Almost the Jetsons
- Thread starter silver-eagle
- Start date
roncachamp
Final Approach
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2008
- Messages
- 7,308
- Location
- De Pere, WI
- Display Name
- Steven P McNicoll
- Home Airfield
- WI78
So how many Transitions have been delivered to date? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
ebykowsky
Cleared for Takeoff
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,405
- Display Name
- goalstop
I'll never buy one... I enjoy being a pilot, not the autopilot's passenger.
Worse yet, imagine all the normal (non-pilot) people buying these and acting like they're pilots! If everyone is wearing ray bans and a breitling, how ever will I distinguish myself as better than them?
Worse yet, imagine all the normal (non-pilot) people buying these and acting like they're pilots! If everyone is wearing ray bans and a breitling, how ever will I distinguish myself as better than them?
Todd Copeland
Pre-takeoff checklist
Typical. Haven't even produced the first concept and they are hyping a second one. Seen this before....
I'd be more likely to buy the second one than the first, if I were to buy one at all, simply for the VTOL capabilities. No need to drive to an airport, so it would be pretty close to the idea of a "flying car" that can leap over traffic jams in a single bound.
Realistically, though... nah.
-Rich
JasonM
Pattern Altitude
Why are all these flying cars so dang ugly? there is so many cool looking cars to be getting inspiration from. The electric car industry has had the same approach from many of them. Why does future = ugly? Make that thing look like this and I will be all over it.
edit: Heck, just turn this thing into that and make it go 500 mph. since it already goes 260mph+ on land.
edit: Heck, just turn this thing into that and make it go 500 mph. since it already goes 260mph+ on land.
Last edited:
Old Geek
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2011
- Messages
- 1,888
- Location
- Northern California
- Display Name
- Old Geek
- Home Airfield
- DWA
Flight suit and bigger headphones.
Jim Logajan
En-Route
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2008
- Messages
- 4,027
- Display Name
- .
A roadable airplane and a VTOL aircraft are two possible solutions to the same problem: transportation that is within reasonable walking distance of your departure point that gets you within reasonable walking distance of your final destination. It takes a special kind of "talent" to propose a single vehicle that solves the same problem twice.
By my estimation a safe VTOL aircraft is an overall better solution than a roadable airplane or aircraft.
denverpilot
Tied Down
Vaporware is fun... I guess.
rottydaddy
En-Route
All I can say about this is that on The Jetsons, George was always complaining about the traffic jams... in the sky. 
And much of the pleasure of flying, for me, is recovering from the trauma of sharing the road with a bunch of idiots and psychos on the way to the airport... I don't want to share the sky with a bunch of "drivers".
And much of the pleasure of flying, for me, is recovering from the trauma of sharing the road with a bunch of idiots and psychos on the way to the airport... I don't want to share the sky with a bunch of "drivers".
ebykowsky
Cleared for Takeoff
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,405
- Display Name
- goalstop
If you read the specs though, the thing flies itself, no pilot necessary. Lands itself, can declare an emergency itself, navigates itself too. The thing is just no fun.
silver-eagle
En-Route
None. Expected delivery looks like it has been pushed to 2014. The price has grown from 140K to 270K. They've gotten a waiver for LSA. They've had a number of issues to deal with and have overcome most. But introducing a new model will/should/might bring in extra capital and new investors.
And then you have the Icon A5 which has asked for a 250 pound waiver for LSA.
It cannot be easy to start up a new company. Harder when more capable vehicles cost less (think hybrid or electric cars). These will appeal to people with lots of disposable income and want something unique.
Unless I hit the lottery bigtime or one of you fine people buy one for me, I doubt I will ever have one.
pikespeakmtnman
Pre-takeoff checklist
Nah....striped epaulets are the only way to distinguish yourself as a pilot, and then they know to call you "captain" too.
Art VanDelay
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2011
- Messages
- 2,409
- Location
- Del Boca Vista
- Display Name
- Art VanDelay
- Home Airfield
- KPMP
Ah.....yeah.....Looks like Terrafugia has just joined the ranks of Moeller Technologies. What happens when just the left engine quits while in a hover ? It's answers to questions like that that took the XV-15 twenty years plus to mature to the MV-22. I don't see that level of technology represented in that design nor do I see it affordable.
ebykowsky
Cleared for Takeoff
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,405
- Display Name
- goalstop
Looks like those motors are electric, which I would think means a much smaller chance of just one failing. But if it does, it switches to the engine power and lands like an airplane.
bbchien
Touchdown! Greaser!
Ah. the "Popular Science" school of promotion, at it again....
gismo
Touchdown! Greaser!
If only it would pay for the gas itself (and earn the money for that) I might be interested.
But what I don't get is why so many developers of new "highly advanced" airplanes think they can ignore the laws of physics and/or well proven principles of aerodynamics. The short stubby wings on the concept images will make this thing about as inefficient as a big helicopter.
alfadog
Final Approach
Seriously. We were supposed to have flying cars by 30 years ago. That thing is pure pie-in-the-sky. Not even worth a critique.
alfadog
Final Approach
And talk about a lame sales pitch; something smells:
"Development of TF-X™ is expected to last 8-12 years. If you wish to be one of the first to own a TF-X™ vehicle, consider reserving a Transition® today. The Transition® will be delivered long before the TF-X is ready, and as loyal Terrafugia customers, Transition® buyers will be given the option to purchase TF-X vehicles before the rest of the public. The knowledge and experience you gain as a Transition® owner will help prepare you for TF-X™, and your feedback on our first product will help us craft the second."
"Development of TF-X™ is expected to last 8-12 years. If you wish to be one of the first to own a TF-X™ vehicle, consider reserving a Transition® today. The Transition® will be delivered long before the TF-X is ready, and as loyal Terrafugia customers, Transition® buyers will be given the option to purchase TF-X vehicles before the rest of the public. The knowledge and experience you gain as a Transition® owner will help prepare you for TF-X™, and your feedback on our first product will help us craft the second."