Terrafugia???

Nice idea, but once again it's killed by price and capability (not to mention looks. :vomit: )
 
I showed this around the office, and we all agreed that $195,000 ain't bad for a roadable airplane.

I bet it sells for MUCH more though, when all is said and done....

And the looks grow on you the more you stare at it.
 
It is neat. I think the bigger problems they'll have will be with the NHTSB and DOT than the FAA. Making it pass crash safety standards seems pretty much impossible, but I suppose it'd count as a kit car.

The price doesn't seem too bad for what it is. The problem I have with it is the slow cruise speed. Sure, you're flying (and it's pretty efficient - 100 mph on 5 gph), but 100 mph is a lot slower than, say, Jay's Zodiac, which is still an LSA. I'd like to see something that can actually push that LSA speed limit and do everything else.
 
Missa said:
Are you making Gastons this year????

If you I'm going to beat you with a wet noodle. :incazzato:
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Good, now you can't say that I'm not giving you a choice anymore. :D
 
Ted DuPuis said:
It is neat. I think the bigger problems they'll have will be with the NHTSB and DOT than the FAA. Making it pass crash safety standards seems pretty much impossible, but I suppose it'd count as a kit car.

The price doesn't seem too bad for what it is. The problem I have with it is the slow cruise speed. Sure, you're flying (and it's pretty efficient - 100 mph on 5 gph), but 100 mph is a lot slower than, say, Jay's Zodiac, which is still an LSA. I'd like to see something that can actually push that LSA speed limit and do everything else.
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While your at it, how about making is space capiable too! :crazy:
 
Missa said:
Are you making Gastons this year????

If you are I'm going to beat you with a wet noodle. :incazzato:
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Uh oh. I don't know yet but if I do, you know who I'll be bringing. :ihih:
 

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Ted DuPuis said:
The price doesn't seem too bad for what it is. The problem I have with it is the slow cruise speed. Sure, you're flying (and it's pretty efficient - 100 mph on 5 gph), but 100 mph is a lot slower than, say, Jay's Zodiac, which is still an LSA. I'd like to see something that can actually push that LSA speed limit and do everything else.
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The problem they've got is that they're pushing a lot of frontal area (quoted cabin width is 52 inches!), and a lot of wetted area, through the air - much more than the Zodiac or other comparable LSA airplanes. They're using the same 100 HP Rotax engine as the rest of them, too. They've got useful load issues as it is, so going to a more powerful engine, with its attendant higher fuel usage, would cause other problems. Where they are is probably the best overall tradeoff.
 
Jay pretty much nailed the problem all these flying cars have. None of them are good at being a car nor an airplane. Even with the rounded, polymer configuration, its still a flying brick.
 
Anthony said:
Jay pretty much nailed the problem all these flying cars have. None of them are good at being a car nor an airplane. Even with the rounded, polymer configuration, its still a flying brick.
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Yep. Great idea in theory, absolute crap in reality. Better to just spend the money to have something that does better in each area.
 
Anthony said:
Jay pretty much nailed the problem all these flying cars have. None of them are good at being a car nor an airplane. Even with the rounded, polymer configuration, its still a flying brick.
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In fairness, the Terrafugia comes a lot closer than the attempts people have made in the past. This leaves me hopeful that, someday, someone will be able to produce something that's both a fine car and a fine aircraft, instead of the compromise that's all anyone's been able to achieve so far.
 
Missa said:
Yea, we've been talking about it for months, where have you been? :goofy:

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25472&highlight=Flying+car
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Months??? Years. First time I saw an article on it I was living in Melbourne Aus and that was 3 years ago. My question still stands, with the back wheels where they are, how fast will you have to be to rotate, and you'll need a mouth guard to keep you from breaking your teeth on landing.

Edit, ahhh, I see they did some major changes from the early drawings.
 
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jmaynard said:
In fairness, the Terrafugia comes a lot closer than the attempts people have made in the past. This leaves me hopeful that, someday, someone will be able to produce something that's both a fine car and a fine aircraft, instead of the compromise that's all anyone's been able to achieve so far.
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It's not ment to be a fine car. It's ment to be a roadable aircraft. It's not ment to be a daily driver, it's ment to drive when necessary to allow more useful flying.
 
It seems to me the biggest advantage of this thing is that, when you get to your destination, you have a car. Very nifty if you want to go check out a restaurant or something that's off-airport. No need to get a taxi if there's no loaner car available.

Otherwise, Jay, I'd say you're spot on. Certainly the aerodynamic issues are obviously there, and what makes a good car is not going to inherently be a good plane.

Thing is, they're also being remarkably efficient. My plane sure doesn't burn 5 gph @ 100 mph. If they made something in a normal experimental (rather than LSA), they might be able to get, say, 172 or 182 speeds with not much more fuel burn. Just a thought.

Agreed, though, that what makes a good airplane makes a crappy car, and vice versa.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
It seems to me the biggest advantage of this thing is that, when you get to your destination, you have a car. Very nifty if you want to go check out a restaurant or something that's off-airport. No need to get a taxi if there's no loaner car available.
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All of a sudden "exit the runway at Alpha, taxi to the gate, monitor ground point eight five" takes on a whole other meaning!
 
Henning said:
Months??? Years. First time I saw an article on it I was living in Melbourne Aus and that was 3 years ago. My question still stands, with the back wheels where they are, how fast will you have to be to rotate, and you'll need a mouth guard to keep you from breaking your teeth on landing.

Edit, ahhh, I see they did some major changes from the early drawings.
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Not problems for a pilot that knows what they're doing...
 
It's mis-named - should call it terraphilia.

terra = earth
philia = loving
 
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