LONDON: Your dream of a car that runs
on road but can fly you out of a traffic jam could soon come true as the US
aviation authority has given the green signal for the commercial production of
such a vehicle.
The "Terrafugia Transition" is a two-seater car that
can convert from road to air in just 30 seconds, without the driver leaving the
vehicle.
Developed by former Nasa engineers and built by a small
American company from Massachusetts, Terrafugia Inc, the vehicle can travel at
speeds of up to 145kmph in car mode with its wings folded.
The wings
then unfold for flight mode in which it can cruise at the speed of 185kmph for
up to 805km on a tank of unleaded gasoline, the Telegraph reported. With its
wings folded, it can be parked in an ordinary car garage.
The
company says tests have shown that the vehicle can drive, fly and switch from
being a plane to a car in just 30 seconds. The company claims the flying car has
been successfully test-flown many times. It will have front-wheel drive on the
road and a propeller for flight.
The US Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has granted the Transition an exemption-- allowing it to be
classified as a "light sport aircraft" despite being 54k over the limit.
The "roadable aircraft", which is powered by the same 100-bhp engine
whether it is on the ground or in the air, will require a "Sport Pilot license"
or higher to fly.
It can take off or land at any public use general
aviation airport with at least 2,500 feet of runway. According to its
manufacturer, one of the major advantages of the Transition over ordinary light
aircraft is safety, as in the event of inclement weather, it can simply drive
home instead of either being grounded or flying in unsafe conditions.
With a deposit money of $10,000, nearly 70 people have already
booked the car which is expected to cost $194,000, the company said. "Our
schedule calls for the first delivery to be made prior to the end of 2011. We
currently have in excess of 70 orders, which is about a two-year backlog,"
Richard Gersh, vice-president for Terrafugia, said. agencies
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