The Flying Car

[BROOK]

The Flying Car
Get ready for the Terrafugia Transition, a vehicle that can switch from road-legal car into a two-seater plane in 15 seconds. The Transition sports a single 100bhp petrol motor that can drive either the wheels or a propeller. It can fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of fuel at a cruising speed of about 115mph. The vehicle is expected to make its maiden flight next month and hit the showroom floor by next year. More photos and info at
timesonline.co.uk.








http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multime...ar_462939a.jpg

Hey, the Jetsons car!!

[Dantheman62]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!!

[Dantheman62]

Even though you’ll park it in your garage, drive it to your nearest airstrip, and pilot it to your destination, don’t think of the Transition as a flying car. Carl Dietrich, the MIT aeronautical-engineering graduate student who is designing the vehicle, prefers the term “roadable aircraft”—meaning a plane that drives, not a car that flies.
“We try to steer away from The Jetsons,” Dietrich says. “It’s a step in that direction, but a baby step.”

Two hinges lock into place when the wings extend, securing the plane for takeoff.
Images: John MacNeill
Still, in an age of hub-centric commercial flights, Dietrich thinks the ability to cruise between two of the 4,800 small airports nationwide and then drive to a final destination, whether your office or vacation home, will be irresistible to amateur pilots.
He and his team are finishing a one-fifth-scale model for wind-tunnel tests. They hope to build a prototype within two years and to have the first Transitions rolling down runways by 2010.
The projected price tag? About $150,000, roughly the price of a fully loaded Ford GT sports car.
Leaving home: A fender bender could ruin the aerodynamics of the plane, so the big challenge is to make the Transition both flight- and road-ready. In car mode, the tail folds up, revealing a bumper. The control surfaces of the twin vertical stabilizers fold inward, shielding the propeller from debris.
Driving: With only two seats and no trunk space, the Transition won’t be ideal for trips to Costco. But the 6.5-foot-high car will be able to reach highway speeds, Dietrich says, and could be refueled at any gas station that sells super-unleaded gas. Expected mileage on the road: a not-too-shabby 40 miles per gallon.
Transformation: On the runway, a flip of a switch starts the metamorphosis. The tail folds down, the wings flatten and lock into place, and the control surfaces of the vertical stabilizers line up. A security system, such as a thumbprint scanner, will keep Junior from “taking off” with the car.
Flight: With an air-cruising speed of 120 miles an hour, the Transition will be able to fly 500 miles on a single tank of gas. Inside the cockpit, “it’s all conventional general- aviation controls,” Dietrich says, “so it should be familiar to pilots.” In bad weather, you could simply divert to the nearest airport and drive the rest of the way.

$150,000, I don't think so!

Yup, it's a bit pricey for me too. How about this one?



Or a lightweight cargo version??

[rhythm]

i realy do belive now that..
if you and brook keep this up
they realy will have to come and take
me away ... Ha ha .

[DoctorWho]

This lovely mini-film "The Flying Car" by Kevin Smith comes to mind on this topic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsFfBB2W7IA
Bill "the Doctor"

[BROOK]

Doctor who...


ROFL My hat is over the wall

[giovonni]

Thats a great video! from The "Doctor"
BROOK> and too think...?
These are the kinds of people ( comedians actors writers (waitstaff) etc..)
that you live amongst?
Now > Max H >makes a lot of sense too me> now!
He should be the Mayor of LA!
So...when do I get my new flying car??

[Steve_A]

Hi Brook,

Nothing new much with the flying car. The concept has been around since 1949 and prototypes have been made. Even Jay Leno has one!

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/your_g...ars/6723.shtml

Find ot more also about the 'Aerocar' here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerocar

Although the potential for such transporte is huge, the problem will be the sheer number of cars in the air and lack of infrastructure to cope with the airways.

The law at present doesn't require a pilots license to fly 'experimental' aircraft like ultralights and this could create a problem in the control of flying car users.

However, I think once the regulatory and capacity issues (like creating air corridors) are resolved, the idea could turn out to be quite exciting with three dimensional traffic flow!

Best regards,

Steve

Another one...

[BROOK]

Originally Posted by no caste

Another one...

I forgot all about this thread here is the video that goes with that picture No Caste

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bdd4Jt_rBE&NR=1

[BROOK]

Originally Posted by DoctorWho

This lovely mini-film "The Flying Car" by Kevin Smith comes to mind on this topic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsFfBB2W7IA
Bill "the Doctor"

And this is still on my funniest video list!!!

pretty funny brook - How 'bout this....? Jet Pack Man...


http://systemsengineerscholar.blogsp...-for-real.html

I like the comment here
Mark said...

My name is Mark. I am eight years old and I like to invent things. I am going to build a jetpack.

OK, that's mean.... this one is great
>>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gcurwcPs3U <<<<<<<<

[giovonni]

BROOK> considering your line of work
I see this in your future
Only in the subburbs of Valencia!

[BROOK]

Originally Posted by no caste

pretty funny brook - How 'bout this....? Jet Pack Man...


http://systemsengineerscholar.blogsp...-for-real.html

I like the comment here
Mark said...

My name is Mark. I am eight years old and I like to invent things. I am going to build a jetpack.

OK, that's mean.... this one is great
>>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gcurwcPs3U <<<<<<<<

That's pretty cool I want one

... the terrfugia transition takes off...



http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10...l;galleryPromo

[Carol]

This is hysterical. Thanks!