'Flying car' goes to market

[babylonsister]

'The Jetsons' had it right!


'Flying car' goes to market
Company behind the vehicle prefers the term 'roadable aircraft'


The Transition aircraft, shown in this illustration with its wings partially unfolded, can shift from road-worthiness to airworthiness. The vehicle carries a price tag of $194,000.


The aptly named Transition takes a stab at bridging the gap between automobiles and airplanes. Some people call it a flying car. The company designing and selling the vehicle prefers the term "roadable aircraft."

Either way, it boils down to this: You sit down behind the steering wheel, drive to the runway, unfold two wings and take off. You can fly 500 miles on a tank of gas — regular unleaded —and when you land, you simply fold up the wings and drive where you want to go. At the end of the day, you fly back, drive home and park inside your garage.

Terrafugia, of Woburn, Mass., is not the first firm to attempt what may be the ultimate hybrid.

"It's probably a concept that people have been dreaming up since there have been airplanes and cars," said Dick Knapinski with the Experimental Aircraft Association, a 55-year-old aviation group based in Oshkosh, Wisc.

A company called Aerocar of Longview, Wash., debuted one of the first flying cars in 1949. The company built six prototypes, one of which is sitting in the EAA's museum, but never went into production.

more...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28796183/

[Ian David]

1. People who can afford a $194,000 airplane can also afford to take a taxi from the airport. n/t

[MadHound]

2. This didn't work before, I doubt that it will work now

Besides, with a hybrid like this you are getting the worst of both vehicles, including piss poor handling both on the road and in the air.

Get a regular plane and take a taxi to the airport, it's safer and saner that way.

[Gman]

3. The world is saved

Randall Graves would be very happy.

[madinmaryland]

4. Just great! Now we are going to have a bunch of fools on cell-phones

flying into the sides of buildings.

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

6. That's not funny, but I laughed. nt

[Marrah_G]

7. Hahahahahaha

[TexasObserver]

5. A flying Pacer at the cost of a Rolls

I saw a TV segment on it a month or so ago.

I can't imagine why anyone would buy one, but there will be some buyers, no doubt.

[RebelOne]

8. I would love to have one, but just don't have an extra $194,000.

Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of having a flying car.

[Stevenmarc]

9. Not having to deal with screeners at the airport is almost worth $194,000

[dembotoz]

10. saw the early version at the EAA museum last week

still is the fantasy isn't it?

This looks much more compact and dare i say practical?

I realize that with my poor vision and total lack of depth perception i would
forever be cracking the thing up.....

but damnit I have to drag my kid to a hockey tournement on the other side of wisconsin for a saturday morning game. Have to leave at 5am tommorrow am and drive for 4 - 4 1/2 hours to be there for a 10:45 game. There is a small landing strip fairly near my house and a small airport
near the ice rink. That would be soo cool.

better keep buying dem powerball tickets....