In Silicon Valley of Northern California, many have gotten use to the Google self-driving car which is the size of a “smart car.” The Google car’s software and sensors predicts what all the objects around us might do next. It predicts that the cyclist will ride by and the pedestrian will cross the street.
The streets in Mountain View that is the home of Google also are filled with Elon Musk’s Tesla battery car. So is now the future for American car owners. Unfortunately, it is not nor can it compare to a car that can be transformed into an airplane. Although the knowledge of this new Terrafugia transition vehicle is quite limited in Silicon Valley, it has become an exciting breakthrough in travel.
Terrafugia is excited to premier the new Outer Mold Line for the TF-X™, Terrafugia's vision for the future of personal transportation. The TF-X™ will be a four-seat, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hybrid electric aircraft that makes flying easier and safer than ever before. In December 2014, the company asked the FAA to allow the Transition to be operated at a gross weight of 1,800 lb. (816 kg) instead of the light-sport aircraft maximum weight of 1,320 lb. (599 kg) and have a stall speed of 54 kn (100 km/h; 62 mph) instead of the category maximum of 45 kn (83 km/h; 52 mph). The company indicated that the increases were required to allow inclusion of structures to meet FMVSS ground operation safety regulations. The company had previously been granted an increase in gross weight of 110 lb. (50 kg) and another LSA aircraft, the ICON A5, was granted a 250 lb. (113 kg) exemption to meet FAA spin resistance requirements; this new application would increase the Transition's allowed weight by a total of 480 lb. (218 kg) or 36%..
In 2012, recorded on the John Batchelor radio show and Lou Ann Hammond,”There are over 5,000 small airports in the United States”, says Dietrich, “instead of flying from hub to hub to get to your final destination, why not drive to your local airport, do a pre-flight inspection on your airplane and fly to the closest airport to your destination. If there is a thunderstorm you can land at an airport along the way, fold the airplane into a car and drive to the next airport and take off again. Center of gravity is back further for driving stability.” Dietrich noted. This would translate into a “pancake” landing event instead of a smoother painting it on the runway. “Once the rear wheels touch…” the front two wheels come down promptly; more the result of the center of gravity than the pilot’s skill level. The Transition will have rudder pedals for traditional slip crosswind landing techniques. Dietrich has landed the flight model in a simulated 15 knot crosswind. 1500 foot takeoff run and grass strip capability will permit the Transition to land at one airfield, drive to another and takeoff. “One of the fun things for me to do is to come in on a hard slip & I would not want to give that up.” Dietrich noted.
During consultations the request for the weight increase was supported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association.
In April 2015, the company announced that parts were being built for the third version of the aircraft, and that current planning estimated the first customer delivery would be in 2017
