Renewable and Sustainable Information Center: Transition ® Roadable Aircraft, or "Flying Car"

The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable aircraft currently under development by Terrafugia since 2006.

The Rotax 912S piston engine powered, carbon-fiber vehicle is planned to have a flight range of 400 nmi (460 mi; 740 km) using automotive grade unleaded gasoline and a cruising flight speed of 115 mph (100 kn; 185 km/h). It does not come with an autopilot.

On the highway, it can drive up to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) to keep up with traffic. The Transition Proof of Concept's folded dimensions of 6 ft 9 in (2.1 m) high, 6 ft 8 in (2.0 m) wide and 18 ft 9 in (5.7 m) long are designed to fit within a standard household garage. When operated as a car, the engine powers the front wheel drive. In flight, the engine drives a pusher propeller. The Transition has folding wings, pusher propeller and twin tail.

The experimental Transition Proof of Concept's first flight was successful and took place under FAA supervision at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York using FAA tail number N302TF. First customer delivery, as of March 2009, is planned for 2011. The design of the production version is to be made public in July 2010.

On 1 July 2010 it was announced that the Terrafugia Transition had been granted an exemption from the FAA concerning its Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) in order to be classified as light-sport. The light-sport craft will be able to take-off weighing at 1,430 lbs while such craft are usually limited at 1,320 lbs MTOW. The extra 110 lbs account for the mandatory road safety features such as airbags and bumpers.

General characteristics

    * Crew: 1 pilot
    * Capacity: 2, pilot and passenger
    * Payload: 430 lb (200 kg)
    * Length: 19 ft 2 in (5.8 m)
    * Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.4 m)
    * Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m)
    * Empty weight: 890 lb (400 kg)
    * Useful load: 430 lb (200 kg)
    * Max takeoff weight: 1,430 lb (650 kg)
    * Powerplant: 1× Rotax 912S, 100 hp (75 kW) @ 5800 rpm (max. 5 minutes), 95 hp (71 kW) @ 5500 rpm (continuous)
    * Propellers: Prince Aircraft Company, four-bladed "P-Tip" propeller, 1 per engine
    * Cockpit width: 51 in (1.3 m) at the shoulder
    * Fuel capacity: 20 US gal (76 L; 17 imp gal)
    * Length on road: 18 ft 9 in (5.7 m) with elevator up
    * Width on road: 80 in (2.0 m) with wings folded
    * Height on road: 6 ft 9 in (2.1 m)
    * Front wheel drive on road

Performance

    * Cruise speed: 100 kts (115 mph or 185 km/h)
    * Stall speed: 45 kts (51 mph or 82 km/h)
    * Range: In flight 400 nmi (460 mi; 740 km); on road 600 mi (520 nmi; 970 km)
    * Maximum speed on road: 65 mph (105 km/h)
    * Fuel economy in cruise flight: 5 US gal (19 L) per hour
    * Fuel economy on road: 30 mpg-US (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg-imp)
    * Certifications: Both FAA and FMVSS certifications planned

reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrafugia_Transition

The Transition® Roadable Aircraft Receives
Additional 110 pounds

FAA Grants Terrafugia Extra Takeoff Weight for Road Safety Features

Woburn, MA -- June 17, 2010: Terrafugia, Inc., developer of the Transition ® Roadable Aircraft, or "Flying Car", has received an exemption from the FAA to allow the Transition ® a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 1430 pounds (650 kg). This additional weight accommodates the structure and equipment necessary for compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) which are not found in other Light Sport Aircraft. Items such as airbags, an energy absorbing crumple zone, and a protective safety cage will increase safety both on the road and in the air. Exclusively applicable to the Transition ® , the FAA's grant of an additional 110 pounds will allow a competitive useful load while providing a revolutionary level of crash safety in a Light Sport Aircraft.

By giving pilots a convenient ground transportation option, the Transition ® reduces the cost, inconvenience, and weather sensitivity of personal aviation. In addition to the enhanced protection afforded by applying automotive crash safety technology to light planes, the Transition ® reduces the potential for an accident by allowing pilots to drive under bad weather instead of potentially flying into marginal conditions.

Classified as a Light Sport Aircraft, the Transition ® requires a Sport Pilot certificate to fly and is designed to drive on public roadways and park in a standard garage. Terrafugia successfully completed flight and drive testing of its Proof of Concept Transition ® in 2009. Refundable airframe reservations are being accepted with first delivery scheduled for late 2011.

Computer graphics of the production prototype design will be unveiled at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on July 26, 2010 at Terrafugia's exhibit at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI.

Terrafugia (terra-FOO-gee-ah), based in Woburn, MA, is comprised of a team of award-winning engineers who have been advancing the state of personal aircraft since 2006. Founded by five pilots who are graduates of MIT and supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors, Terrafugia's mission is the innovative expansion of personal mobility. "Terrafugia" is Latin for "escape from land."

Terrafugia would like to thank the EAA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA), & Women in Aviation International (WAI) for their support.

references:
http://www.terrafugia.com/newsreleases.html#110

售价约155万港元（约64万令吉）
price: 1.55 million Hong Kong dollars (about 64 million Ringgit Malaysia)

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