Flying Cars Soon to be a Reality, Terrafugia Discloses TF-X

MANILA : Terrafugia is a private American cooperation, which unlike other automobile makers have no interest in making every-day normal cars. Its interest area is a way different and unique from its counterparts, as this small corporation house aims to change the picture of the automobile industry. Till date it has come up with two concept vehicles called the Transition and the TF-X, the former being introduced in 2009, it is the later one that pictures its latest creation.

The company has released a 3D animated video, giving us a glimpse into the future, which holds vehicle that will be an amalgamation of car and aircraft. A quick overview of this miracle read, it will be a four-seater vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hybrid electric aircraft, enabling it to hover, take-off and land vertically. With its not so big dimensions, it will easily fit in a single-car garage. Further, the company claims that you need just five hours time to learn to drive this TF-X.

Currently displayed at the EAAAirVenture aviation convention, this new design holds two electric motor pods that can generate one megawatt of power, when mated with a 300 hp petrol engine this flying car can attain a maximum speed of 200mhp(322km/h).

A spokesman form Terrafugia said, "The model will be tested at the MIT Wright Brothers wind tunnel, the same tunnel that was used to test models of Terrafugia's Transition. The wind tunnel test model will be used to measure drag, lift and thrust forces while simulating hovering flight, transitioning to forward flight and full forward flight."

Back in 2006 when two graduates from MIT let the foundation of Terrafugia, they aimed to deliver their first product by 2015 or 2016 at an offer price of $279,000(RM1,063,213). But with endless delays in production it is now expected that this flying car will be heavy on your pocket, with a new estimated price of $40.000 (RM1,54,320).

As for Transition, its first dream project has undergone 100 hours of fight time and the company is now concentrating on its drive-train. The next generation Transition will run on a four-stroke four-cylinder 65kg petrol engine, generating maximum power of 100 hp and will be coupled to a belt-driven CVT.

Lets hope that both these flying cars that have always made appearances in 3D animated movies, soon makes its way into the real world.

Read More: Toyota Files Patent for Flying Cars