[News] Flying Car Takes Wing: Invention Makes Its First Test Flights

[Moontanman]

Flying Car Takes Wing: Invention Makes Its First Test Flights

 

ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2009) — A prototype of what is being touted as the world's first practical flying car took to the air for the first time this month, a milestone in a project started four years ago by students in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

 

Flying Car Takes Wing: Invention Makes Its First Test Flights

[freeztar]

That's the coolest thing I've seen in a while! ::hyper:

[CraigD]

Cool as it is, touting the Terrafugia Transition roadable airplane as “the world's first practical flying car” shows, IMHO, a bit of hype and obliviousness of history. :naughty:

 

The 1949 Taylor Aerocar has characteristics and performance similar to the Transition, including switching power from a single engine between a pusher prop and the front wheels. The Aerocar required “five minutes by one person” (a figure that must be taken as possibly a bit of 1950s sales hype) to fold and unfold its wings other parts, which unlike the Transition, were towed behind the car along with its tail and prop as a self-formed trailer (here are a couple of good pictures of an Aerocar in road and flight configuration :hyper:)

 

According to the linked article, with the Transition “The pilot can switch from one mode to the other from the driver's seat, simultaneously folding up the wings and shifting the engine power from the rear-mounted propeller to the front wheels in about 30 seconds” (though I personally think anyone that flys an airplane without at least a few minutes’ walkaround inspection dangerously foolish, an opinion shared by the FAA).

 

The main advantage the Transition has over the Aerocar is that its folded wings remain attached, not on a trailer, a big advantage when parking. It also lists a top road speed of 80 MPH vs. the Aerocar’s 60, though that difference may be more attributable to changes in driving and road practices and conditions in the past 60 years, rather than actual engineering. Flight performance of both aircraft appear similar, range/speed of 350 miles/135 MPH max for the last Aerocar prototype vs. 400/115 cruise for the Transition.

 

:( I suspect the Transition may have the same problem as the Aerocar, which enough customers willing to buy it to make production and ongoing support and maintenance practical. The Aerocar worked (or, I should say, works, as I believe one Aerocar, N102D, remains airworthy, having flown at least as recently as 2008) well enough, but was unable to attract enough prospective buyers to interest a manufacturer in producing them in large numbers. The Transition may have to contend with an issue less common in the 1950s: legal liability. If, as is quite possible with light vehicle traveling over 100 MPH, purchasers of the Transition die in them, its makers may be at great legal liability. If I had the chance to ask one question of the folk at Terafugia, it wouldn’t be about their engineering, but about their liability insurance plans!

 

Both the Aerocar and the Transition have the same great advantage over arguably the most famous flying car, the Moller Skycar – they’ve both actually flown. The Skycar, despite considerable hype and VTOL ability, has managed only to hover with tethers attached for safety. The latest major news from Moller didn’t involve any engineering, but rather legal troubles with the SEC over suckering investors out of their money with exaggerated claims!

[freeztar]

Cool as it is, touting the Terrafugia Transition roadable airplane as “the world's first practical flying car” shows, IMHO, a bit of hype and obliviousness of history. :)

 

Well, in fairness, they did use the qualifier "practical". :hihi:

 

According to the linked article, with the Transition “The pilot can switch from one mode to the other from the driver's seat, simultaneously folding up the wings and shifting the engine power from the rear-mounted propeller to the front wheels in about 30 seconds” (though I personally think anyone that flys an airplane without at least a few minutes’ walkaround inspection dangerously foolish, an opinion shared by the FAA).

 

The article only mentions "quick-morphing" from plane to auto. I agree with you if it works the other way as well.

 

Good info all around Craig. I had no idea about those other models.