Slashdot Mirror
Miniature Flying Car Receives US Airspace Approval For Testing
An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has this month approved test flights for a one-tenth scale version of Terrafugia's flying car. The team behind TF-X, patented in 2011, will see the two-foot-long unmanned aircraft headed to the skies. The scale model is permitted to reach a maximum height of 121 meters, and a maximum speed of 100mph. While it is allowed to use U.S. air space, the team must be in constant communication with FAA authorities. The data collected during the special FAA-approved test runs will help Terrafugia plan the future development of design for its flying cars. The testing will also allow the engineers to assess the hovering capabilities of the drone.
...what can be done with CGI.
I suppose the military version will have light sabers.
So this is a 1/10th scale model, fine... but only 50lbs? Doesn't that mean the full size can only weigh 500lbs to match the flight characteristics of the model?
Still seems very much like vaporware.
Good question, maybe it's just because in this day of worrying about drones they wanted to be extra careful. They shouldn't have had any trouble under 400 ft, but 100mph can be an issue. It also depends on where they are located to do the testing. They mention that they must stay in contact with the FAA probably means they are close enough to an airport or area with controlled airspace. So they are probably just getting pre-approval to stay out of trouble and reduce the risks they will cause an incident with aircraft.
Not a chance. A flying car even as an RC model won't look anything like that, not even close.
Wings, forget it: way way too small. Props? That size? No way. Stability on two rotors in those positions? Nope. And even if somehow you had something with engines that size that ran props that size and lifted a body that size which I don't think any engines or materials can do, no matter what they are it's depicted as not blasting the ground with unbearable prop wash. Think a Harrier jump jet, because the thrust sources are nowhere near as broad as those of say an Osprey.
Nope nope nope. But it's nice to see people still love the idea of a flying car :)
I suspect this company is announcing "FAA approval" to make it look as if the FAA backs their concept so they can raise more $$$. In reality, the FAA probably said "Pfffft. Sure, you can fly your toy models. Go wear yourself out. Next?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
It' certainly not the flying car that we imagined one would look like,
It's not a flying car period. It's a roadable airplane, and needs a trained pilot to fly it.
The FAA cut Terrafugia some slack on the maximum permitted gross weight, which means the original design could be sold under "light sport aircraft" rules, but it would still require a pilot's license of some grade. More to the point, that airplane would require an exceptionally well-trained pilot, because a short-coupled machine like that will be a perfect bitch to handle. You might notice they haven't invited anyone from the aviation media to try it out.
The price isn't too bad
Ask them for a firm offer.
I suspect this company is announcing "FAA approval" to make it look as if the FAA backs their concept
Exactly what they did when the FAA granted them a waiver on the max gross weight rules for ultralights, so the original Terrafugia could be sold under those rules. They billed it as "FAA approves flying car". They've squeezed all the marketing juice out of that early model, and now they need something new.
You won't get very far through their website before they offer you a chance to invest...
Thanks for that. A good laugh once a day makes you live longer. Amongst the innumerable aerodynamic engineering issues:
- Center of gravity is well forward of center of lift, so the only possible stable flying attitude is straight down
- Wing loading is off the end of the scale. If you put a big enough engine on it, anything will fly - this one would would stall somewhere over 300 Mph, if it could ever fly straight that is, which is doubtful. Too bad it's limited to 200 Mph, I guess it's a helicopter after all.
- Vertical and horizontal stabilizers are miniscule and tucked away in the turbulence of the fuselage. Control surfaces are apparently nonexistent. To get an idea how that might work, tie a string to a shoe box and fly it as a kite while driving down the freeway.
- How much will those retractable engine engine covers weigh, if they ever exist? Which they never will.
- Where are the roof racks? It needs root racks. And a trailer hitch.
For further research, see here.
When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
It has multiple motors in each pod, so losing one wouldn't take a prop out of service. Losing a prop blade, on the other hand...
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
The Transition is a STOL aircraft which does require a trained pilot.
The TF-X is a VTOL aircraft and it is being designed around automated flight. They haven't invited anyone from the aviation media to try it out because it isn't ready yet. Ford hasn't invited any members of the automotive media to test-drive their 2020 vehicles yet, I guess that means they are impossible to drive.