Terrafugia’s ‘flying car’ gets fed OK

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Well, you need a sport pilot's license to fly one and they have to take off from airfields so I would imagine it would be classifed as a sport plane and be susceptable to the same regulations as that class.

I wonder, do they have standard flight equipment on the dash? Radio, altimeter, etc.?

It still has to fly airfield to airfield and I would imagine filing a flight plan would be necessary. Not like you could just drive down the street, put the wings down and take off behind your house.

Basically, a slow, short range plane that you don't have to leave at the airfield.

For the true flying enthusiast, this would be an amazing thing. Basically rather than paying hanger costs/storage costs etc. They could drive from home to their favorite airport, lower the wings, and then fly whereever.

Also they did get some lee way from the FAA on their regulations:

The Federal Aviation Administration granted the Woburn company an exemption from rules that will allow a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds for its Transition Roadable Aircraft - 110 pounds above the limit for the FAA’s light sport aircraft category.

Finally, I think the FAA is moving to more localized radars on the planes instead of ground based, and so a time could come where flight plans could be marginal. Besides everyone who has one of these will probably have an iPhone, and so there definitely would be an App for that!

[Monksdown]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

For the true flying enthusiast, this would be an amazing thing. Basically rather than paying hanger costs/storage costs etc. They could drive from home to their favorite airport, lower the wings, and then fly whereever.

Also they did get some lee way from the FAA on their regulations:


Finally, I think the FAA is moving to more localized radars on the planes instead of ground based, and so a time could come where flight plans could be marginal. Besides everyone who has one of these will probably have an iPhone, and so there definitely would be an App for that!

That's the FAA. Will the various Department of Motor Vehicles let it on the roads?

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Monksdown

That's the FAA. Will the various Department of Motor Vehicles let it on the roads?

Well the reason it was overweight was to include the airbags and other safety devices required by state and federal law for a vehicle on a standard road. I don't see why it wouldn't as long as it meets the requirements.

[Monksdown]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Well the reason it was overweight was to include the airbags and other safety devices required by state and federal law for a vehicle on a standard road. I don't see why it wouldn't as long as it meets the requirements.

I'm sure they've done their due diligence. I would hate to be in a car next to it when i burst of wind or worse, another car crashing into it, turned one of those upturned wings over on me. It looks like it sits too close to the ground too.