Posted on 06/04/2014 10:07:38 AM PDT by Red Badger
The idea of a flying car might seem like something out of a science fiction novel, but it may soon become a reality.
All it'll take is about $30 million in funding and some patience.
Terrafugia, a Woburn manufacturer of flying cars has been working on its vehicles for almost eight years. The MIT-born company has been working on two kinds of cars: the Transition, which is scheduled to be released in mid-2016 and can fly at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour at up to 10,000 feet in the air; and the TF-X, a semi-autonomous plug-in hybrid vehicle which is currently in conceptual design phase and can take off and land vertically and can fly at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. The TF-X does not have a price tag yet and will take about 8 to 12 years before it's a reality.
The Transition, now in its third and final prototype, requires a driver to have a sport pilot certificate, meaning about total 20 hours of training. Already, 100 customers have pre-ordered the vehicles, which have a total price tag of $279,000. That's almost $30 million in pre-orders.
Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich said the average customer is retired or semi-retired. They're also interested in the vehicle for recreational purposes, he said. Or they fit in another category entirely.
"Many were promised a flying car when they were younger and now they can get one," said Dietrich.
It hasn't been an easy road for Terrafugia or its promise of flying cars.
In 2010, the Boston Herald reported that the Federal Aviation Administration granted the company an exemption from rules that allow a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds for the Transition. That's 110 pounds above the limit for the FAA's light sport aircraft category. The Herald also reported the car would be in production in 18 months — that was almost four years ago. Last year, the vehicle made its first public flight.
Dietrich said a few things had to happen before the company could start production. First, the company needs to raise more money. By Dietrich's estimates, another $30 million, which would be in addition to the nearly $13 million its already raised from various angel investors. It's also got to successfully complete its final prototyping phase.
Last month, Terrafugia brought on Alex Min, previously vice president of business development at Textron Defense Systems, as its chief marketing and sales officer. Dietrich said Min's main task in the coming months will be secure more capital for the company, which has about two-dozen employees and will most likely hire more in the coming years as it ramps up for production.
Dietrich said that four years after the Transition officially launches, the company could generate $100 million to $200 million in sales, according to its own projections.
"It's a very exciting time for the company right now," said Dietrich. "We really do see Terrafugia as the next Tesla."
Right now, you have 30’ of roadway and only two directions to go to avoid hitting someone else.
Now add a Z axis to your X-Y. Say, 8000’ ceiling for unpressurized cabin...
“It’ll fall on someone’s house...”
Ballistic recovery systems.
“People are too stupid to fly”.
People used to be too stupid to drive. Most of them, can’t afford a car much less a roadable aircraft.
Fear of this is kinda retrograde thinking.
“The senior citizen model comes with the left turn blinker hard wired in the on position.”
And a system to allow them to go 10 mph under the speed limit in the left lane.
http://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2014/02/garmin-introduces-synthetic-vision-to-the-masses/
Technology isn’t the limit there. Government is.
I wandered around a lot at Oshkosh last year. Most of the vendor stuff was a blur. Besides it was my first time there.
If it could be built and sold at a price that’s $10,000 to $20,000 higher than typical entry-level planes I could see it becoming very popular. You can put it in a standard garage, it uses standard premium gas from any commercial gas station. You’d see a big increase in “air harbor” style subdivisions built around a landing strip rather than a golf course. There are a few now, but if it were accessible with a versatile craft having these advantages, it would do well, I’d think. But, it would need to be reliable and stable. I’d be concerned that the first failure of those folding wings would absolutely kill sales, whether it was some sort of operator oversight or mechanical would not matter, the perception would be created.
The senior citizen model comes with the left turn blinker hard wired in the on position.”
That’s tooooo funny!
Little Nellie.
From what I can find they appear to have a good safety record. Most of the accidents seem to be on the ground from tipping over. I guess they are top heavy.
It’s hard to beat a Cessna 172 for safety, widespread availability of parts and maintenance, and people who know everything about them.
Side winds at landing are a bitch, I bet.................
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