Posted on 06/10/2013 7:36:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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.
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
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.
Absolutely.
The wingtip props are electric and battery powered. After lift and cruise speed, they operate as windmills to recharge the battery, then fold away.
It’s going to be rough getting through class B airspace.
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.
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.
I’d rather be seen in this than a smart car.
—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?)
This could be fun!
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
I’d like to learn to fly a chopper.
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.
Democrats in the parking lot will use their car doors to dent the wings or worse. "No fair rich white man!"
Yeah, I got my private pilot license in a C-150.
Luved that little airplane.
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.
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.
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