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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.
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?"
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.