Talk:Terrafugia

The Skepticism/Optimism sections taken together seem a valid neutral balance. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.79.14.161 (talk) 18:13, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

Q: Who is Terrafugia, Inc. Q: what is the Transition®, and what makes the Transition® different from past attempts at a dual-use (land and air) kind of vehicle? Q: Where does the name Terrafugia come from? Q: Who is the Transition® for? Q: Will the Transition® fall into the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category? Q: Do I need a current FAA Medical to fly the Transition®? Q: Is there an airport near where I live or to where I want to go? Q: Who is Terrafugia, Inc.?

A: Terrafugia, Inc. is based in Woburn, MA, and was begun in 2004 to bring the Transition® roadable aircraft to market. Terrafugia’s mission is the expansion of personal mobility through the practical integration of land and air travel.

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Q: What is the Transition®, and what makes the Transition® different from past attempts at a dual-use (land and air) kind of vehicle?

The Transition® is a roadable aircraft: a multi-purpose vehicle that is capable of flight, yet is street legal like any other automobile. Like any vehicle of this type (multi-purpose), the Transition® is an engineering compromise. It is common wisdom that “flying-cars are both poor cars and poor aircraft, so they will never be appealing.” Terrafugia intends to turn that statement on its head with a fresh design philosophy: that of designing an aircraft with the added functionality of being able to fold its wings, drive off the airport on any surface road, and park in your garage. Due to the way Terrafugia has engineered the vehicle, it is a compromise that has already appealed to many people. The Transition® will serve the needs of pilots – both in the air and on the ground – and has been hailed as the best dual-use concept to date.

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Q: Where does the name Terrafugia come from?

A: Terrafugia is the combination of Latin roots. “Terra” means “Earth” while “fugia” was derived from “fugere”, which means “to escape.” “Terrafugia” loosely translates as “Escape the Earth”.

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Q: Who is the Transition® for?

A: The Transition® is for pilots. It is not intended for use by short-distance commuters, by people running errands, or for any trip through city traffic or under 100 miles. Instead, the Transition® will be filling a currently under served niche in transportation. If you travel between 100 and 500 miles at a stretch, particularly if your trip is either starting or ending in a more suburban or rural area, then the Transition® is for you. If you don't already have a pilot's license, you will need to get one before you can operate the Transition®. The Transition® is for pilots, businesspeople, weekend travelers, and anyone who values their mobility and independence.

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Q: Will the Transition® fall into the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category?

A: Terrafugia is targeting the Light Sport category for the Transition®. While weight remains a top design challenge, the Transition® is targeted to be a Special Light Sport (S-LSA) vehicle. This means that it is fully factory certified (not a kit), and can be used by a Sport Pilot or by more experienced operators for instruction or other commercial operation.

A common misconception is that there are operability limitations placed on LSA vehicles that make them undesirable for Private Pilots. Actually, these limitations are on Sport Pilots who have not been trained for the operation in question, not on Light-Sport aircraft themselves.

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Q: Do I need a current FAA Medical to fly the Transition®?

A: No, but per the Sport Pilot rules, you need a valid driver’s license. Also, to fly as a Sport Pilot, you must never have been denied a medical. For more information on Sport Pilot regulations, please refer to www.sportpilot.org, which is maintained by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) or www.faa.gov.

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Q: Is there an airport near where I live or to where I want to go?

Chances are good that there is a public use General Aviation airport near your home, place of business, and travel destination. With over 5,300 public use airports around the United States, and a total of nearly 20,000 public and private fields, you're sure to be just a short drive from any of them. The Aircraft Owners' and Pilots' Association (AOPA) hosts a site that will let you search for airports near where you want to be. Click here to be redirected to that site.

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FAQ General Vehicle Usage Vehicle Ownership Technical

Q: How difficult is it to Transition® from car to plane mode and plane to car mode? Q: Is the propeller in use on the ground? Q: How many people does the Transition® seat? Q: How do I see out the back on the ground? Q: Will the Transition® fit in my garage? Q: Will the Transition® have reverse? Q: How fast will the Transition® drive on the ground? Q: How fast will the Transition® fly? Q: How will the Transition® handle on the ground and in the air? Q: Do I need a current FAA Medical to fly the Transition®? Q: Is there an airport near where I live or where I want to go? Q: Can I take off from the highway? Q: How much runway do I need to take off and land the Transition®? Will the Transition® have air conditioning? Will the Transition® have auto pilot? How much cargo space is available in the Transition®? How wide is the cabin in the Transition®?

Q: How difficult is it to change from car to plane mode and plane to car mode?

A: Changing modes is very easy. The pilot can fold or unfold the wings with the push of a button without leaving the cockpit. This is part of the Transition®’s charm and unique practicality. The wings fold via hinges at two points for each wing and are driven by a linear electric actuator at the root of each wing. A clutch transfers engine power from the wheels to the propeller.

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Q: Is the propeller in use on the ground?

A: No, the propeller is locked in place when the vehicle is in ground-transportation mode. A clutch disengages the engine from the propeller and engages the front wheels. While the same power plant is used in both modes, the propeller is safely locked in place on the ground.

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Q: How many people does the Transition® seat?

A: As per the Light Sport Aircraft regulations, the Transition® seats two people, side-by-side.

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Q: What about blind spots on the ground?

A: Rear visibility is limited in the Transition® when in roadable configuration. However, a number of different tactics are being considered to mitigate this including a rear-vision camera system (similar to those already on the market in several high-end SUV’s and motor homes).

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Q: Will the Transition® have reverse?

A: Yes, the Transition® will have a manual continuously variable transmission (CVT) with the capability to drive in reverse.

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Q: Will the Transition® fit in my garage?

A: The Transition® was designed to fit into a standard household garage. At 6.75 ft (2.1 m) high, 6.5 ft (2.0 m) wide, and 18.75’ (5.7 m) long, the Transition® will fit anywhere that you could park a larger SUV such as a Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator, and will fit inside a 7’ garage and a standard parking space.

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Q: How fast will the Transition® drive on the ground?

A: The Transition® will be fully highway capable and able to easily reach the speed limit. A 100hp engine in a vehicle as light as the Transition® will provide ample power on the ground.

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Q: How fast will the Transition® fly?

A: At 75% power, the anticipated cruising speed of the Transition® is 100 kts (115 mph, 185 km/hr). For more information about flight characteristics and other specifications, please see the Vehicle Page.

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Q: How will the Transition® handle on the ground and in the air?

A: The Transition® will drive like a car on the ground and be controlled like a normal small airplane in the air. On the road, the Transition® should handle well – it will be light weight, tightly controlled, and slightly overpowered. Due to its light weight and large side surface area, the Transition® will be more sensitive to side gusts on the road. However, the Transition® is aerodynamically stable on the ground as well as in the air, so a strong gust might cause minimal fish-tailing, but the vehicle will self-correct. Also, the center of gravity is low and well inside the wide wheel base of the vehicle, giving the Transition® good stability on the ground.

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Q: Can I take off from the highway?

A: No. In addition to power lines, billboards, overpasses, and other obstructions that make this idea unsafe, the Transition® will have to be parked with the engine off in order to deploy the wings and engage the propeller. It is also illegal in most states (emergency landings excluded).

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Q: How much runway do I need to take off and land the Transition®?

A: The Transition® will need about 1700 ft (520 m) to take off over a 50 ft obstacle, but only a few hundred to land. Since you don’t have to take off and land at the same airport with this vehicle, the shorter landing distance does afford the pilot more options.

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Will the Transition® have air conditioning ?

A: Air conditioning will not be standard due to weight limitations. Based on customer demand in areas with warmer climates, Terrafugia anticipates offering air conditioning as optional equipment.

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Will the Transition® have auto pilot?

A: A pilot's license is required to operate the Transition®. The state-of-the-art technology is still far different from the popular conception of auto pilot. Actual avionics packages for the Transition® have not yet been finalized.

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How much cargo space is available in the Transition®?

A: The Transition® will have 550 lbs (250 kg) useful load and 20 cubic feet (0.6 cu. m) of cargo space. The cargo compartment will have sufficient length to cary skis or fishing poles.

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How wide is the cabin in the Transition®?

A: The Transition® will have a cabin width of 50" (1.3 m).

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FAQ

FAQ General Vehicle Usage Vehicle Ownership Technical Q: How much does a Transition® cost? Q: Can I place an order now for a Transition®? Q: What is the development and delivery schedule for the Transition®? Q: How many Transition®s have been reserved so far? Q: How will I insure my Transition®? Q: Can I get an instrument package for IFR? Q: How much does a Transition® cost?

A: The estimated base price for the Transition® is $148,000. Terrafugia cannot guarantee this price at this point due to general market uncertainties (inflation, material price fluctuations, etc.) As we get closer to the first production vehicle delivery in 2009 a firm price will be announced.

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Q: Can I place an order now for a Transition®?

A: Yes. As of Oshkosh 2006, Terrafugia has been offering customers the opportunity to reserve their production airframe number with a refundable deposit. Information on that deposit can be found elsewhere on this site (click here for the Deposit Page) or obtained directly by emailing sales@terrafugia.com.

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Q: How many Transition®s have been reserved so far?

A: The exact number of reserved airframes is not released to the public (and continues to grow). As of July 2007, all of Terrafugia's anticipated production though the end of Q2 2010 has been reserved.

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Q: What is the development and delivery schedule for the Transition®?

A: Terrafugia is currently in the prototyping phase for the Transition®. A fully functional flying prototype will be operational in late 2008. The first production Transition® delivery is currently scheduled for the end of 2009.

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Q: How will I insure my Transition®?

A: Terrafugia is in the process of working with major underwriters to offer a package policy that includes automobile physical insurance as well as the hull and liability insurance needed for an airplane. Auto liability insurance is required in all 50 states, and will be obtainable from any auto insurance provider, such as the pilot's existing policy carrier. The Terrafugia insurance package will be in place before the first production delivery of the vehicle and is anticipated to cost less than the sum of separate aircraft and auto policies. Please see the Transition® Supplemental Information sheet as well. Additional details will be made available closer to the production date.

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Q: Can I get an instrument package for IFR?

A: At this time, since the Transition® will be a Light Sport aircraft, Terrafugia has no plans to offer an IFR package. Standard VFR day and night operational equipment will be included. If IFR conditions arise, the pilot always has the option of landing at the nearest airport and driving under the storm.

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The Company Terrafugia, Inc. The Terrafugia Team Safety & Environment Progress & Plans Investor Relations Terrafugia’s mission is the expansion of personal mobility through the practical integration of land and air travel.

Who is Terrafugia? A Note on History Today and Tomorrow Investor Relations

Who is Terrafugia?

Terrafugia was founded by graduates of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Sloan School of Business at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and incorporated in 2006. Currently based at its prototype development facility outside of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Terrafugia combines solid aircraft design fundamentals with a focus on creativity, safety, the environment and dedication to Transition® customers.

"Terrafugia" is derived from the Latin for “escape from the earth".

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A Note on History

People have dreamed of roadable aircraft since 1918 when Felix Longobardi was issued the first patent for a vehicle capable of both driving on surface roads and flying through the air. The most well known, and arguably most successful roadable aircraft were developed in the 1950s and 60s by Molt Taylor. Although his design was never mass produced and suffers from a number of practical drawbacks, a handful of prototypes were built and are capable of both flying and driving. There are also several other concepts currently in various stages of development for a flying car. A fairly comprehensive listing of vehicles of this type along with their espousers is available at the Roadable Times website.

This plurality of concepts shows that there is a perceived need for a vehicle of this type. Unfortunately, the cost/benefit of a flying car (both in terms of development and design compromises that must be made to build a vehicle like this) never justified serious financial backing – the real need was not sufficiently acute to justify the performance sacrifices of a dual use vehicle. Consequently, the flying car was relegated to the realm of lone inventors or visionaries that had the desire but not the resources/capability to build a practical, commercially viable entity around its sale to the global general aviation community. Until today.

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Today and Tomorrow

So what's different now? Thanks to the Light Sport Aircraft and Sport Pilot Rules issued by the FAA in the fall of 2004, the barrier to entry for a small, fully manufactured GA plane is lower than ever before -- for both pilots and manufacturers. This new class of airplane, which has exploded onto the US General Aviation scene combined with the focus on the Transition® as a roadable aircraft, not a flying car, allow Terrafugia to develop a truly practical vehicle for a reasonable level of capitalization. The new Sport Pilot category of pilot license also makes it easier for someone to learn how to fly the Transition® and other Light-Sport Airplanes. (And yes, to operate the Transition®, the owner does need to be a licensed pilot.)

These regulatory shifts, combined with recent advances in engine technology, modern light-weight construction materials, and the rich heritage of aviation infrastructure set the stage for the emergence of a new market and a new class of vehicle. Today, the Transition® is being developed to give pilots new options; tomorrow, this may be seen as just the beginning.