The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the Transition Roadable Aircraft, otherwise known as the flying car, for compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), making ownership of the vehicle a reality.
The Transition, which is developed by Terrafugia, Inc., weighs 1,430 pounds, 110 pounds above FAA’s maximum takeoff weight. But on June 17, Terrafugia announced on its website that the FAA granted the extra weight, qualifying it for the Light Sport Aircraft category. The vehicle will now be able to “drive on public roadways and park in a standard garage,” according to the website.
To drive the Transition, a sport pilot license is required, which is much easier to obtain than a private pilot certification. Terrafugia cites that as little as 20 hours of flight time will qualify someone for a sport pilot license.
The extra weight given to the Transition will be able to contain “airbags, an energy absorbing crumple zone, and a protective safety cage [that] will increase safety both on the road and in the air,” said Terrafugia.
The company was founded in 2006 by “aeronautical engineers” who graduated from MIT. They estimate the price of the Transition at $194,000.
Terrafugia successfully completed flight and drive testing in March of 2009. The vehicle’s prototype design will be unveiled at a press conference on July 26.
Friends Read Free