Artist rendering of Terrafugia’s TF-X flying hybrid car concept (via Terrafugia)
With so many ongoing advancements in the electronics tech domain, automotive enthusiasts may begin to ponder when the arrival of a legitimate, futuristic flying vehicle will occur. Terrafugia, a Massachusetts start-up, is known for the development of ground & aviation Transition vehicle now expected to be available to the public around 2015. Just as the Transition begins to move into its production phase, the company continues to push forward with the design of the TF-X - a notch up from their previous design that uses a hybrid drive system to drive and fly in a simpler and safer fashion.
Terrafugia was founded by aerospace engineers and MBAs from MIT to create a practical way to both drive and fly in one vehicle. Their first street-legal airplane, the Transition, successfully completed test flights in 2012 and is now readying for release at a $270,000 USD price tag. This vehicle, powered by gasoline engine, achieves a 35mpg road mileage, 490mi flight range, and a max flight speed of 115mph. To take off, drivers will need a clear runway of at least 1700ft in length as the Transition folds out its wings and heads toward the skies.
The TF-X is being designed to be an even simpler, safer, and cleaner way to fly and drive. Plenty of new autopilot safety features, a helicopter-like vertical takeoff system, and electric drive motors roundup the TF-X’s state of the art concept.
To take off, users must first set proper takeoff and landing zones (including 2 backup landing zones) by going through a series of checks to avoid bad weather, air traffic, and restricted airspace. Once everything is ready to go, a pair of electrically driven rotors fold into position and lift the vehicle vertically into the air. A rear mounted gasoline engine will then take over as the blades fold back down - landing is handled by onboard computers. In case of emergencies, the TF-X can immediately notify authorities of the situation and automatically perform emergency landings at the nearest airport; a full-vehicle parachute is also deployable in the case of hardware failure.
The TF-X will be more akin to the comforts of a car with room for four in a vehicle that will fit in a standard single-car garage. No word on the vehicles on-the-road mileage, but its continuous flight range is said to be in the excess of 500 miles.
It seems like there is indeed a bright future for personal aviation and automotive transport. Terrafugia is now banking on the success of the Transition vehicle to help validate its vision of the TF-X. Though a price hasn’t been clearly stated, the company did say that "With investment in automotive scale production, early studies indicate that it is possible that the final price point could be on-par with very high-end luxury cars." Target release date: early 2020s.
With all the daily drivers out there, I certainly don't feel safe. Now, put them all in the sky...
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