Roadable Aircraft Completes Successful First Flight
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Full Article and photos found at aero-news.net at : http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?C...a477bf89a80&#d (<--click link)
VIDEO here: http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showt...9139#post69139 {<-- click link)
...Terrafugia is taking the wraps off details of the first flight of its 'Transition' Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. The Transition is a two-seat aircraft designed to take off and land at local airports and drive on any road. According to Terrafugia, transforming from plane to car takes the pilot less than 30 seconds.
The flight comes after six months of static, road and taxi testing. The Transition will cruise up to 450 mi at over 115 mph, can drive at highway speeds on the road, and fits in a standard household garage. The vehicle uses front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. Both modes are powered by unleaded gasoline from a regular gas station.
Unlike other historic attempts at developing a "flying car", the Transition's transformation from aircraft to car is fully automated and takes an estimated 15 seconds to fold the wings and reconfigure from an aircraft to a car. The company has a US patent pending on the folding wing technology, and from a business perspective, sees many of the technological achievements as alternative revenue sources to fund company growth and financial stability.
The flight comes after six months of static, road and taxi testing. The Transition will cruise up to 450 mi at over 115 mph, can drive at highway speeds on the road, and fits in a standard household garage. The vehicle uses front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. Both modes are powered by unleaded gasoline from a regular gas station.
Unlike other historic attempts at developing a "flying car", the Transition's transformation from aircraft to car is fully automated and takes an estimated 15 seconds to fold the wings and reconfigure from an aircraft to a car. The company has a US patent pending on the folding wing technology, and from a business perspective, sees many of the technological achievements as alternative revenue sources to fund company growth and financial stability.
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