The FAA ( USA) granted the Transition, the Roadable Aircraft, permission to take-off, land and to be driven home. After a long struggle to get this mean machine up in the air, the permission certainly has got in a ray of hope for all those wishing their machines soar newer heights and also spread their wings.
The reality of seeing a car fly was not far-fetched at any point in time. It was a dream of many inventors to see a mean machine fly, but permissions from the relevant departments was always a problem and quite obviously the high flyers were stranded on the ground.
For those who wished to fly over traffic snarls, well there's some good news. Terrafugia, Inc., developer of the Transition Roadable Aircraft, or "Flying Car", has received an exemption from the FAA to allow the Transition a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 1430 pounds (650 kg).
This additional weight accommodates the structure and equipment necessary for compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) which are not found in other Light Sport Aircraft. Items such as airbags, an energy absorbing crumple zone, and a protective safety cage will increase safety both on the road and in the air.
Classified as a Light Sport Aircraft, the Transition requires a Sport Pilot certificate to fly and is designed to drive on public roadways and park in a standard garage. Terrafugia successfully completed flight and drive testing of its Proof of Concept Transition in 2009. 'The Transition by Terrafugia: simply land at the airport, fold your wings up and drive home.'
This deal’s done only in USA for the time being. For those who thought that it was available in India, well things work according to IST here, so it will be some time before it is introduced in our country. For those who can afford to import and ride it here, there's some more news, it completely depends upon the decision our Director General of Civil Aviation.
Acquiring permissions to take-off, land and fly is the major issue one has to confront here. For all you know, you might just see some aircraft-car stranded in some electric wires. Sorting out the infrastructure is one part of the story but conceptualizing the future with a new age air-car does seem a bit iffy in India. We hope that it comes soon, how soon no one can predict.
