Flying Car Cleared to Use on Roads

[donaldcc]

Might have to get one of these. 

The flying car has been cleared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for use on roads and granted it special exemptions as a roadable aircraft.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/175810/20110707/flying-car-transition-terrafugia-inc-roadable-aircraft-car-plane-21st-century-2012-shipping-massachu.htm

First Flight: "Flying Car" Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft	powered by Aeva

[The Anvil]

This thing is one of the worst ideas I've ever seen.

[Bobbo]

We're finally getting around to making all the stuff that I read about in the 60's!  

[donaldcc]

This thing is one of the worst ideas I've ever seen.

  Not a vehicle you would take down to the corner for a quart of milk, but invention, innovation, conception are usually good things. 

[The Anvil]

  Not a vehicle you would take down to the corner for a quart of milk, but invention, innovation, conception are usually good things. 

I think the concept is great. But I'm not really one of those people who thinks that opening aviation to the masses is such a great idea. Also, a relatively minor accident on the road could mean beau coup bucks to fix because that's just how aviation is.

[Oss]

if i lived somewhere with really limited access, like an island in the middle of a lake
that could be a great boon.

I could see an EMS on one for use where all you have is a 1/3 mile stip lots of places

Is it cheaper than a medivac helicopter?

Cant wait to see it in the next james bond movie once they figure out the missile launchers, ejector seat and laser cannon

will you need homeland security approval to buy one?

[Hoser]

  Not a vehicle you would take down to the corner for a quart of milk, but invention, innovation, conception are usually good things. 

I think the concept is great. But I'm not really one of those people who thinks that opening aviation to the masses is such a great idea. Also, a relatively minor accident on the road could mean beau coup bucks to fix because that's just how aviation is.

I  think the high cost is going to keep it from opening aviation to the masses,  I say bring it on, if one can afford it, more power to them.  Hoser 

[The Anvil]

  Not a vehicle you would take down to the corner for a quart of milk, but invention, innovation, conception are usually good things. 

I think the concept is great. But I'm not really one of those people who thinks that opening aviation to the masses is such a great idea. Also, a relatively minor accident on the road could mean beau coup bucks to fix because that's just how aviation is.

I  think the high cost is going to keep it from opening aviation to the masses,  I say bring it on, if one can afford it, more power to them.  Hoser 

Remember that when it lands in your bedroom.

[Bobbo]

  Not a vehicle you would take down to the corner for a quart of milk, but invention, innovation, conception are usually good things. 

I think the concept is great. But I'm not really one of those people who thinks that opening aviation to the masses is such a great idea. Also, a relatively minor accident on the road could mean beau coup bucks to fix because that's just how aviation is.

I don't think this is intended for the masses.  I would expect you would need a pilot's license, and full FAA certification to fly this machine.  I agree that a minor traffic bump could lead to serious $$$$ to get it certified again for airworthiness!

[Daniel Meyer]

Remember that when it lands in your bedroom.

I've never landed a plane OR a car in anybody's bedroom....

[Bonzo]

I went to college with a guy, Perry who built his own auto-copter thing you use to see in Popular Mechanics Magazine.  Up in Gouverneur, New York on his fathers farm. Watched him fly all over the place with it, very cool.  Three years latter I was reading the NY paper at work and there was a little blurb on page three how Perry..... perished when his home made  flying thing crashed through a barn. he had evidently ran out of gas.

[Bobbo]

I went to college with a guy, Perry who built his own auto-copter thing you use to see in Popular Mechanics Magazine.  Up in Gouverneur, New York on his fathers farm. Watched him fly all over the place with it, very cool.  Three years latter I was reading the NY paper at work and there was a little blurb on page three how Perry..... perished when his home made  flying thing crashed through a barn. he had evidently ran out of gas.

An autogyro is always in autorotation, so running out of gas alone won't make it crash.  More likely he had a mechanical or medical issue...

[Bonzo]

It was not an auto gyro , I know what they are and their aerodynamics. It  was a non fixed wing home made flying machine of some sorts.  Yes there was a mechanical issue, he ran out of gas. and yes there was a medical issue, he died when he crashed through the cow barn.

[Bobbo]

It was not an auto gyro , I know what they are and their aerodynamics. It  was a non fixed wing home made flying machine of some sorts.  Yes there was a mechanical issue, he ran out of gas. and yes there was a medical issue, he died when he crashed through the cow barn.

What other non-fixed wing aircraft are there besides powered rotor (helicopter), non-powered rotor (autogyro), and a combination of both (gyrodyne)?

[The Anvil]

I don't think this is intended for the masses.  I would expect you would need a pilot's license, and full FAA certification to fly this machine.  I agree that a minor traffic bump could lead to serious $$$$ to get it certified again for airworthiness!

Sort of. It fits into the Light Sport Aircraft category. The requirements of light sport pilot are considerably less stringent than obtaining a full VFR/IFR rating. But it's quite common for "pilots" to get in over their heads (JFK Jr. anyone?). There's even a new LSA maintenance category, I guess in anticipation of the day when you'll have roadside service stations that fix these things? God forbid that person know what they're doing either.

I give it a year before Ashton Kutcher dies in one of these things.

[Bonzo]

It was not an auto gyro , I know what they are and their aerodynamics. It  was a non fixed wing home made flying machine of some sorts.  Yes there was a mechanical issue, he ran out of gas. and yes there was a medical issue, he died when he crashed through the cow barn.

What other non-fixed wing aircraft are there besides powered rotor (helicopter), non-powered rotor (autogyro), and a combination of both (gyrodyne)?

One that crashed 33 years ago. And one that a friend of mine died on, when it ran out of gas and crashed through a barn.

[The Anvil]

Magic carpet???

[CajunRider]

115 mph in flight???  Get the price down to a reasonable area and I'd be tempted to buy one!!

I do have a private pilot license (out of date now)... so I'm sure I can get the license for one of these.  

[Hoser]

I would assume the FAA would regulate any aircraft and liscensing of pilots before  it is allowed in service.  Can't figure out the negativity. There are those of us who have worked in the aircraft industry who are in favor of progress.  Hoser  ???

[x]

I would assume the FAA would regulate any aircraft and liscensing of pilots before  it is allowed in service.  Can't figure out the negativity. There are those of us who have worked in the aircraft industry who are in favor of progress.  Hoser  ???

What???!!!???  You want the federal government to REGULATE aircraft and licensing of pilots?  Isn't this government interference into people doing their own thing?

[Moonshot_1]

I wonder who will the first motorcyclist be who is killed while someone is landing one of those things while texting?

[CajunRider]

I would assume the FAA would regulate any aircraft and liscensing of pilots before  it is allowed in service.  Can't figure out the negativity. There are those of us who have worked in the aircraft industry who are in favor of progress.  Hoser  ???

What???!!!???  You want the federal government to REGULATE aircraft and licensing of pilots?  Isn't this government interference into people doing their own thing?

He didn't say he wanted regulation... just that he assumed it would be regulated... 

[Linedog]

I can't imagine what the State Patrol will say when one of these things lands on afreeway with traffic.   Linedog

[Hoser]

If they could fold the wings on the go, they wouldn't even have to stop!       Hoser

[Daniel Meyer]

I can't imagine what the State Patrol will say when one of these things lands on afreeway with traffic.   Linedog

They would *absolutely* love it.

Tickets would be flying all over the place. Revenue! Jobs! New cars! Hey, this year can we cram $80,000 of electronics in our new cars instead of only $50,000?

[The Anvil]

First of all, never assume anything.

But anyhoo, you've gotta realize that even professional pilots are on average no smarter than the rest of the population. One you start sending up a bunch of people with more money than brains and even less training? Well let's just say that you may want to start wearing your helmet everywhere.

And pilots do not have rights. Flying (like driving) is a privilege. The Senator has no business behind the yoke and should have his ticket pulled.

[Sludge]

It was not an auto gyro , I know what they are and their aerodynamics. It  was a non fixed wing home made flying machine of some sorts.  Yes there was a mechanical issue, he ran out of gas. and yes there was a medical issue, he died when he crashed through the cow barn.

What other non-fixed wing aircraft are there besides powered rotor (helicopter), non-powered rotor (autogyro), and a combination of both (gyrodyne)?

Bobbo, speaking of autogyros  Check this one out.  Pretty impressive rates of decent and stop and drop landings. They make a larger 2 seat version of this as well.   It also has a pre-rotator to shorten the takeoff roll.  I wish they had a larger one where it could do jump takeoffs.  50k for the 300hp twin seat version.

Monarch gyrocopter doing stop and drop landings	powered by Aeva

[designer]

Impressive! But won't allow you to fly without a flight plan, landing strip, license, ground school and all the other stuff necessary to fly an aircraft. just keeps you from having to rent hangar space and parking your car. 

[Bobbo]

It was not an auto gyro , I know what they are and their aerodynamics. It  was a non fixed wing home made flying machine of some sorts.  Yes there was a mechanical issue, he ran out of gas. and yes there was a medical issue, he died when he crashed through the cow barn.

What other non-fixed wing aircraft are there besides powered rotor (helicopter), non-powered rotor (autogyro), and a combination of both (gyrodyne)?

Bobbo, speaking of autogyros  Check this one out.  Pretty impressive rates of decent and stop and drop landings. They make a larger 2 seat version of this as well.   It also has a pre-rotator to shorten the takeoff roll.  I wish they had a larger one where it could do jump takeoffs.  50k for the 300hp twin seat version.

Pretty cool!  The autogyro in the video had a prerotator.  300HP is quite a lot!

[Rams]

Impressive! But won't allow you to fly without a flight plan, landing strip, license, ground school and all the other stuff necessary to fly an aircraft. just keeps you from having to rent hangar space and parking your car.  

It's been a few years since I flew helicopters but, unless the FAA has changed the rules, one does not always need a flight plan.  No doubt one should file one but, I don't believe there is a requirement unless flying out of, through or landing in controlled airspace.  It's been a long time and I always filed a flight plan but, it wasn't always required then.

As far as owning this craft, I'd like to own one and fly one but the cost is going to be up there with or above other fixed wings.  It would be handy to be able to not have to take off and land at an airport and drive onto your desination but, that idea also brings up other problems, like who's gonna be watching the skies while driving down the freeway.

[Walküre]

I can't imagine what the State Patrol will say when one of these things lands on afreeway with traffic.   Linedog

Uhm...how 'bout "Let's clean up this mess!!"....

[SideCar]

What kind of cross-breeding is this?  Next thing you know, people will be putting car tires on motorcycles.  

I like this one, but am even more partial to the Moller http://www.moller.com/ It should be a lot faster and more dangerous.

[The Anvil]

What kind of cross-breeding is this?  Next thing you know, people will be putting car tires on motorcycles.  

I like this one, but am even more partial to the Moller http://www.moller.com/ It should be a lot faster and more dangerous.

OMG now you want to throw VerTOL in the mix? Why don't we just give out pistols with backward facing barrels???