Newest Invention of 2009 - A Flying Car

A Flying Car - At Last!!!!
Well, it sounds a lot better than Road-Going Plane - which is really what it is if you want to kill the James Bond moment right here. If not, then read on!
Someone has finally invented the flying car - and they reckon that it could take to the sky in then next few weeks for it’s maiden voyage. Yippee!!!!!
Basically, it is already a road-legal ‘car’ and you can drive it all over town if you want, fuelling up with ordinary premium unleaded petrol - although you would look a tiny bit silly with the giant wings folded up to the rear of the vehicle as you pulled in to the services!
Why haven’t we had one before?
Well, after changes in the licencing of pilots in light aircraft in the US, there is a new category of ‘light sports aircraft’ for 2009 which this vehicle fit’s into. There are also less regulations to fly one in terms of ‘pilot flying hours’ and you only need 20 or more hours to gain this license (as long as all other requirements are met).
There have been numerous improvements in the field of avionics too - this is the new technology that helps you to fly a plane. There are no longer whole panels of instruments and controls to watch over - it all got a lot simpler. GPS does your navigation, the weather is just displayed on a screen rather than having to run calculations and use charts, and they have automatic throttles.
So, who did it?
A company called Terrafugia (Woburn, Massachusetts) are behind this one, and Carl Dietrich - one of the bosses - describes it as ‘a little Transformer’. However, push all ideas of your car turning into a robot and running across fields - and even forget about your car looking like a regular car. This machine just does the basics at the moment.
So, imagine flying your small 2-seater light aircraft with a ‘fold wings up’ button on the dashboard (obviously don’t press it while flying). Then imagine landing your ‘plane’ on a small runway, and taxing off to the side. You then press your little red button and within 15 seconds the wings have folded neatly away to the sides and you can then drive out through the parking lot and then head straight off to that all important meeting.
Obviously, you need a full pilots licence as well as a driving license for this one, but how cool to avoid all that tiresome commuting every day! You could fly over interstate traffic rather than sitting in it! No need to follow the ring road around a town or city - just pass right on over it!
There will also be no annoying check-in at airports for those shorter business journeys or weekend get-aways - just load up your car with essentials - drive to the airport and press your little button. You fly off and when you land at your destination - press the button again - and drive to your cabin in the woods. Imagine the day trips you could have with this baby!!!!
The facts:
The Terrafugia Transition (it’s full name) is currently a road legal car but is still working on the plane bit. Currently, there are some issues with insuring the vehicle as companies are not sure whether it should be a car that flies or a plane the goes on roads.
When extended, the plane has a 27.5ft wingspan and can fly at around 115mph - covering up to 500 miles on one tank of petrol.
When it’s a car, it drives as an automatic (as there is no gearstick). It has 100bhp and can be driven by anyone with a licence. It fits into a standard garage and saves you having to tow your own plane or pay hangar fees.
The company already have orders for 40 even though it’s not off the ground in both senses of the word!
The competitors:
Believe it or not there are several other companies using the new ‘light sports aircraft’ category to produce their own flying vehicles in 2009. And here are just 2 of these new vehicles/big boys toys:
Parajet Sky Car - Basically a dune buggy with a giant fan attached to the back and a parachute on top. This British invention can travel 100mph as a car and 80mph as a ‘plane’. They even have a pitch for a ’sports’ version and are planning to travel from London to Timbuktu to get publicity.
Pal-V Europe BV - Not so catchy a name, but this invention is a 3-wheeled gyrocopter, with full vertical take-off and landing ability! According to the manufacturers, it is as agile as a motorbike on land and the single rotor folds completely away. As it flies so low, you apparently don’t have to log your flight as you would do with the Transition.
Literally - the sky is the limit now for your childhood dreams to come true!