or land from an interstate or other highway that's in use. People have enough trouble looking out for other vehicles as it is, there'd be no way they'd see this thing landing/taking off and accidents would ensue.
@cpd5c45 They could always use the GPS to prevent taking off from somewhere that isn't an airport (just stop the wings from deploying). Or, for the rural operators that want to take off and land on private runways or seldom used roads, just stop the wings from deploying on major highways and/or in a city.
@rjbass3 Where is God's name did you make that crap up from? Deigned as emergency landing strips? For what type of aircraft? Puddle jumpers? Are you on drugs?
@ihtanni Those pesky power lines are also an issue, huh? How many people actually LOOK around on the typical interstate at the myriad of obstacles that would prevent a safe takeoff. What about a situation where there is a loss of power or the vehicle is overloaded (hot and high)?? You gonna land this thing back on a crowded highway where people are in vehicles that cannot even SEE an aircraft approaching from behind? Idiots.
People who think that this thing will EVER take off from a road know nothing about aviation. Nothing whatsoever.
@rjbass3
That is a common myth that interstates were designed to be used as makeshift runways.
The actual system is the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. The interstate was built not only for basic traffic use but also to deploy troops and military forces around the U.S.
WANT WANT WANT WANT!!!!!!!
Nice idea, but I can't see it selling more then a handful. Who wants to risk a $150,000 airplane on the interstate. A fender bender in that thing could be deadly and/or expensive.
Heavy crosswind and an 850 lb "automobile" with that big folded wing? Bad news. And think how much you are going to swerve when a semi truck rumbles by you at 90 mph... the gust of wind will probably send you off the road.
I guess the idea is that you drive it from the airport to your hotel and back... very carefully. So you don't have to mess with rental cars. But $48 a day for a rental car might be a cheaper way to fly...
I can only imagine the headaches at the FAA or like agencies and the DMV when/if these things become the norm.
@Jason B They won't. Nobody will buy this thing.
"It's ironic, then, that the latest development is being illustrated with a bunch of renders, but what they show is a significantly redesigned body, which now comes with"
That's not irony. :-s
It's a Driving Plane, not a Flying car, the dream is to be able to take off from a normal road, if you need to go to an Airport or a specific runway it won't help, anyone that can pay 150k for such thing can buy a cheap plane and rent a real car, It's a nice idea but don't call it a Flying car
I agree with Alv. It's not really a flying car. As far as a plane goes, I'm not sure who would even buy this. I guess if you don't want to spend money having your plane in some hangar?
Moller is probably the closest to having a flying car with its Skycar, but even that is more for flying than driving (and not both). I do like it far better than the Terrafugia as far as looks go too. He also made this his lifelong dream ... and he's getting closer and closer to making it a reality.
What I (and most people) consider a flying car to be is something that takes off vertically without wings or traditional jet engines. You know, BTTF2 or Fifth Element or BladeRunner type of cars.
OK, 1. If you have enough money to buy this, you have enough money to buy a car and a plane. 2. Let's say money wasn't an issue and everyone could afford one. Think about how many people you curse out on the road and imagine them all up in the air flying like they drive.
This is not my future.
nice. While no, it doesn't look like a lamborghini or anything, its the best look, and most practical "flying car" I've seen to date.
@murc
Click on Skycar:
http://www.moller.com/