Godplace/Mission238 forums

Open Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: The Purple Fuzzy on January 12, 2009, 06:22:20 AM

Title: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: The Purple Fuzzy on January 12, 2009, 06:22:20 AM
How cool would this be?!?

(http://ployer.com/archives/2007/10/12/carsfly.jpg)


Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive

Is it a car? Is it a plane? Actually, it's both. The first flying car, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month.

If it survives its first test flight, the Terrafugia Transition, which can transform itself from a two-seater car to a plane in 15 seconds, is expected to land in showrooms in about 18 months' time.

Its manufacturer says it is easy to keep and run since it uses normal unleaded fuel and will fit in a garage.

Carl Dietrich, who runs the Massachusetts-based Terrafugia, said: "This is the first really integrated design where the wings fold up automatically and all the parts are in one vehicle."

The Transition, developed by former NASA engineers, is powered by the same 100 bhp engine on the ground and in the air.

Terrafugia claims it will be able to fly up to 500 miles on a single tank of gas at a cruising speed of 115 mph. Up to now, however, it has only been tested on roads at up to 90 mph.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479167,00.html
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Sis on January 12, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Wouldn't it be fun to be a test pilot?
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: The Purple Fuzzy on January 12, 2009, 06:42:18 AM
I think I'd rather be a pilot AFTER they tested it and got all the bugs out. ;)

It sounds like something my son would LOVE to do.  He likes to do dangerous stuff. :smirk:
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: EricShane on January 12, 2009, 04:49:58 PM
Quote from: Sis on January 12, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Wouldn't it be fun to be a test pilot?

not really  :o


lol..
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: iridiscente on January 12, 2009, 11:50:36 PM
Ben would want one of these....
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Chseeads on January 13, 2009, 04:03:49 AM
Quote from: iridiscente on January 12, 2009, 11:50:36 PM
Ben would want one of these....

Anything would be an improvement over that two-tone pink bug.


:hypocrite:


Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: mini on January 13, 2009, 05:23:34 AM
This idea has been tossed around for ages....there was a article at the airport recently about the history of flying cars.  Ill see if I can find a link to it.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: The Purple Fuzzy on January 13, 2009, 06:30:25 AM
It's still a cool concept. :grin:
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Chseeads on January 13, 2009, 06:33:58 AM
Might help keep ya from runnin over deers.....


Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: mini on January 13, 2009, 05:44:53 PM
Knowing you, you would start wiping out the eagles.... :grin:
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Chseeads on January 13, 2009, 05:56:54 PM
I came relatively close to running into an eagle one time anyways...LOL
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Sis on January 13, 2009, 07:14:15 PM
It would feel like you were in a Jetsons cartoon.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: almondjoy on January 15, 2009, 05:45:29 PM
That's what I was thinking. LOL
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: MelodyB on January 15, 2009, 06:53:28 PM
I want one.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Sis on January 15, 2009, 09:56:32 PM
A Jetson's cartoon?   :hypocrite:
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Brother Dad on January 15, 2009, 10:00:50 PM
I don't like heights.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: almondjoy on January 15, 2009, 10:54:05 PM
Me either. 
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: CDAGeek on January 16, 2009, 12:05:34 AM
Quote from: MelodyB on January 15, 2009, 06:53:28 PM
I want one.

The moment I  started mentioned the article to my mom, her exact response was "No."

...I wonder if you'll need a pilots license to legally fly one?
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Sis on January 16, 2009, 02:29:37 AM
Yo momma knows you pretty well, huh?
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: CDAGeek on January 16, 2009, 06:46:40 PM
Anything cool or interesting is something I generally want to get my hands on. The more it does, and the less practical it is, the more I want it. This is why I have a binary watch.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Melody on January 16, 2009, 06:51:42 PM
that is cool.  I would so drive/fly that.... but not for testing...lol 

the real question is: 

Would it fit my 6'8" (250lb.. don't tell him I shared that) husband?
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: mini on January 16, 2009, 07:12:23 PM
If its anything like most planes...no!  LOL
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: mini on March 18, 2009, 01:22:56 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXnLCIgNug

GREAT SNARGLEHOOZIES!  IT FLEW!  *faints*
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: The Purple Fuzzy on March 18, 2009, 01:39:30 PM
You doubted? :lol:
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: mini on March 18, 2009, 01:41:48 PM
Very much so.  Its been tried so many times...I didnt think it would ever fly.  But for 194G, you can have one too!
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: The Purple Fuzzy on March 18, 2009, 01:43:53 PM
I'm sure they'll improve eventually and the price will go down.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: mini on March 18, 2009, 02:02:40 PM
I doubt that.  Thats about normal price for a decent airplane these days.

A piper cub that sold new for $500 in the 40's sells now for $25000.  A plane designed identical to the piper cub that sold new for $500 sells new now for $100,000.  I would love to fly, but who can afford it?  LOL

You couple the price of owning a plane, plus annual inspections, repairs, fuel, insurance, hangar rental, ect, and you can easily tack another $10,000 a year onto owning a plane.
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: The Purple Fuzzy on March 18, 2009, 02:33:02 PM
Wow.  I guess with that one, at least you wouldn't have to rent a hanger if you had room in the garage. ;)
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: Sis on March 18, 2009, 04:54:43 PM
Quote from: minnesota68 on March 18, 2009, 01:22:56 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXnLCIgNug

GREAT SNARGLEHOOZIES!  IT FLEW!  *faints*

You never watched the Jetsons? 
Title: Re: Flying Car Prepares for Test Drive
Post by: EricShane on May 31, 2009, 04:23:25 AM
Im such a bad driver i would probably *still* hit a telephone pole! lol