It seems to be ‘dream come true’ where cars can fly! Yes, flying car is on its way. 

By 2011, Terrafugia Transition, an American company, located near Boston, is ready to reveal latest technology vehicle with dual purpose car-cum-plane regarded as 'The Flying Car'. This two-seater car can help you avoid the congested traffic allowing you to fly if you wish. 

One can just touch the road and start driving on road. The vehicle will fold up its wings in just 30 seconds and transform itself into a car. 

In the air, "The Flying Car" can fly up to 725 kilometers at a speed of more than 115 kilometers per hour. 

The Flying car is fuelled by gasoline and has a front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. 

The flying car can be easily parked in an ordinary garage with its wings folded. 

The company declared that the initial cost of the flying car is expected to be around $200,000 (nearly Rs.1 crore) and has already got the orders for 60 vehicles. 

"The Flying Car" is successfully test-flown for as many as 28 times by the company, told the CEO of the company to Canadian TV (CTV). 

The result of the tests clearly proves that ‘The Flying car’ can drive, fly and switch from being a plane to a car in just 30 seconds. 

Carl Dietrich, co-founder and CEO of Terrafugia, told the television network, “it (testing) has been very successful”. 

"We have got a very good handling vehicle and our test pilot said that the flights were just remarkably unremarkable - it just flies like a really nice, little airplane," says he. 

This miracle vehicle will ease problems for pilots who currently face problems like weather which sometimes doesn't allow them to take off or land, added he. 

"This vehicle allows a pilot any time, if the weather changes, to divert to the nearest airport, fold up their wings and drive safely under the weather." 

"The Transition (the name for "The Flying Car") is not designed to replace the automobile. However, it will solve transportation issues for a variety of circumstances", Richard Gersh, Company vice president informed the media. 

On questioning whether the vehicle will be mass produced one day, he replied: “That is certainly a possibility, but a number of years away." 

The Flying Car will be able to travel easily on ordinary roads, said he. 

The vice president of Terrafugia said that, “Our depositors represent a wide-cross section in terms of age, interests, and intended use of the vehicle. We have deposits from both experienced pilots and non-pilots who intend to earn their Sport Pilot certificate”. 

Terrafugia was launched in 2006 and is run by trained aeronautical engineers and MBAs from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Related Books:
PT&L Ef3 Flying Car/Story of Cars
Your Flying Car Awaits

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 25 June, 2009 3:01:15 PM IST #