Who would have thought that within a century the world of aeronautics would change as it has...
Starting with the Wright Brothers, the imagination behind Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and numerous people in between, a company based out of Massachusetts named Terrafugia (ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah) has invented a flying car that is on its way to being mass produced (first customer delivery is expected in 2011) .
Let us examine well known events that have lead us to the creation of Terrafugia's new model.
Since the revolutionary invention of the airplane by the Wright Brothers in 1903, inventors and artists alike have found numerous opportunities to dream and idealize the future of the aviation world.
Pictured: Orville & Wilbur Wright test a prototype in the early 1900's
In 1968, director Ken Hughes introduced the world to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This car had collapsible wings and a built-in flotation device. These features allowed the car to transform from a land vehicle, to a boat and then a car that could fly. This is my earliest memory of people flying. I can not remember when I first saw an airplane or understood that people traveled inside these objects in the sky. It was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that introduced me to the field of aeronautics.
Pictured: The cast of the Pott Family in the 1960's
While the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car was revolutionary, years later J.K. Rowling planted the idea of flying motorcycles into the minds of adolescents worldwide through the magical world of Harry Potter in The Sorcerer's Stone. Rowling set the precedence for the novel through the imagery of Sirus Black’s flying motorcycle, which had the ability to accommodate a half-giant named Hagrid. A few novels later, J.K. Rowling stepped it up and created Mr. Weasley’s flying car (which, we must admit was probably still in the testing stage when Ron decided to take it for a spin).
Pictured: Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley in Mr. Weasley's flying car
One hundred and seven years later inventors are taking the Wright Brothers’ creation and bringing it to a whole new arena by producing an automobile that can fly. From Hollywood studios, to production sites around the world, the investors and inventors from the Terrafugia company will soon see the Transition® Roadable Aircraft on the roads and in the skies (as long as the prototypes and their improvements continue to pass through the hurdles cast in their way).
Terrafugia has produced a two-seater vehicle that transforms itself into an aircraft. The Transition® Roadable Aircraft has the tested capability to “...cruise at about 115 mph (185 kph) and cover about 400 miles (644 kilometers) worth of turf before needing a refill of regular unleaded gas” (Hadhazy).
Pictured: The Transition Roadable in flight
The makers state that this type of transportation will allow for people to avoid the long lines at airports, travel faster and have the ability to make trips more spontaneously.
For any individual that has roughly $200,000 they could be the next new owner of a Transition Roadable. For a small fee of $10,000 you can have one pre-ordered and on reserve for when production begins. With no flight experience necessary and only 20 hours of practice flying time you’d be able to use the Transition in the sky. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has given the model the green flag. Now the FTA (Federal Transit Administration) must approve the car for road driving.
Pictured: The Transition Roadable being test driven on the road
One hundred years ago, as a society we lifted off the ground in personal aircraft's. We then invented the ability to land airplanes on the surface of bodies of water and propel our way to land. And now, in year 2010 automobiles can transform into airplanes, fly, touch down and transform back into a road automobile.
Unfortunately, this is where my imagination ceases. What could be next for the world of aviation advancements? What more could a person want? How much more room is there for advancement? The once deemed impossible, has become possible. In films and novels where flying cars ruled the streets and the sky, it is becoming a reality, sorry science fiction, you’ve been debunked. Magic, yes. Harry Potter’s world has done it again, you can now take a ride outside the Orlando theme park and try riding in a flying car (just like Mr. Weasley’s).
Our future lies in the sky.
Bosker, Bianca. "Terrafugia Transition 'Flying Car' (PHOTOS, VIDEO): Extraordinary Vehicle Gets Authorities' OK." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 30 June 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
"CBC News - Consumer Life - Beat the Traffic: Take the Flying Car." CBS News Canada, 20 Mar. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)." Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Ian Fleming Books, Dick Van Dyke, John Burningham, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Film, The Musical." Ian Fleming Publications, 2009. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.
Hadhazy, Adam. "Flying Car One Step Closer to Reality - Technology & Science - Innovation - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- Msnbc.com. 29 June 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
Michaels, Mike. "Helicopter and Plane Fusion Goes Awry on the Hudson." Scrape TV - The World on Your Side. 8 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
"Transition Roadable Aircraft: Transition Roadable Aircraft Photos, Wallpapers, Galleries, Terrafugia Transition Roadable Aircraft Makes Maiden Flight 18." Web. 14 Sept. 2010.
"Terrafugia - Transition® the Roadable Light Sport Aircraft : The Vehicle." Terrafugia - Transition®, the Roadable Light Sport Aircraft : Home. 2008. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.
Very interested to finally see this coming to a start to production soon. I had heard about it but never saw any information on it. Terrafugia is definitely on the right track. This is the next big thing.
ReplyDeleteI recently read an article about this! Very interesting. The possibility of having aviation accessible as an every day mode of transportation is fascinating and rather frightening. How would traffic be monitored? where would they land? There would be a lot to work out, But who knows, maybe when we're all old our grandchildren will be getting planes on their 16th birthdays rather than regular cars.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is quite fascinating but scary at the same time. We don't think about the accidents that happen everyday on the road, but now add that risk in the air? Who decides who is aloud to drive these air cars, shouldn't you have a pilots license before flying? Its interesting to see how technology is advancing but i honestly can't say I'm comfortable with cars flying in the air. Have they come up with ways to direct traffic in the air? If there is an accident, do you have a chance of living? Who knows whats next?
ReplyDeleteI think that flying has it's good and bad points. In Large cities I can see it as an advantage. You could land on the top of a building instead of driving, it would cut down on traffic. Like Hilary said though... what sorts of regulations would have to be set. I mean learning to fly in 20 hours does not seem like enough time to me. What age would you be able to fly these cars at? Would it be called an FUI when Flying Under the Influence?
ReplyDeleteAs the other comments before me have said, all I could think about while reading this post is how dangerous this sounds to me. I wouldn't feel comfortable knowing that someone with only 20 hours of experience could legally fly this thing over where I live. And what about the dangers this poses to other aircrafts? This article also makes me question the impact this would have on the environment. How much fuel does a flying car used in comparison to a normal car? While it seems like an overall helpful advance, I can see there being a lot of controversy upon the cars release.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was really cool how you started at the beginning of aviation, and then went straight to the "magical" aspect of flying cars that has become a new technology. Just as everyone else stated, I feel that this could be very dangerous. But we also have to remember, when cars were first introduced, many people probably saw them as very dangerous because they were brand new. Eventually paved streets, road signs, traffic lights, and standardized driving regulations came along to help keep people safe. So, who knows, maybe if these flying cars become a standard, we will see many of the same types of regulations in the air.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be awesome to see a flying car. Although this would probably bring down our need for roads, I feel as though it would cost more lives then driving on a road. currently we have a path we have to stay on, and it pretects the lives of others you are sharing the road with. If you take away the path who do you decider what is the correct "side" of the sky to be on?
ReplyDeleteI have always thought about this and been very interested in the idea, but I don't see anything like this becoming possible for a long, long time. There would need to be a whole new set of laws put in place. Can you picture driving down the highway and a car swooping down out of the sky along next to you? I cant and if I ever saw anything like that I would be terrified. I feel that the whole idea of a large population of people being able to fly is just not practical. But what do I know, I would love to be proven wrong.
ReplyDeleteI once saw a TV special about a different flying car that had to be taken to an airplane hanger to have it's removable wings attached or taken off. It's amazing to think that next year we might be seeing the same concept, but with much a easier and more portable car-to-plane transformation option. The carplane from the TV special was also a one of a kind it's incredible that a flying car has been developed that can be manufactured for a "low" enough price to mass produce it.
ReplyDeleteWhile the thought of a flying car seems awesome, it also scares me a little. Personally, I think people are bad enough on the road. I can't imagine what some of these bad drivers will be like in the air. Although this may be the case, I still think it will be amazing when average people will be able to afford these cars. I just hope I don't get into an accident.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of flying cars, and was always fascinated by it, but i don't how things would work out in terms of speed limit and flying route. I can imagine a small amount of cars flying around, but what if more people started to own flying cars ? I think it would be chaos unless they figure out all the flying routes and what not.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea these were being produced. This is amazing. I'm kind of reluctant to see mass air traffic in flying cars, like in The Fifth Element, if anyone has ever seen it. Flying cars isn't really a scientific revolution I'm into. I feel like it will be dangerous, especially when the cars are new. Would anyone really trust flying car traffic above their houses?
ReplyDeleteIt is really thought provoking to think about what could come up in the next 100 years, especially if you look at the past century or even decade. Simple everyday things like computers and cell phones did not exsit 30 or 40 years ago. This leaves endless possibilities for the advancement of transportation and when it can be taken to the next level.
ReplyDeleteFlying cars have always been one of those childhood dreams that have stuck with me as I've grown up, so it was nice to have something to be excited about in that area again. I had never heard of this before, so your post was very informative for me though I have some concerns about the project. First of all, as other posters have stated, I feel uncomfortable that someone who has so little flight experience is aloud to be flying close to where I live. However, I am sure those hurdles with be dealt with in time so my predominant emotion about the project is still excitement. For those that have brought up concern for the environment I have only this to say. The article states that this car/plane can cover about 400 miles on its tank of fuel. If that takes into account the mixed flight and ground time the craft seems fairly fuel efficient to me as it doesn't appear the craft will be lugging around a massive fuel tank.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that this is finally becoming a reality! I'm cautious about what everyday traffic will be like but that is an issue for another day, creating the technology is the first step, and we have taken it.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to know its a company in the northeast developing this, and the company is small compared to all the other plane manufactures. It's a good idea, but it is really for those people for a lot of disposable income because no one would drive this to work. If they did It would be hard to land it and might not be worth taking off. This would be good for a those long day trips as it would cut off a substantial amount of time.
ReplyDelete