World's first 'sky-worthy' car

[Eli13]

NY Auto Show: World's first 'sky-worthy' car

It is the first vehicle in the world to have met both the standards of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), according to Cliff Allen, Vice President of Sales at Terrafugia.

This makes it the first "street legal aeroplane", he said.

Known as the Transition, the versatile vehicle has two seats, four wheels and retractable wings.

It is expected to be available next year, with a price tag in the region of $279,000 (£176,300).

The vehicle has retractable wings allowing it to fit in a suburban garage.

Thought this was rather interesting, even if it so darn slow. Its maximum speed is about 100 knots (185 km/h), cruises at 93 (172 km/h) and drives on the highway at about 65 mph, or (105 km/h).

At least it gets good gas mileage - 35 mpg (6.7L/100km). Not to mention a flying range of 425 Nautical Miles (787 km).

Sources:
http://www.terrafugia.com/TransitionSpecs.pdf
(In case you cannot view the PDF, I screencapped them, just in case. You can view them here:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h381/Eli1296/viewer.png
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h381/Eli1296/viewer1.png)

Cheers all,
-Eli

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Well, it falls into the Light Sport Aircraft category, which is much easier to get approved for flight. That's the reason for the low peformance.

 

[Ark]

35 mpg...in flight? :lol:

 

[ky]

Better mileage than my moms car :lol:

 

[Tommy]

28 mpg in flight. But since you don't have to follow roads, you can go "as the crow flies", I'd say that's good enough. Better than my car, anyway.

 

[jedidia]

I wonder how long it will take until the first joker lifts of from the highway... :lol:

 

[boogabooga]

World's first? What do you mean? Just the first to be rated?

The concept has been around for a long time. I think they have one at the Smithsonian. The Taylor Aerocar dating from something like the 60s is in a book I have called "World's Worst Aircraft"

In general these things are gimmicky and don't really do so well because they're not great cars nor are they great airplanes. It's a combo no one really needs.

Plus as a car you have the hassle of having to carry around all the extra flight goodies, and on top of that suddenly you're betting your life that all the little scraps and bangs that a car takes in everyday highway driving isn't going to affect the flight worthiness.

 

[Hielor]

For $176k you could get a pretty darned awesome new car and a pretty darned awesome used plane.

Or if you want to stick to only new, you could get an Icon A5 ($140) and have $36k left over for a darn good new car.

It's a gimmick.

 

[yagni01]

For $176k you could get a pretty darned awesome new car and a pretty darned awesome used plane.

Or if you want to stick to only new, you could get an Icon A5 ($140) and have $36k left over for a darn good new car.

It's a gimmick.

It's actually 279K USD and 176K Euro. Even more awesome alternatives

 

[T.Neo]

Wasn't the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerocar"]Aerocar[/ame] the first "sky-worthy" car?

 

[Hielor]

It's actually 279K USD and 176K Euro. Even more awesome alternatives

Even better, then. An Icon A5 and one of the "low end" Ferraris or Lamborghinis, and you'll have significantly more fun all around.

Or, if you go used, $279K USD would get you an L-39 in flying condition and you'd still have enough left over for a couple dozen hours of fuel and a decent car.

Personally? I'll take the fighter jet.

Wasn't the Aerocar the first "sky-worthy" car?

Technically speaking, the Aerocar wasn't certified by the FAA, since the FAA didn't exist yet...so if their metric is "the first vehicle certified by both the FAA and the NHTSA" then yes the Terrafugia wins.


It's also ugly. If we're looking at "roadable airplanes" I think I'll take the PAL-V:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/pal-v-dutch-flying-car-successful-maiden-flight/

Okay, technically it's a gyrocopter.

Still. Way cooler than the Terrafuglia.

 

[Quick_Nick]

http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/hover-bike