[BITList] Fwd: How about this for Xmas

[John Feltham]

World's first flying car on the roads from next year - yours for just  
£130,000
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:50 PM on 18th December 2008

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It's been a pipe dream for 30 years but now the world's first fully  
available flying car is set to hit the roads next year.

Ever since the Back to the Future movies lit up our screens in the  
80s, designers have dreamt of an automobile that could take to the  
skies at the push of a button.

And now qualified pilots can order their very own Terrafugia  
Transition 'roadable' plane for just  £127,000, with delivery planned  
for late next year.


The Terrafugia Transition 'roadable' plane can be kept at home, with  
wings folded up, in your garage



More...
Streets ahead: The road that generates electricity from moving cars
What a way to fly! Avoid the traffic with a Skycar

The 'light-sport airplane' promises to bring more 'flexibility and  
convenience to your flying'.

The plane, which has fold-out wings that span 27.5ft when extended,  
has an airborne range of 460 miles and can cruise at 115mph.

Back on terra firma, it is capable of travelling at 'highway speeds'  
in car mode.

Fuelling the 19ft long plane couldn't be simpler - you just drive it  
into a petrol station and fill it up with unleaded.

It is powered by a 100 hp, Rotax 912S, four-stroke engine.


Action! The 19-foot-long plane has an airborne range of 460 miles and  
can cruise at 115mph

A spokeswoman for designers Terrafugia, based in Woburn,  
Massachusetts, USA, said: ‘You can keep your Transition in your garage.

‘Then you simply drive to your local airport, fly up to 460 miles,  
land, convert and drive directly to your destination.

‘You'll always be ready to drive or fly.’

A series of simple commands made from the cockpit convert the white  
craft from plane to car and vice versa.

But the wings only fold out if the correct key code is entered by  
someone with a pilot's licence.


Simple: The 'roadable' plane can be filled up at the local petrol  
station with unleaded

Unlike many 'flying car' concepts which use thrusters to take off  
vertically, the Transition needs a short runway to take to the air.

The spokeswoman added: ‘Never let questionable weather cancel or  
endanger your trip again.

‘You can simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather  
clears.’

You can secure your very own Transition aeroplane by simply paying a  
deposit of £6,500.


Ease: Pilots will be able to drive to the local airport, take off and  
then fly for up to 460 miles (740 km)

The firm's website, 'Terrafugia.com', says of prospective owners:  
‘Your deposit doesn't just reserve your very own roadable airplane, it  
gives us proof that today's pilot community is ready for this dream to  
finally become reality.

‘There's no risk to you - only the chance to be the first at your home  
field to unfold your wings and fly into the future.

‘Production schedules are filling up quickly.’


ooroo

If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door.

Anon.



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