Terrafugia Transition ‘flying car’ gets go-ahead from US air authorities
June 29th, 2010 - 9:11 pm ICT by ANIWashington, June 29(ANI): The Terrafugia Transition, a light aircraft that can convert into a road-legal automobile, is to go into production after being given a special weight exemption by the US Federal Air Authority.
The car is expected to retail at 194,000 dollars.The aircraft was designed as a “light sport” aircraft, the smallest kind of private aeroplane under FAA classification, with a maximum weight of 1,320lb.
However, the manufacturers found it impossible to fit the safety features - airbags, crumple zones and roll cage, for instance - that are required for road vehicles into that weight.
Uniquely, however, the FAA has granted the Transition an exemption - allowing it to be classified as a light sport aircraft despite being 120lb over the limit, The Telegraph reports.
Light sport aircraft licences require just 20 hours’ flying time, making them much easier to obtain than full private licences.
The two-seater aircraft can use its front-wheel drive on roads at ordinary highway speeds, with wings folded, at a respectable 30 miles per gallon. (ANI)
- Flying car soon to become reality - Jul 01, 2010
- World's first flying car gets green signal to take-off (Lead, changing dateline) - Jul 01, 2010
- Flying Car Terrafugia Transition Gets FAA Nod - Jun 30, 2010
- FDA approves flying car - Jun 30, 2010
- World's first flying car may soar the skies by 2011 - Nov 14, 2009
- Britons may soon fly cars! - Jul 19, 2011
- World's first flying car takes test flights - Mar 25, 2009
- Flying Maruti car at AeroIndia this year - Feb 01, 2011
- Flying car takes off successfully - Mar 19, 2009
- Gordon Murray Designed Car Clears Crash Impact Test - Jan 20, 2011
- US firm to develop flying cars for military - Dec 01, 2010
- Two die in mid-air crash in Britain - Sep 05, 2010
- U.S. FAA launches website for pilots and public about laser incidents - Oct 28, 2011
- American Eagle Airlines fined $155,000 for safety violations - Aug 10, 2011
- Boeing to deliver 100 aircraft to India in five years - Mar 14, 2012
Tags: aeroplane, authorities, automobile, crumple zones, faa, flying car, flying time, front wheel drive, highway speeds, june 29, light aircraft, light sport aircraft, maximum weight, road vehicles, roll cage, safety features, seater aircraft, telegraph, terrafugia transition, wings