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The dream of a flying car has just come closer to reality, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted approval for a hybrid surface-to-air vehicle capable of flying at speeds of 100 mph.
The Terrafugia Transition received a Special Light-Sport Aircraft certificate of airworthiness from the agency, giving it the green light for take-off.
A flight-only version of the contraption is now available to pilots and flight schools, although it will be a year or so before his car’s components are ‘road legal’ – he has yet to respond. road safety standards.
Ultimately, drivers will be able to go from flying to driving in less than a minute, taking off and landing at small airports or on the highway.
Terrafugia is hopeful that production and approvals for the two-seater hybrid will be complete by 2022, but those who wish to try it will need both a driver’s license and a sports pilot’s certificate.
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The FAA has given its approval to Terrafugia’s Transition, a “flying car” that can fly at speeds of 100 mph and at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Flight-only models are now available, with a full air-to-land version expected in 2022
Chinese company Terrafugia has been overly optimistic about delivering a “ road plane, ” a small plane with retractable wings that can both drive the roads and take to the skies.
He first promised that the transition would be for sale in 2015, then in 2018 and 2019.
But Terrafugia CEO Kevin Colburn praised his team’s efforts during “an extremely difficult pandemic year.”
“Our team remained focused, improved our quality system, completed critical aspects of the design, built the vehicle, performed 80 days of flight tests, delivered 150 technical documents and passed the audit. of the FAA, ”Colburn said.
The Transition has a 27-foot-wide wingspan, but its wings fold up for easy history in a one-car garage. Terrafugia envisions owners landing at a small airport or stretch of motorway and then driving home
“This is a major achievement that provides momentum in the execution of our mission to deliver the world’s first practical flying car.
WHAT IS THE TERRAFUGAL TRANSITION?
The Terrafugia transition was recently granted a special certificate of airworthiness for light sport aircraft from the FAA.
The aircraft, which weighs around 1,300 pounds, has fixed landing gear and folding wings.
It can reach speeds of 100 mph and an altitude of around 10,000 feet.
Owners will need a driver’s license and a sports pilot’s certificate.
Powered by a 100 horsepower Rotax 912iS Sport injection engine, the Transition has a top flight speed of 100 mph and a range of approximately 400 miles, with an altitude of 10,000 feet.
The airplane engine can run on premium gasoline or 100LL airplane fuel, while the car is powered by electric hybrid engine.
Standard features include hydraulic four-wheel disc brakes, a rigid carbon fiber roll cage, and airframe parachute.
The vehicle weighs approximately 1,300 pounds and has a fixed landing gear and a wingspan of 27 feet wide.
The fenders fold up for easy storage in a one-car garage.
Terrafugia envisions owners landing their transition at a small airport or stretch of highway and then driving it home.
This differs from the prototype flying cars developed by Uber, Kitty Hawk, BMW, and others, which involve the vehicles occupying commercial airspace.
The vehicle goes from stealing to driving in less than a minute, according to Terrafugia.
In 2018, the two-seater transition was priced at $ 400,000, NBC News reported.
Terrafugia is developing several models of flying cars, including the TF-X for four people, a four-seat electric hybrid with vertical take-off and landing capabilities.
The TF-X is expected to be semi-autonomous, with computer controls that will allow passengers to simply type in their destination.
It will be able to automatically avoid air traffic, inclement weather and restricted airspace.
Terrafugia was acquired by Chinese company Geely, Volvo’s parent company, in 2017.
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