Fly or drive

A US manufacturer aims to meet international demand for a car that can also fly. The vehicle is rather snappily called The Transition and is being built by a firm called Terrafugia. The vehicle requires a conventional airstrip for take-offs and landings, however its wings can also be folded back so that it can be driven on the road like a car and even parked in a garage. Its single engine drives the propellor when the vehicle is in the air and also turns the wheels when it is being driven on the ground. The
February 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A US manufacturer aims to meet international demand for a car that can also fly. The vehicle is rather snappily called The Transition and is being built by a firm called 2975 Terrafugia. The vehicle requires a conventional airstrip for take-offs and landings, however its wings can also be folded back so that it can be driven on the road like a car and even parked in a garage. Its single engine drives the propellor when the vehicle is in the air and also turns the wheels when it is being driven on the ground. The manufacturer says that the vehicle offers an alternative for pilots facing bad weather, as it can be driven on the road should aerial conditions prove untoward. The vehicle also means that pilots will no longer have to rent a car once they arrive at an airport. However with a price tag of US$120,000, customers could alternatively buy a small aircraft and a car for the same price or less. Its performance is also less than sparkling, whether on the road or in the air and in the event of even a minor shunt on the ground, its repair costs are likely to be sky-high.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Motorway madness
    September 24, 2019
    A cyclist was recently spotted on the UK’s busy M25 motorway pedalling along the hard shoulder in the wrong direction. Police were alerted by a CCTV operator who saw the rider as he rode past a camera. Officers quickly responded and escorted the cyclist to a place of safety after providing a few words on safety. Cycling is banned on the UK’s motorways.
    Read More
  • Fuel savings
    July 19, 2012
    Police in the US and the UK are being forced to tackle motoring expenses due to rising fuel costs. In various US states, police are being told to turn off engines and air-conditioning when vehicles are at rest and that patrols should open windows and park under trees to stay cool on warm days. In some states, drivers stopped for speeding will also have to pay a fuel surcharge on top of their fine, to cover the cost of the fuel used in their pursuit. Meanwhile in the UK, the Devon and Cornwall police force i
    Read More
  • VSS developing business and sales
    May 24, 2019
    VSS Macropaver has been benefiting from strong demand for machines, both in the US home market and for exports – Mike Woof writes VSS Macropaver is seeing healthy demand for its machines both in its US home market and also for its export business. The factory has strong order levels for its Macropaver 12D and 12E models at present, reflecting a thriving market for road repair equipment. Doug Hogue is vice president at VSS Macropaver and said, “The D version is more of an export model. The E is more of a
    Read More
  • New machines competing in ADT market
    February 19, 2013
    All-wheel-drive trucks for the Chinese market - Mike Woof reports. One noticeable development at the bauma China exhibition in Shanghai in late 2012 was the proliferation of ADT models. Doosan and Volvo showed some of their latest ADT variants alongside their latest excavators and are keen to highlight the benefits of ADTs for use on sites where traction or grade may be an issue for rigid trucks or on/off highway haulers. However Caterpillar chose to highlight its off-highway rigid trucks at bauma China, as
    Read More

Highlighted Content