Terrafugia Transition

Transition
Production Prototype of Terrafugia Transition at the N.Y. Int'l Auto Show in April 2012
Role Flying car
Manufacturer Terrafugia
First flight March 5, 2009[1]
Status prototype (2009)
Number built 2[2]
Developed from 2006

The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable airplane under development by Terrafugia since 2006.[3]

The Rotax 912ULS[4] piston engine powered, carbon-fiber vehicle is planned to have a flight range of 425 nmi (489 mi; 787 km) using either automotive premium grade unleaded gasoline or 100LL avgas and a cruising flight speed of 93 kn (107 mph; 172 km/h). Equipment includes a Dynon Skyview glass panel avionics system, an airframe parachute, and an optional autopilot.[5]

On the road, it can drive up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h)[6] with normal traffic. The Transition Production Prototype's folded dimensions of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) high, 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) wide and 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) long are designed to fit within a standard household garage. When operated as a car, the engine power take-off near the propeller engages a variable-diameter pulley CVT automatic transmission to send power to the trailing-suspension mounted rear wheels via half-shafts powering belt drives.[7] In flight, the engine drives a pusher propeller. The Transition has folding wings and a twin tail.

  1. ^ Haines, Thomas B. (March 19, 2009). "First roadable airplane takes flight". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Retrieved March 19, 2009.
  2. ^ "FAA REGISTRY Make / Model Inquiry Results; Make/Model Code Entered: 05627LL". FAA Registry. FAA. March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014. As of March 2014 Terrafugia has registered: * N302TF (proof-of-concept, s/n D0001, Airworthiness 2008-12-01); * N304TF (design prototype, s/n D0002, A/W 2013-11-26); * N305TF (design prototype, s/n D0003, no engine or A/W date listed as of March 2014
  3. ^ "Flying car closer to reality". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  4. ^ TERRAFUGIA presentation of Transition aircraft "The Transition Archived 2010-07-24 at the Wayback Machine", March 5, 2012
  5. ^ Dietrich, Anna Mracek (August 11, 2011). "Transition Equipment List" (PDF). Terrafugia, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  6. ^ Durbin, Dee-Ann (April 2, 2012). "Flying car gets closer to reality with test flight". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  7. ^ "2012 New York: Terrafugia Transition - The Plane That Drives". motortrend.com. April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2016.