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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Richard Grogan on August 16, 2009, 08:42:25 PM

Title: flying car?
Post by: Richard Grogan on August 16, 2009, 08:42:25 PM
Off topic, but has anyone seen one of these fly?                   

http://www.terrafugia.com
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: W.D. Roland on August 16, 2009, 08:54:15 PM
Yea

The bigger the cliff the better! LL~

Oh-now I see the link.


David
51336
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Doug Moon on August 16, 2009, 09:24:56 PM
better be one heck of a pilot.  There is no ground clearance, cross wind landings would seem to be a real, you know what!
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: billbyles on August 16, 2009, 11:19:38 PM
Off topic, but has anyone seen one of these fly?                  http://www.terrafugia.com/

Hi Richard,

I have not seen one of these fly, however every time someone comes up with a flying car (like Molt Taylor in the early fifties, I believe) they never become a commercial success.  For one thing just driving over city streets with their potholes could damage not only the landing (driving?) gear, but the slightest bump into another object such as while parking could and likely would damage the flying surfaces structurally.

Another thing that comes to mind is how is it propelled when operating as a car?  By its propeller, or by driving wheels...  If by propeller then the lawyers would be looking at this very eagerly for people getting their body parts into the prop.  I just do not know much about this specific airplane but I don't have a great deal of optimism for its commercial success.

It's a neat concept, but the reality is that cars are not suited to fly and airplanes don't make very sturdy cars.  If this airplane is in the standard category (FAA certification) I would, as an A&P/IA, be very reluctant to sign off an annual inspection.

P.S.  I just watched the video of its flight and driving on the road.  It looks marginal in both modes to me, and very vulnerable when on the road as a car.  It is propelled by the wheels when driving so the propeller is not a factor for pedestrians.  Just pulling it into the garage and striking the door frame with the canard could do damage that would ground the airplane.  Not for me, anyway.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Elwyn Aud on August 17, 2009, 05:09:32 AM
If I had any sort of airplane I wouldn't want to risk it on a road with distracted drivers with cellphones in their ears.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Larry Fulwider on August 17, 2009, 05:31:22 AM
The best part is the model they offer:

"Fold your own version of the Transition® in either airplane or roadable mode. Printed in color on just the right weight paper for easy folding yet desktop durability. Perfect for the aspiring aviation enthusiast or for your own amusement. Just follow the included directions.

"One plane per kit, wings either folded or out. Recommended for ages 12+. $4 plus shipping and handling."
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: minnesotamodeler on August 17, 2009, 03:25:03 PM
Very, very dirty aerodynamically.  Notice how much "up" elevator was required to take off? All it had, looked like...Don't think I'd like to fly in it.

Someone famous said something about "anything combining two functions doesn't do either one very well."  Looks true here for sure.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Richard Grogan on August 17, 2009, 04:09:39 PM
Looks like it would make a good car/boat, losing that scary looking wing design! The wings deploy via cockpit controls, kinda reminds me of a couple of folding ironing boards...yikes! LL~
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: billbyles on August 17, 2009, 04:13:38 PM
The best part is the model they offer:

"Fold your own version of the Transition® in either airplane or roadable mode. Printed in color on just the right weight paper for easy folding yet desktop durability. Perfect for the aspiring aviation enthusiast or for your own amusement. Just follow the included directions.

"One plane per kit, wings either folded or out. Recommended for ages 12+. $4 plus shipping and handling."

Hi Larry,

OK, I did not see the paper airplane on the website; this is the version that I'd feel good about flying!  I just wouldn't feel comfortable flying the full-scale one.  It's not that I'm not a risk-taker, either...I flew formation aerobatic air shows professionally for quite awhile for a group named "Team America" flying F260 Siai Marchetti's.  We flew military style air shows doing all the low-level acro and I flew #3 right wing which included flying the solo portion of the airshow including inverted passes at 40 feet above the runway at around 300 mph, so I don't mind taking calculated risks.  I just don't see the aircar as a good risk.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: billbyles on August 17, 2009, 04:16:00 PM
Looks like it would make a good car/boat, losing that scary looking wing design! The wings deploy via cockpit controls, kinda reminds me of a couple of folding ironing boards...yikes! LL~

Hi Richard,

I got a good laugh out your comment about "...folding ironing boards..."!  Ya really wanna know that those wings are locked prior to flight.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Frank Sheridan on August 17, 2009, 04:16:23 PM
Wait till you see their next product, the La-Z-Boy reclining lawnmower/boat/convection oven!
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: FLOYD CARTER on August 17, 2009, 04:23:40 PM
I believe that's my wife up there.  She has what some call a "lead foot", although maybe her Toyota wouldn't get quite that high.

(name witheld to protect my rear end)

(p.s.  Floyd, but don't tell.)
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: billbyles on August 18, 2009, 12:10:51 AM
Wait till you see their next product, the La-Z-Boy reclining lawnmower/boat/convection oven!

Boy, if it comes with a barbeque option I'm getting one! (On second thought, skip the bbq idea.)
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Richard Grogan on August 18, 2009, 12:32:39 AM
I didn't see the tech specs on it, but judging from the videos, it appears to have a service ceiling of about 200'. I seem to remember the old popular mechanics articles about similar attempts.Shoot, you'd think it would resemble George Jetson's rig by now...
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Wynn Robins on August 18, 2009, 02:13:02 AM
and if you runout of gas when you are in the air ????  or the motor stops?  you're SCREWED
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: billbyles on August 18, 2009, 10:02:15 AM
I didn't see the tech specs on it, but judging from the videos, it appears to have a service ceiling of about 200'. I seem to remember the old popular mechanics articles about similar attempts.Shoot, you'd think it would resemble George Jetson's rig by now...

Yeah, propellers are so passe now...you'd think it would at least be powered by an ion ejector propulsion unit.  Pebbles should be about ready to solo by now.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: Balsa Butcher on August 18, 2009, 12:49:20 PM
Some may remember a flying car design from the early 70's that was basically a Ford Pinto attached to a Cessna 337 wing, pusher engine, and twin boom tail section. I was working at the late great Santa Susana airport at the time and knew the test pilot for the project.  They were testing at Ventura Oxnard Airport.  Had a hard landing, inspected the craft and took off again.  On climbout the car separated from the wings and the test pilot was killed. :X  Flying cars, with the exception of Molt Taylor's Aerocar, remain a good idea in theory, not such a good idea in reality.
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: rustler on August 18, 2009, 02:54:35 PM
I'm sure this would make a world beating stunter in the right hands. How about it Adamasins? 8) ??? ::) :) ;) :-\
Title: Re: flying car?
Post by: don Burke on August 18, 2009, 04:57:19 PM
Very, very dirty aerodynamically.  Notice how much "up" elevator was required to take off? All it had, looked like...Don't think I'd like to fly in it.

Someone famous said something about "anything combining two functions doesn't do either one very well."  Looks true here for sure.

Looks to me they flew it with a very conservative CG location, thus the large amount of up, and nothing more than straight and level.  Better safe than sorry.  I think we all know what happens when the CG is TOO far aft!