Terrafugia Transition

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Transition
Proof of Concept during SciFoo 2008 at Google's headquarters
Role Light-sport aircraft
Manufacturer Terrafugia
First flight March 5, 2009[1]
Introduction In development since 2006, prototype unveiled in 2009
Number built 1
Unit cost US$194,000

The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable aircraft under development by Terrafugia since 2006.[2]

The Rotax 912S piston engine powered, carbon-fiber vehicle is planned to have a flight range of 425 nmi (489 mi; 787 km) using automotive grade unleaded gasoline and a cruising flight speed of 107 mph (93 kn; 172 km/h). It does not include an autopilot.

On the highway, it can drive up to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h)[3] to keep up with traffic. The Transition Proof of Concept's folded dimensions of 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) high, 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) wide and 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) long are designed to fit within a standard household garage. When operated as a car, the engine powers the rear wheel drive. In flight, the engine drives a pusher propeller. The Transition has folding wings, pusher propeller and twin tail.

Contents

[edit] Milestones

The experimental Transition Proof of Concept's first flight was successful and took place under FAA supervision at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York using U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) tail number N302TF. First customer delivery, as of March 2009, was planned for 2011.[1][4][5] The design of the production version was made public at AirVenture Oshkosh on 26 July, 2010[6] and in June, 2011 a change of the estimated delivery date to "late 2012" was announced.[7]

On July 1, 2010 it was announced that the Terrafugia Transition had been granted an exemption from the FAA concerning its Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW). The Transition can be certified with a take-off weight up to 1,430 pounds (650 kg), matching light-sport amphibious aircraft, and still be classified as light-sport.[8] Light-sport craft operating only from land are usually limited at 1,320 pounds (600 kg) MTOW. The extra 110 pounds (50 kg) allows for the mandatory road safety features such as airbags and bumpers.[8][9]

On November 16, 2010 the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published Terrafugia's July 20, 2010 petition for a temporary, three-year hardship exemption from four FMVSS standards in the Transition.[10][11] The requests are:

  • To use lighter weight but equally safe motorcycle tires instead of RV tires. (FMVSS No. 110, S4.1 and S4.4)
  • To not include an electronic stability control system because of its weight and potential to become a single point of failure that might unintentionally throttle back the engine in flight. (FMVSS No. 126)
  • To use lighter and stronger, but less scratch resistant, polycarbonate for the windshield and side windows in place of glass to more safely withstand bird strikes. (FMVSS No. 205, S5)
  • To use basic airbags instead of advanced, dual stage airbags because of a lack of financial resources to develop an advanced air bag system. (FMVSS No. 208, S14 except S14.5.1(a))

The NHTSA granted all of the requested exemptions on June 29, 2011, but limited the stability control and airbag exemptions to one year instead of three as originally requested.[12][13]

[edit] Specifications

Transition Proof of Concept with wings folded at Oshkosh 2008

Data from Terrafugia Transition Proof of Concept specifications[3][14][15]. Terrafugia Transition 2010 specifications.[16]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 2, pilot and passenger
  • Payload: 460 lb (210 kg) ()
  • Length: 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) ()
  • Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) ()
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) ()
  • Empty weight: 970 lb (440 kg) ()
  • Useful load: 460 lb (210 kg) ()
  • Max. takeoff weight: 1,430 lb (650 kg)[8] ()
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912S, 100 hp (75 kW) @ 5800 rpm (max. 5 minutes), 95 hp (71 kW) @ 5500 rpm (continuous) ()
  • Propellers: Prince Aircraft Company, four-bladed "P-Tip"[17][18] propeller, 1 per engine
  • Cockpit width: 48 in (1.2 m) at the shoulder
  • Fuel capacity: 23 US gal (87 L; 19 imp gal), 140 pounds (64 kg)
  • Length on road: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) with elevator up
  • Width on road: 90 in (2.3 m) with wings folded
  • Height on road: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Rear wheel drive on road

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 kts (115 mph or 185 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 93 kts (107 mph or 172 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 45 kts (51 mph or 82 km/h)
  • Range: In flight 425 nmi (489 mi; 787 km); on road 805 mi (700 nmi; 1,296 km) ()
  • Maximum speed on road: 65 mph (105 km/h)
  • Fuel economy in cruise flight: 5 US gal (19 L) per hour
  • Fuel economy on road: 35 mpg-US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg-imp)
  • Certifications: Both FAA and FMVSS certifications planned

Avionics
Glass panel; the proof-of-concept airplane includes:[19][20]

  • Dynon Avionics EFIS-D100 Electronic Flight Information System with HS34 Nav and GPS Connectivity
  • Dynon Avionics EMS-D120 Engine Monitoring System

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Haines, Thomas B. (19 March 2009). "First roadable airplane takes flight". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2009/090319terrafugia.html. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
  2. ^ http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/30062010/36/flying-car-closer-reality-0.html
  3. ^ a b Dietrich, Anna Mracek (2009-03-16). "TransitionSpecs-FirstFlight-200". Terrafugia. http://www.terrafugia.com/TransitionSpecs.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-02. 
  4. ^ Phillips, Matt (March 18, 2009). "Flying Car Takes First Flight". The Middle Seat Terminal (The Wall St. Journal). http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/03/18/flying-car-takes-first-flight/?mod=rss_WSJBlog. Retrieved 2009-03-19. 
  5. ^ Mone, Gregory (2008-10). "The Driving Airplane Gets Real". Popular Science: pp. 42–48. http://www.terrafugia.com/news/archives/2008-1001-PopularScience.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-20. 
  6. ^ ""Flying Car" Moves Closer to First Delivery". Terrafugia. 2010-07-26. http://www.terrafugia.com/newsreleases.html#NextGen. Retrieved 27 July 2010. 
  7. ^ Dietrich, Carl. "CEO, Terrafugia". Terrafugia. http://www.terrafugia.com/pdf/LetterToNewsletterSubscribers-2011-06-10.pdf. Retrieved 30 June 2011. 
  8. ^ a b c "'Flying Car' Gets Big Break From FAA". CBS News. 2010-06-30. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/30/tech/main6634122.shtml. Retrieved 1 July 2010. 
  9. ^ "Exemption number 10072" (PDF). FAA. 2010-05-27. http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/contentStreamer?objectId=0900006480af959c&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf. Retrieved 9 July 2010. 
  10. ^ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2010-11-16) (PDF). Docket No. NHTSA–2010-0154. Terrafugia, Inc.; Receipt of Application for Temporary Exemption From Requirements for Tire Selection and Rims or Motor Vehicles FMVSS No. 110, Electronic Stability Control Systems FMVSS No. 126, Glazing Materials FMVSS No. 205, and Occupant Crash Protection FMVSS No. 208. U.S. GPO. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-28732.pdf. 
  11. ^ Max Trescott (2010-11-18). "Terrafugia Roadable Aircraft Moves Closer to Reality". Experimental Aircraft Association. http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-11-18_terrafugia.asp. 
  12. ^ Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2011-06-29). "Terrafugia, Inc.; Grant of Application for Temporary Exemption From Certain Requirements of FMVSS No. 110, Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles, FMVSS No. 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems, FMVSS No. 205, Glazing Materials, and FMVSS No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection". Federal Register 76 (125): 38270–38279. 76 FR 38270. http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/06/29/2011-16222/terrafugia-inc-grant-of-application-for-temporary-exemption-from-certain-requirements-of-fmvss-no#h-24. Retrieved 30 June 2011. "Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0154" 
  13. ^ Page, Lewis, "Terrafugia flying car gets road-safety exemptions", The Register, 4 July 2011; retrieved 11 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Terrafugia - Transition the Roadable Light Sport Aircraft : The Vehicle". Terrafugia. 2008. http://www.terrafugia.com/aircraft.html. Retrieved 2009-03-25. 
  15. ^ Haines, Thomas B. (2009-05). "Waypoints: From highway to airway". AOPA. http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2009/may/wp0905.html. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  16. ^ "Terrafugia -Transition the Roadable Light Sport Aircraft : The Vehicle". Terrafugia. 2010-07-26. http://www.terrafugia.com/aircraft.html. Retrieved 2010-07-27. 
  17. ^ "Prince Aircraft Company - Who We Build For". Prince Aircraft Company. http://www.princeaircraft.com/WhoWeBuildFor.aspx. Retrieved 2009-03-28. 
  18. ^ Ryan, David L. (2009-03-18). "'Flying car' at the Museum of Science". Boston.com (The Boston Globe). http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/gallery/031809_flying_car?pg=4. Retrieved 2009-03-28. 
  19. ^ "Photo of Transition cockpit at Oshkosh 2008". 2008-07-28. http://www.flickr.com/photos/observethebanana/2725313386/. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  20. ^ Ward, Jeff (flickr id: Scofreyjet) (2009-09-13). "Photo of Transition cockpit at EAA106 Light Sport Expo". http://www.flickr.com/photos/scofreyjet/4008488921/sizes/o. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 

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