Terrafugia Transition

In the past, people would think that it was impossible to have a vehicle which could be a car as well as an aircraft. People would only expect to see this kind of flying car in the movies.

However, this dream can be realized now as the Federal Aviation Administration has allowed the manufacturers to produce Terrafugia Transition after the manufacturers show that the product is safe to be used.

The Terrafugia Transition is a kind of aircraft which is light and tiny. The maximum weight of it is 1,320 pounds. Manufacturers from Terrafugia have tried hard to equip the vehicle with all kinds of safety features such as airbags, roll cage and crumple zones.

Even though the product is now about 110 pounds more than the limit set, the FAA still granted a pass for the product and categorized it as a kind of 'light sport aircraft'.

Since the Transition flying car is not formally a plane, the time that you need to receive training in order to be permitted to fly the aircraft is only 20 hours. Of course, this does not mean that you will automatically know how to drive it. You still need to learn carefully and drive seriously and not treat it as a novelty or a game because the lives of yourself and others are at stake.

Automotive crash safety technology has been applied to create the Transition flying car. The danger of having an accident and being injured is greatly reduced (especially the visibility of this vehicle - how can you not see it?).

The Transition can accommodate 2 people in the vehicle and there will be more seats in the future if the company can successfully invent and market more futuristic models. However, 2 seats are enough to start to see if the Terrafugia Transition takes off in the marketplace. If people drive the flying car in automobile mode, then the maximum speed is around 65 mph.

The delivery of the flying car is expected in late 2011 and the company is taking reservations. The reservations are refundable, however.

So far, about 100 people have placed reservation with a deposit of $10,000. The balance will be paid after you receive the vehicle. The total cost of the Transition flying car is $194,000.