Flying car passes its test flight program

Computerworld - A Massachusetts company today announced that its flying
car has has successfully completed its initial flight testing program.

Woburn, Mass.-based Terrafugia Inc., founded four years ago by MIT
graduates, reported today that a proof of concept version of its
Transition "roadable" aircraft has completed the first of a four-stage
process aimed at getting the flying car into production. With the flight
testing of the proof of concept vehicle successfully wrapped up, the
company has launched Stage 2, which is to build a beta prototype.

The Transition vehicle took its first flight on March 5, following six
months of road testing. The vehicle has completed 27 other test flights
since then, the company said.

"To actually have it fly is a dream come true," said Richard Gersh, a
vice president at Terrafugia, in an earlier interview. "I'm not sure
it's up there with the Wright brothers but it's awfully close."

The initial tests focused on driving, flying and the automated
transformation between the two. Terrafugia noted that the tests have
identified changes that need to be made, but did not specify what the
problems are or what the changes will be.

The two-seater vehicle fits into the light sport aircraft category and
is expected to be priced at about $148,000. People will need a sport
pilot certificate to fly the Transition, which is designed to take off
and land at small, local airports and drive on any road. The vehicle,
which runs on unleaded gasoline, can travel up to 450 miles and can fly
at 115 mph. It's also designed to fit into a typical household garage.

Gersh has said he hopes the first flying car will be in a customer's
hands by next year.



http://www.terrafugia.com/index.html

On Jun 4, 7:26*am, Charles Vincent wrote:

. Terrafugia noted that the tests have
identified changes that need to be made, but did not specify what the
problems are or what the changes will be.

CG problems? All the photos seem to show the elevator and canard
"flap" near max deflection.
==================
Leon McAtee

On Jun 4, 9:06*am, wrote:
On Jun 4, 7:26*am, Charles Vincent wrote:

. Terrafugia noted that the tests have
identified changes that need to be made, but did not specify what the
problems are or what the changes will be.

CG problems? *All the photos seem to show the elevator and canard
"flap" near max deflection.
==================
Leon McAtee

I wonder how they plan to build it to pass the safety and ecological
requirements the government reuires to be licensed for the road.
Crushability alone seems to rule out anything that could also fly.

Harry K

On Jun 5, 7:19*am, harry k wrote:

I wonder how they plan to build it to pass the safety and ecological
requirements the government reuires to be licensed for the road.
Crushability alone seems to rule out anything that could also fly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Perhaps they are planning to license it only as an airplane, with any
roadway usage 'incidental to its primary purpose' and therefore no
license required as a car, thus none of the motor vehicle
requirements. If that sounds like BS, check your State's licensing
requirement for farm tractors and the like. (Plus lots of interesting
case-law with regard to seasonal roadway usage of combine thrashers,
cotton pickers, etc. [That is, they use trains or trucks to transport
them from north to south at the end of the growing season {wheat &
corn make the best examples} but travel south-to-north under their own
power, traveling only short distances, usually at night] .)

-R.S.Hoover

On Jun 7, 9:34*pm, Veeduber wrote:
On Jun 5, 7:19*am, harry k wrote:

I wonder how they plan to build it to pass the safety and ecological
requirements the government reuires to be licensed for the road.
Crushability alone seems to rule out anything that could also fly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------*-----

Perhaps they are planning to license it only as an airplane, with any
roadway usage 'incidental to its primary purpose' and therefore no
license required as a car, thus none of the motor vehicle
requirements. *If that sounds like BS, check your State's licensing
requirement for farm tractors and the like. *(Plus lots of interesting
case-law with regard to seasonal roadway usage of combine thrashers,
cotton pickers, etc. [That is, they use trains or trucks to transport
them from north to south at the end of the growing season {wheat &
corn make the best examples} but travel south-to-north under their own
power, traveling only short distances, usually at night] .)

-R.S.Hoover

Yeah, I suppose there is no regulation that doesn't have loopholes. I
don't see a state making one for a vehicle that can only be used to
transport people though. All the others have a primary purpose with
the 'road use' both needed and rare (for hours of use).

Harry K