flying cars: Taking a trip by air and land without having to change vehicles is made possible with these hybrid models

Taking a trip by air and land without having to change vehicles is made possible with these hybrid models; just push a button and 154,000 euros. Although it will take to escape the traffic, because these trailers are licensed aircraft pilot. http://thechemistrysideoftheforce.blogspot.com/


Ian Fleming, the author himself became legendary British agent 007, fantasized in the 60s with a rickety old car could fly. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, besides being a child icon of several generations, contains an idea as old as the invention of the Wright brothers: two means of locomotion in one.


The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken a decisive step in the final certification of Terrafugia Transition as a model of light aircraft, with its 649 kg maximum takeoff weight (including two passengers and fuel). The company, following on the permit, has announced that it will ready their equipment at the end of 2011. "There has been a little misinformation that has been streamed online. The exemption granted by the FAA weight of 49 kilos over the type in which we enter is fundamental to the granting of the final license, but is not certified as such ', this supplement explains Richard Gersh, vice president of Terrafugia . The company, formed by alumni of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Tec) is committed to making your car on a massive scale. This industrial production (which is expected between 300 and 400 units annually over the next five years) will ensure a sale price of 154,000 euros. "Anyone can buy a Ferrari, but Ferrari does not fly," says Gersh. They claim that they have already booked an order for 70 units.


The idea exploited by the marketing department of the company, seems to promise to future owners the power to fly in the midst of a jam. Once convinced by the ruse, the company rectified: it is not a flying car, but a plane stock. That is, suitable only for licensed pilots, of course, have a driving license. If someone wants to request a unit you have to have both papers, find the nearest airport with a runway of more than 750 meters, ask permission, pay the fees and file the flight plan. Taking off in traffic is still far. For private pilots, the Terrafugia offers several advantages for the same price, have two vehicles, save the rental or purchase of aircraft and the 'air garage' and once on the ground and pressing a button, the transition from 30 seconds, allowed to continue traveling as a saloon with folded wings on the sides.


His actions as a coach are two meters high by five wide, and its importance as a plane, eight feet. Reaches an altitude of 3000 meters and a speed of 185 km / h in air and 104 km / h on land. The travel distance: 650 km. Its engine is an explosion, with pistons, like cars, and fuel is the same. "What is new is that they have succeeded in making the transition easy, with one engine and there is no need to mount it," says Jose Manuel Gil García, aeronautical engineer.

A historical obsession
The Terrafugia Transition is not the first vehicle of its kind, even as far as commercial aspirations are concerned. We need to go back to the beginning of the century to find documentation on these early mills flyers. In November 1921, Rene Tampier flew successfully on French soil in a biplane stock, their wings were gathered along the sides and a landing gear was four wheels to gain stability.
During the Second World War, the fantasy went further: what better way to surprise the enemy to put their own tanks from the air?, "And download a number of jeeps? In 1940 the Soviet engineer Olague Konstantinovich Antonov Antonov flew KT, a tank glider, with a small manufacturing was abandoned for lack of funds and interest. Around the same time, Raoul Hafner in England to try his luck with a jeep for four people.


But you do not go that far. Some aircraft have been announced rolling in recent years and hope to make their deliveries: the model for military Humvee Transformer TX Flying car or means half are in the process Parajet paragliding. There are those that use ethanol as the Skycar from Moller International announced for 2012 at a price of EUR 398 000 and others who had great response, but which have been parked for lack of funding. Airco is the case of Milner Motors. A model that was showcased at the Auto Show in New York, 2008) and has failed to develop. "We finished the prototype of Airco stock for the expo, but we focused on our electric car. It requires the hiring of an engineering company and that's pretty expensive. If it was, we estimate that the cost would be about 358 000 euros, "says Jim Milner, founder of Milner Motors.


The problems have been addressed since then occupy a not inconsiderable list of mental challenges, "the engines of aircraft and cars do not move well. The aircraft are designed to operate at a constant speed. The cars have to be much more flexible. The power transmission to the wheels or the propeller also pose problems, "Gil García detailed. In addition, the wheel of a car does not provide the third dimension and top-down direction of the planes is done by pedals, so combine the modes of navigation is not easy.
Today and in the absence of air traffic control, thousands of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang only traffic would move heaven without sparing anyone the queue to go to the beach.