The Flying Car Makes First Public Flight

A flying car developed by Massachusetts-based aerospace manufacturer Chas G. Allen has made its first public flight, dazzling a Wisconsin crowd by soaring through the air for roughly 20 minutes.
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The vehicle, dubbed the Terrafugia Transition, is part sedan, part private jet and will go on sale as soon as 2015.
The driver/pilot, Phil Meteer, drove the car around the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh air show in July before spreading its wings and taking off for two 20-minute demonstrations.
The Terrafugia has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold upwards for driving mode.
It can carry two people, including the driver/pilot and runs on unleaded petrol. The vehicle’s top speeds are 70 mph on the road and 115 mph in the air.
Owners will have to have a pilot’s license, pass an additional test and complete 20 hours of flying time to be able to purchase the vehicle.
Since many have criticized the style of the creation for not looking like what we’ve seen in sci-fi movies, Terrafugia released design plans for a much more convenient, TF-X model.
Unlike the Transfusion, this model will be small enough to fit in a garage and won’t require a runway to take off due to motorized rotors in its wings.
Owners would be able to lift off straight from their driveways or when stuck in traffic, depending on how much space in diameter is available.
It will also be capable of seating four people. The TF-X is expected to be able to fly non-stop for 500 miles.
Terrafugia hopes to have the model for sale within eight to twelve years.
The Transfusion will most likely be the first flying car in history to be released to the public as the recent test flights have influenced the U.S. government to exempt the vehicle from certain regulations and restrictions that have previously prevented efficient flying cars from being made, such as the inclusion of electronic stability control and the manufacturing with only tires and glass that regular cars use.