 Is it a Flying Car or a Drivable Plane ? YES !! The "Transition" is Terrafugia's design to compete in the newly revamped Light Sport Aircraft Category and it has just recently completed it's Proof of Concept Flight. The new FAA regulations for Sport Pilot's has not only created more pilots but also a new category of aircraft for the manufacturers to fill. Massachusetts based, Terrafugia was founded in 2006 by a group of award-winning MIT-trained aeronautical engineers – who also happen to be passionate private pilots. The company’s mission is to provide innovative solutions to the challenges facing personal aviation.
This is not the Jetson's but it is truly a dual purpose vehicle. With the ability to drive to your local airport, deploy the wings, taxi out on the runway and take off, fly to your destination, land, fold the wings back up, and drive away. The automated electromechanical folding wings are controlled from inside the cockpit. Could it be any easier ? All Private pilots want to be able to fly themselves on vacation. Low and behold, it's the morning of the trip and a thunderstorm is moving it's way in. With the Transition, no problem, drive the first 50 miles through the rain then when the weather clears pull into the nearest airport and takeoff ! The cargo area is even big enough for skis or golf clubs. As an aircraft, it cruises at 100kts, rotates at 70kts, and stalls at 45kts. It has a wingspan of 27'6" and a 400 nm range at a miserly 5 gph. With a useful load of 430 lbs. you're not going to cram LeRoy and Bubba in there with 4 cases of beer to go hunting in Montana, but for two average size adults and a moderate amount of luggage is it quite reasonable. The entry and exit is just like getting in your car. The engine is a 100 hp Rotax 912S, and the cockpit is all modern glass avionics. There's even an optional vehicle parachute.
As a car, it is front wheel drive, and gets 30 mpg at 65 mph. In this configuration it is 6'9" tall, 6'8" wide, and 18'9" long. For a cool $194,000, it's a steal . This is the future of Personal Aviation. For more info go to: Terrafugia
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Today in Aviation History :
July 30, 1935... Lieutenant Frank Akers of the U.S. Navy becomes the first person to make a "blind" landing at sea. His biplane has a hooded cockpit allowing him to see only his controls and instruments. He lands on the USS Langley.
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Free paper planes for the kids
www.funpaperairplanes.com www.paperairplanes.co.uk/ www.bestpaperairplanes.com/
www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/
www.10paperairplanes.com/
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Aviation Weather Links
www.nws.noaa.gov/
www.noaa.gov/wx.html
http://maps.avnwx.com/
www.usairnet.com/weather/
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