7 Reasons the Terrafugia Transition Isn’t Coming to Your Garage
Sorry to be a nay-sayer & party-pooper.
It appears that Terrafugia has copied Zoche’s business model. Zoche has a great looking design and many running models of a radial, two stroke, supercharged aircraft diesel engine. People flying in remote areas of the world have been drooling over this design for decades. Zoche would show up at Oshkosh every few years with their engin.
“When will it go on sale?”
“Soon!”
Finally, everyone figured out that Zoche used a development loan from their local German state. Once the engine was on the market, they were obligated to repay the loan. No marketing, no repayment required.
http://www.zoche.de/
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/vulcanair-awaits-delivery-of-first-zoche-aero-diesel-61433/
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.homebuilt/YgvV9H1ztPQ - “From Flight International, 8-14 February 1995, p. 23. The Zoche radial aero-diesel engines are about to enter production.”
Zoche had spent far more on R&D and PR than they would ever be able to repay. So the engine quietly went away.
Terrafugia’s business plan also looks like a more sophisticated version of Moller’s, probably with more integrity.
“Investors Can Always Be Found For A Swoopy Flying Car!”
Interesting.