This Is The World's First Practical Flying Car

Business Insider ^ | 06/10/2013 | Kyle Russell

[SeekAndFind]

The idea of a flying car has fascinated dreamers and aviation geeks alike since humans first got off the ground with powered flight.

The concept has obvious advantages: the "go anywhere, anytime" freedom of an automobile without any of the traffic congestion that terrestrial drivers face on a daily basis.

Featured in movies like Back to the Future and Blade Runner, this mode of transportation has been restricted to the realm of science-fiction due to the complexity of the drivetrain required and the training that would be needed to operate such a vehicle.

Now, a company called Terrafugia has put forward their vision for a practical flying car. Using electric-gasoline hybrid technology from the cutting edge of the automobile industry and autopilot technology adopted from the aviation industry, the company thinks they have what's needed to bring a flying car to the mass market.

[ottbmare]

Traffic is bad enough in two dimensions. Horrifying to think of nine jillion idiots late to work and buzzing at different speeds and altitudes in three dimensions.

[camle]

until they solve the problem of air traffic control, midair collisions, cars running out of fuel and falling from the sky into people’s yards, etc... it wil never get off the goruns...so to speak. this is all so much pie in the sky

[Charles Martel]

The demo video shows the propellors folding up for “cruising speed”. I guess it becomes a jet aircraft at that point.

No, there's a large ducted fan behind the cabin for main propulsion. I'd guess that the pivoting wingtip props are mechanically coupled to the main engine through the wing roots.

[Sherman Logan]

The problem is 98% of the people can’t handle 2 dimensions, adding a 3rd will be a blood bath.

Absolutely.

[thackney]

I'd guess that the pivoting wingtip props are mechanically coupled to the main engine through the wing roots.

The wingtip props are electric and battery powered. After lift and cruise speed, they operate as windmills to recharge the battery, then fold away.

[Signalman]

It’s going to be rough getting through class B airspace.

[Sherman Logan]

Saw one of those idiots the other day- left lane doing 50 with a bumper sticker- “Get off my ass, I’m saving gas”. Fine, want to be a jackass and go under the speed limit- do it in the right lane.

I usually drive 60 on the freeway. Boosted mileage from 30 to 37 mpg.

But I always drive in the right lane. Except when passing, which I need to do surprisngly often.

[pabianice]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! *wipes eyes*

The Terrafugia flies as well as an albatross walks. Barely, and in a straight line, using a 5,000 foot runway. This latest puff piece is pure scifi masquerading as news. Aside from the impossibility of this newest version working mechanically, it relies on the skills of a helicopter pilot to fly. Do readers have a clue about what is involved in getting a pilot's license? The average cost to become a private pilot -- rotorcraft/helicopter -- is over $18,000.

Shame on Business Insider. I applaud the kids who invented the Terrafugia for their imagination and tenacity, but hey! It doesn't work.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I’d rather be seen in this than a smart car.

[HangnJudge]

—there’s no way the rear can meet
—the safety standards for rear impact.

Or side impact
Unless it’s registered as a motorcycle (helmet laws?)

[Northern Yankee]

This could be fun!

[lwd]

There is an aviation neighborhood near Mooresville, NC (I’m sure there are others around the country) .... It’s a huge runway that also acts as the road the the residences on both sides. All of the homes have private hangers attached to them.

35.613615, -80.739533 ...if you want to see it

[wally_bert]

I’d like to learn to fly a chopper.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

[thackney]

using a 5,000 foot runway

That is the old model, the TF-X, is different, as the article describes.

it relies on the skills of a helicopter pilot to fly

No.

Learning how to safely operate a TF-X™ vehicle should take an average driver no more than five hours.

Take-off, Landing, avoiding other air traffic, etc is to be automated.

http://www.terrafugia.com/tfx-vision

[Mister Da]

That's pretty cool, but those wheels will not survive potholes & the bumpy entrances to businesses. The low ground clearance is a problem, too. That plane will bottom out on traffic calmers. Streets are just not smooth like runways.

[Reeses]

bumpy entrances to businesses.

Democrats in the parking lot will use their car doors to dent the wings or worse. "No fair rich white man!"

[Hulka]

Yeah, I got my private pilot license in a C-150.

Luved that little airplane.

[ro_dreaming]

The left lane is NOT the “speed as fast as you can” lane.

It’s the “I’m not exiting soon, nor did I just get on the road, so I’m going to be here a while” lane.

[jiggyboy]

If they have the Chinese manufacture these to make them “more affordable”, I don’t think there’s a cave deep enough anywhere on earth where we’ll be safe.