Terrafugia / Flight Demo

KeyWestPhotog

KeyWestPhotog

Pre-takeoff checklist
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WingMan
---Someone Please get the skinny for us on this---

Terrafugia has brought its most recent version of the Transition roadable aircraft to EAA AirVenture this week for its first flights before an airshow crowd. The first demo is expected on Monday afternoon, with a second flight Wednesday at 8 p.m., before the night airshow. The airplane will be driven from the Terrafugia booth out to the runway, take off and fly; then after landing, the pilot will fold the wings and drive back to the exhibit, Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich told AVweb on Sunday. This is the second prototype, and the design will be tweaked for a third version, now in the works, Dietrich said. That aircraft will be powered by the fuel-injected Rotax 912 IS with an updated engine management system and better fuel economy.

Dietrich said the company is "still learning" from this airplane and he expects the third-generation prototype will evolve into the final conforming aircraft for production. One major change in the works for that version will be to make the tail booms and all the outside components of the aircraft replaceable, so if they are damaged the aircraft can be more easily repaired. "That will keep insurance costs in check," Dietrich said. The aircraft will be on display all week in the Terrafugia exhibit south of Hangar C.
 
One major change in the works for that version will be to make the tail booms and all the outside components of the aircraft replaceable, so if they are damaged the aircraft can be more easily repaired.
Bunch of MIT folks finally realized the reality of 'bump' parking in Cambridge and ilk. I hope it works but it still smells Moller.
 
I can confirm it flew and drove. Hard to tell flight characteristics from the ground but it maneuvered, if a bit squirrelly looking. 1 minute transition to car
 
Pjsmith said:
I can confirm it flew and drove. Hard to tell flight characteristics from the ground but it maneuvered, if a bit squirrelly looking. 1 minute transition to car
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You mean it did more than just fly the length of the runway?
 
The 1000 lb. gorilla in the room is the legalities of a flying car. The way we want to use this is to be cruising down the freeway, see a traffic jam up ahead, extend wings and seeya! That won't be happening. We also want to be able to take off and land at or near our house, nope, can't do that either. If I have to use an airport then what's the point, perhaps saving a rental car fee?
 
I am real skeptical that a flying car can be made within the LSA weight standard.
 
Alexb2000 said:
The 1000 lb. gorilla in the room is the legalities of a flying car. The way we want to use this is to be cruising down the freeway, see a traffic jam up ahead, extend wings and seeya! That won't be happening. We also want to be able to take off and land at or near our house, nope, can't do that either. If I have to use an airport then what's the point, perhaps saving a rental car fee?
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C'mon, you don't see any other benefit at all?

I'm IFR rated. That doesn't mean I can fly through anything. This weekend, I skipped a trip because of weather. 1.5-2 hrs flying, 4-4.5 hrs by car. Didn't want to do 8-9 hrs when I've gotten used to 3 or 4 flying.

Weather was only an issue on the way up. Might have made the trip if I could have driven my plane up and flown it home. I would think that could especially appeal to VFR pilots.

What if weather's only an issue close to your destination? Even better--fly as far as you can, then drive the rest. Or drive until you're clear, then find an airport and take off.

Having a Terrafugia means never having to leave your plane stranded somewhere because you absolutely, positively needed to get home and the weather was too bad.

And all that is completely independent of the convenience of having ground transportation minutes after landing, no matter how small an airport you landed at. I fly around Texas, and there are plenty of small towns I've visited where ground transport was an issue. Town is too small to have taxis or rental cars, but airport is still a 30+ minute walk from where I want to go. No fun walking 30+ minutes in full sun during a Texas summer....
 
Jim_R said:
C'mon, you don't see any other benefit at all?

I'm IFR rated. That doesn't mean I can fly through anything. This weekend, I skipped a trip because of weather. 1.5-2 hrs flying, 4-4.5 hrs by car. Didn't want to do 8-9 hrs when I've gotten used to 3 or 4 flying.

Weather was only an issue on the way up. Might have made the trip if I could have driven my plane up and flown it home. I would think that could especially appeal to VFR pilots.

What if weather's only an issue close to your destination? Even better--fly as far as you can, then drive the rest. Or drive until you're clear, then find an airport and take off.

Having a Terrafugia means never having to leave your plane stranded somewhere because you absolutely, positively needed to get home and the weather was too bad.

And all that is completely independent of the convenience of having ground transportation minutes after landing, no matter how small an airport you landed at. I fly around Texas, and there are plenty of small towns I've visited where ground transport was an issue. Town is too small to have taxis or rental cars, but airport is still a 30+ minute walk from where I want to go. No fun walking 30+ minutes in full sun during a Texas summer....
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Agree with this, I suspect it will be too expensive for the benefits gained though. However, I won't mind being proven wrong!
 
If this plane ever becomes "real", you just know some dude is going to ball it up trying to take off or land on a highway.
 
Jim_R said:
C'mon, you don't see any other benefit at all?

I'm IFR rated. That doesn't mean I can fly through anything. This weekend, I skipped a trip because of weather. 1.5-2 hrs flying, 4-4.5 hrs by car. Didn't want to do 8-9 hrs when I've gotten used to 3 or 4 flying.

Weather was only an issue on the way up. Might have made the trip if I could have driven my plane up and flown it home. I would think that could especially appeal to VFR pilots.

What if weather's only an issue close to your destination? Even better--fly as far as you can, then drive the rest. Or drive until you're clear, then find an airport and take off.

Having a Terrafugia means never having to leave your plane stranded somewhere because you absolutely, positively needed to get home and the weather was too bad.

And all that is completely independent of the convenience of having ground transportation minutes after landing, no matter how small an airport you landed at. I fly around Texas, and there are plenty of small towns I've visited where ground transport was an issue. Town is too small to have taxis or rental cars, but airport is still a 30+ minute walk from where I want to go. No fun walking 30+ minutes in full sun during a Texas summer....
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Yup, even with an instrument rating there's still weather you can't fly through. Thunderstorms, for example. But I don't think I'd want to drive a Terrafugia through a thunderstorm either, those folded wings present a lot of sail area on a lightweight vehicle.
 
Brad Z said:
If this plane ever becomes "real", you just know some dude is going to ball it up trying to take off or land on a highway.
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Have we stopped doing that with real planes yet?:D
 
I'd like to be the fly on the wall in the Geico or Progressive claims agent cubical when their insured with a 10-15 year old car hits one of these Terrafugia's at an intersection and must pay out under the liability policy...

"You hit what??? And it's gonna be how much to repair???"

And the poor LEO writing up the report, not knowing what he's looking at...


I could see the first few owners getting pulled over because the LEO isn't sure this is legal to be on the road. Then an escort to the local airport for a demo flight with the officer in the right seat :D
 
they really screwed up putting 4 wheels on that thing. If they had made it a 3-wheeler it would be classified as a motorcycle and all these legislative concerns would evaporate.
 
JHW said:
they really screwed up putting 4 wheels on that thing. If they had made it a 3-wheeler it would be classified as a motorcycle and all these legislative concerns would evaporate.
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But then it wouldn't be a flying car.
 
ClimbnSink said:
Have we stopped doing that with real planes yet?:D
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With the exception of a few classic Youtube videos, most of the time such operations take place with dry tanks (or in the case of take-off, a jug or two of fuel).
 
AggieMike88 said:
I'd like to be the fly on the wall in the Geico or Progressive claims agent cubical when their insured with a 10-15 year old car hits one of these Terrafugia's at an intersection and must pay out under the liability policy...

"You hit what??? And it's gonna be how much to repair???"
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Same as if they ran into a porsche. They will write a check for the limit of the policy and they're done.
 
rwellner98 said:
Same as if they ran into a porsche. They will write a check for the limit of the policy and they're done.
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I saw that the other day in chicago. I was behind a a rusted-out chevy cavalier when it swerved to the other lane and sideswiped a brand new Ferrari 458. Hopefully that geico lizard can regrow a tail.
 
Brad Z said:
You mean it did more than just fly the length of the runway?
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Yep. I didn't time it, but I'd say 10 minutes or so. Prolly 1000 to 2000 agl, with significant banks and turns, climbs and descents. They were clearly putting it through the paces to pre-empt the spruce goose questions.
 
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They got some wavers on weight from the FAA.
 
About the only benefit is to be able to land at a VFr airport and drive through heavy weather and then fly again rather than wait it out on the ground waiting for weather to pass.a lot of money for an L S A .
 
I saw it at the airshows. This thing was slooooow in the air. I figured even if they wanted to slow it down to show it off they would at least do a pass or two at full speed to show off how fast it could go. $275,000 price tag or something like that. I would rather buy a sports car and a great plane for that kind of dough. You have to take off and land at an airport, prolly cause this thing needs some time to get off the ground.

Overall I'm not impressed, but I'd say not the biggest disappointment at Oshkosh. That honor goes to Jet man. Such a little spec, wake me up when the guy can fly around at pattern altitude and land without a parachute.
 
When We walked around the plane/car at its booth today, I noticed a tall guy with a nametag that said CEO. I shook his hand and said "Congratulations, this is a bet I would have lost." He grinned and said "Thanks for stopping by, and we get that a lot."
 
Skylane81E said:
Agreed, not many 1300lb cars running around, and they don't have wings and propellers and, and, and....
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There is an exception to the weight limit ( If I remember right) that exempts saftety equipment, and floats. Maybe they are counting the tires and wheels as floats? :lol:
 
Geico266 said:
There is an exception to the weight limit ( If I remember right) that exempts saftety equipment, and floats. Maybe they are counting the tires and wheels as floats? :lol:
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Possibly some of the equipment added for automotive safety standards are allowed for any weight over the limit?
 
Bob Noel said:
Possibly some of the equipment added for automotive safety standards are allowed for any weight over the limit?
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Yes. I don't have the specs in front of me, but I'm pretty sure you can subtract BRS, floats, and "other safety equipment". I would think the FAA would make an exception for 4 car tires, heavy brakes, bumpers, ect. :dunno:
 
jdennis1989 said:
I saw it at the airshows. This thing was slooooow in the air.
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I saw the same thing. It really looked like it was dragging around in the air with a high AOA, and very little excess power. I assume the "car" form factor and the low aspect ratio wings are really inefficient aerodynamically compared to regular aircraft planforms.

You also mentioned the jet man's act. A dot at 5,000' does not make a good airshow act. Heck, if he'd come down to 2,000' and made a pass where the thing was recognizable as a wing with a man under it, it would have been much better, but I understand why he didn't do that...
 
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