Terrafugia Transition first flight successful

Guys, the first flying car is here! No, its not from Moller – this is the company called Terrafugia which we reported on a while back.

Terrafugia Transition first flight photo

Terrafugia is not going to approve of us calling the Transition a flying car. The official, technical term for it is ‘roadable aircraft’.

What’s the difference? Your typical ‘flying car’ implies that the vehicle is equally at ease on the road and in the air. Not so here. A roadable aircraft can drive on the road, sure, but that’s not its main ability. It wants to get to an airport, and then take off and fly.

Terrafugia Transition first flight video

So today, the Terrafugia Transition which many had predicted would be the first aircraft to actually come good on its promises, has completed ist first flight successfully.

We are waiting for the press conference where the company will announce the successful first flight of the Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept.

Photo: Terrafugia Transition at a gas station taking in unleaded fuel

The Terrafugia Transition is a two-seat aircraft which can transform from car to aircraft in less than 30 seconds. On the road, the Transition drives much like a front-wheel drive car, and can fit in a normal garage. Fuel used is normal unleaded gasoline – that leaves open the possibility for alternative fuels in the future.

Terrafugia Transition first flight photo: Flying away from the camera

Cruising range is a maximum of 415 miles for the Transition at speeds of around 115 mph. On the road, it can be driven at highway speeds.

In flight, the Transition is powered by a propeller mounted at the tail end.

Photo: Terrafugia Transition takes off from the runway

Phil Maheer was the test pilot for the first flight of the Terrafugia Transition. The ‘flying car’ took off from Plattsburgh International Airport, New York. There was a chase plane piloted by Giora Guth, and a bunch of photos of the first flight are availabel for our viewing pleasure.

You will obviously need a driver’s license to drive it on the road, and a Sport Pilot license to fly the Transition.

The aircraft is yet to undergo extensive flight testing. Certification would follow that – no timeframes as of now with us. Hopefully Terrafugia will be able to reveal during the press conference about when they expect to start production of the Transition.

When will the Transition be officially launched? 2010 is likely, and the price is going to be somewhere around the indicated $ 194,000. I am sure there are a lot of millionaires waiting even in this recession!