Author: Mirza Azhar Baig

After a long and successful period since 2006, the imagination of a car flying has become a reality now. A Company named “Terrafugia” in America has designed a dream car which can run on the road and fly in the air as well. This dual performance dream car has been named as Terrafugia Transition.

The Transition has some luxuries existed like it is being controlled by touch screen in the cockpit, having a space for cargo area that holds golf clubs. It is also equipped with the parachutes system at the time of emergency. It is a two seated flying car which simply drives like a normal car on road and fly in the air as well. It can be easily parked in normal garages. Transition uses normal unleaded fueling for both flying and on land driving purposes. It has about 27 feet long wings which are in folded position at the time of driving on road.

While, at the time of flying, it needs to be taken towards the nearby airport and unfurl its wings to transform as an aircraft. It takes a time of less than 30 seconds to unfurl its wide wings. As an aircraft, it has the ability to fly about 130 miles/hour speed and have an ability to carry a load of around 430 lbs. The Transition actual weighs around 1,320 lbs, and has the ability to occupy two persons and some other odd stuff. The Transition is fitted with an engine of 100 horsepower. It can travel at an altitude of 3500 to 8000 ft. and is able to fly up to 12000 ft.

Basically, Terrafugia is a word which means in Latin “Flee from Land” or “Fly from Land”. Terrafugia Company was founded with a vision to design such a car with dual performance like moving on highways and flying in the air. Terrafugia came into being with the struggle of Carl Dietrich, aeronautics engineers and a team of pilots. The US Defense Department provided partial funds for this project.

Since 2006, they all have been silently working on the unique flying car in Woburn, Massachussetts. The Transition had already been certified by a test flight and the Chief Executive Officer, Carl Dietrich wishes to produce 200 cars per year to sale out to customers. Colonel (Retired) USAFR, Phil Meteer operated the first testing flight of the Transition on March 5th, 2009 at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, New York and which was chased by an aircraft flown by Giora Guth. Furthermore, the Transition was operated for a continuous test flight of six months of road, stationary, and taxi testing.

To fly the Transition, a pilot cum driver of this road aircraft will require a license just as the other aircraft pilot needs and should have a record of 20 hours flying before permitted to fly the Transition. A proper knowledge of air charts will also be required to fly at as for the necessary directions. The Transition is helpless in certain weather conditions, which means it should not be flown in the intense wind and should avoid going higher unless having a proper instrumental flight plan in cloudy weather and it is the best to avoid flying at the stormy situation.

The company is working on two prototypes of the Transition in the new manufacturing plant. One of them will be tested as extensive drive, while the other will be tested to attain certificate as a light aircraft. The company has determined to set the price of this vehicle as per the consumed time in making it and the expenses required to make this prototypes. But it is certain that as the Transition acquire a prominent value in the market and customers increases, it is probable to put up the Transition for sale at a price around $200,000 to $250,000 in the nearing future.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/the-transition-a-flying-car-4951030.html

About the Author

Mirza Azhar Baig has written various essays and articles on various topics which led him to write more and more. The thirst for writing increased day in and day out.
Follow on his blog at http://www.azhar-baig.blogspot.com/