This is one silly-looking machine. Really, if flying cars look like this, who will want one? I guess functionality comes first, then they can make something cool-looking.
This flying contraption, called the Transition, is made by a company called Terrafugia. The idea is obviously that you have a plane you can land and then drive right out of the airport. Not sure there’s a big market for that in this economy, but maybe AIG will take a few.
The Transition probably makes for a rather poor plane, being weighted down by an engine and transmission, and it certainly makes a poor car, what with the wings on the sides. Sure, they fold up, but they don’t just disappear. Plus, it is certain to get abysmal gas mileage. That said, it’s a flying car. So let’s not make it jump too many hoops just yet.
[via The Register]
It’s not really meant to be a car that you can drive to work one day, and go flying with the next. I think their concept is more about having a plane that you can take away from the airport and park in your garage/driveway so you don’t have to pay for a spot at the airport (or so you can go fly from one airport one day, a different one the next). I think they also are targetting the Sport Pilot license crowd, and one of the rules is that you have to land if the weather turns to crap, so it would allow you, in a pinch, to not be stranded at some random airport until the weather clears. I still think it’s a pretty neat idea.
Yeah, it’s more a “drivable plane” than a “flying car.”
“The Transition probably makes for a rather poor plane, being weighted down by an engine”
Note to Devin: planes also have engines.
More then we have seen from Moller in… well, ever.
I’d go for the “tourister” edition that includes dual DVD systems in the back to shut the kids up.
Seriously though, I kinda like it.
There is another flying car that has 3 times more power, no huge blind spots with folded up wings, and looks better all the way around at http://www.labicheaerospace.com/
Check out the FSC-1!