Flying car to make its public debut at New York auto show

The flying car, developed by Massachusettes-based company Terrafugia, will make its first public appearance at the New York International Auto show here in April.

The car, technically called the ‘Transition Roadable Aircraft’, has foldable wings, which tuck in when it is on the road. It converts into a flying machine within 30 seconds. With a full tank, the car can fly for 460 miles at the speed of 110 miles per hour. Terrafugia has said it expects the Transition to be ready for sale by the end of the year.

It is expected to sell for USD 279,000 and about 100 of the aircraft/car have already been booked.

Terrafugia COO Anna Mracek Dietrich said the company selected the New York auto show for the car’s public debut since it is a “venue from which we can show the first practical street-legal airplane to the world while meeting the people who will be part of its commercial success in the years to come. New York is the perfect place to accomplish all of this.”

The 2012 New York International Auto Show will be held from April 6 through the 15th.

The company will present the car’s latest production prototype as well as share details of the future plans for the flying car. The public will get up-close and personal with the vehicle, witness wing-folding demonstrations and meet some of the staff behind the design. Terrafugia, an aerospace company, was founded by pilots and engineers from the Massachusettes Institute of Technology.

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courtesy : TOI

According to Transition Official Website:

Every pilot faces uncertain weather, rising costs, and ground transportation hassles on each end of the flight. The Transition® combines the unique convenience of being able to fold its wings with the ability to drive on any surface road in a modern personal airplane platform. Stowing the wings for road use and deploying them for flight at the airport is activated from inside the cockpit. This unique functionality addresses head-on the issues faced by today’s Private and Sport Pilots.

Terrafugia’s award-winning MIT-trained engineers have been advancing the state-of-the-art in personal aircraft since 2006. Now you can streamline your flying experience with the revolutionary integration of personal land and air travel made possible by the Transition® Roadable Aircraft.

Performance

 

Max, Vh: Cruise, Vc: Stall, Vs: Range: Takeoff:	100 kts (115 mph, 185 km/h) 93 kts (105 mph, 172 km/h) 45 kts (51 mph, 83 km/h) 425 nmi (490 mi, 787 km) 1700′ (518 m) over 50′ obstacle
Gross Takeoff Weight: Empty Weight: Useful Load:	1430 lbs (650 kg) 970 lbs (440 kg) 460 lbs (210 kg)
Fuel burn at cruise: Useable Fuel: Mileage on road:	5 gph (18.9 L/h) 23 gal (87L) 35 mpg (14.9 km/L)
Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)

Convenience

Rear wheel drive on the ground
Automotive-style entry and exit
Two place, side by side
Automated electromechanical folding wing
No trailer or hangar needed
Cargo area holds golf clubs

Safety

Drive in case of inclement weather
Proven 100 hp Rotax 912ULS engine
Full vehicle parachute available
Modern glass avionics
Automotive crash safety features

Dimensions

Driving: 80” (2m) tall 90” (2.3m) wide 18’ 9” (6m) long

Flying: 78″ (2m) tall 26′ 6″ (8m) wingspan 19′ 9″ (6m) long

Cockpit: 48” at the shoulder Carry-on luggage Golf clubs Two place, side-by-side

Training
Become a Sport Pilot in as little as 20 hours of flight time in a Transition®-specific course. For existing pilots, get comfortable quickly with the familiarization training included with every Transition® delivery.

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