Terrafugia flying car cleared for take-off
It’s not quite George Jetson’s flying car, but a new roadworthy vehicle capable of deploying wings and taking off down the airport runway will bring to mind the familiar cartoon jingle.
Meet the ‘Transition,’ a new light sport aircraft developed by MIT aeronautical engineers at US based Terrafugia.
The Transition was intended to be designed as a ‘light sport’ aircraft, the smallest kind of private aeroplane under FAA classification, which means it cannot exceed a maximum weight of 1,320lb (about 600kg).
Gersh noted the car might also be popular with those who have always longed to fly. A light sport aircraft licence requires only 20 hours’ flying time, which is much less than what is required to fly larger aeroplanes.
The obvious ‘wow factor’ of a flying car, he said, will also mean consumers who would buy high-end aeroplanes and cars might be clamouring to get behind the wheel of a Transition. Gersh confirmed the company has already taken 70 orders for the car.
While the Transition is being readied to meet American vehicle and aircraft standards, a spokesman from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority said such a flying car could be approved for use in the UK if it met the EU requirement for aircraft design set by the European Aviation Safety Agency based in Cologne.
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