Terrafugia takes car to the skies with transition plane-car hybrid

The Transition Street-Legal Airplane is now a significant step closer to commercial reality. Developed by Terrafugia Inc (pronounced terra-FOO-gee-ah), the Transition is a two-seater personal aircraft/car hybrid that can be driven on current road infrastructures, park in a single car garage, and fly with unleaded automotive fuel. The production prototype completed its successful first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport in NY on March 23, 2012 and has been classified as a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).

The composite and aluminium Transition is just 440kg, powered by a 1.4-litre Rotax water-cooled flat-four developing just 100hp. In aircraft mode, the automated folding wings open and a gearbox transfers power to a four-bladed pusher propeller just behind the cockpit. The non-pressurized Transition can travel up to 185km, with a flying range of slightly over 644km. In road mode, the wings gets folded with a license plate hanging in the slipstream. The rear-wheel-driven Transition reaches a maximum of 100km/h with a range in excess of 966km. According to Terrafugia, the company has more than 100 reservations with an anticipated base purchase price of $279,000 (S$351,721).

Terrafugia will continue its testing program in preparation for first delivery, which is expected to occur within the next year. Regarding the first flight, Terrafugia CEO/CTO and co-founder Carl Dietrich mentioned the successful completion of the maiden flight to be a major milestone. With the flight, the team at Terrafugia has accomplished what could only be seen in reel life like Blade Runner and The Fifth Element.

The Transition reached an altitude of 1400 feet and flight time lasted for eight minutes while demonstrating the controllability and safe operational characteristics of the aircraft. Six phases of flight testing are planned to continue development and demonstrate compliance to the light sport aircraft standards.

Terrafugia Chief Test Pilot Phil Meteer spoke about the first flight, commenting the Transition is a remarkable vehicle both on the road and, in the air. He also mentioned he was amazed a vehicle he flew at Plattsburgh a few days ago could be driven through a garage door.

The Transition production prototype is on display at the New York International Auto Show till the 15th of April. Terrafugia is a growing aerospace company founded by pilots and engineers from MIT and supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors.

The name Terrafugia is Latin for "escape the earth”, and the company aims to design and deliver revolutionary, practical air and land vehicles that provide freedom, flexibility and fun to loyal customers.