Will the Terrafugia flying car be the future of transportation?

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In summary, there was a thread discussing the concept of a flying car over a decade ago. Recently, a prototype flying car, AirCar, successfully completed a test flight between international airports in Slovakia. It is equipped with a BMW engine and can fly up to 1,000km at a height of 8,200ft. It takes only two minutes to transform from a car into an aircraft. There is also another company, Terrafugia, that is working on a similar project but has faced recent layoffs and is moving its operations to China. Some people are still waiting for a nuclear fusion-powered flying car.
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Astronuc
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There once was a thread, a short thread, about a flying car.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/flying-car.413351/

Move forward 11 years, and a Flying car completes test flight between airports

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57651843
A prototype flying car has completed a 35-minute flight between international airports in Nitra and Bratislava, Slovakia.
The hybrid car-aircraft, AirCar, is equipped with a BMW engine and runs on regular petrol-pump fuel.
Its creator, Prof Stefan Klein, said it could fly about 1,000km (600 miles), at a height of 8,200ft (2,500m), and had clocked up 40 hours in the air so far.
It takes two minutes and 15 seconds to transform from car into aircraft.
I wonder if they've tested in down draft, or perhaps it's a fair weather vehicle. I wonder if it comes in convertible option. Well, I guess it is a convertible of sorts.

Terrafugia is apparently still a thing ( https://terrafugia.com/ ), although maybe it was - https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericte...-flying-car-was-faa-approved/?sh=20ac51472b3a
Two sources with knowledge of the situation say that roughly 80 to 100 employees at the company’s headquarters in Woburn, Mass., have been let go, and that Terrafugia’s intellectual property and further development of the Transition, a light sport airplane designed to be drivable on roads, are being moved to China by owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which bought the company in 2017.

Peter Schmidt, co-founder and COO of the Boston-based hybrid VTOL aircraft startup Transcend Air, says he heard from ex-Terrafugia employees and a Terrafugia supplier that “over 100 people were walked off [Terrafugia’s campus] and told there would be arrangements made so they could retrieve their stuff.”
:oops: :rolleyes:
 
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Here is the original supercar (all those others are fakes) from a 1961-2 British TV show shown in the US too:

 
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I hear the electric flying cars are incredible but have a very limited range due to the extension cord.
 
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The battery operated ones fly longer especially if you replaceable spares in your luggage.

I’m holding out for the nuclear fusion models that will scoop fuel out of the air.
 

1. How does a flying car work?

A flying car uses a combination of traditional car mechanics and flight technology to function. It typically has wings or rotors that allow it to take off and land like an aircraft, and can also drive on roads like a regular car. It may also have a hybrid or electric engine to power both modes of transportation.

2. Is it safe to fly a car?

Flying cars undergo rigorous safety testing and must meet strict regulations before they can be approved for use. They also have advanced technology, such as collision avoidance systems, to ensure safe operation. However, as with any form of transportation, there is always some level of risk involved.

3. How high can a flying car fly?

The altitude that a flying car can reach varies depending on the specific model and its capabilities. Some may only be able to fly a few hundred feet off the ground, while others may be able to reach heights of several thousand feet. However, most flying cars are designed to operate at lower altitudes to avoid air traffic and other potential hazards.

4. How much does a flying car cost?

The cost of a flying car can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer, model, and features. Some prototypes and concept designs can cost millions of dollars, while others may be more affordable for the average consumer. As the technology advances and becomes more mainstream, it is expected that the cost of flying cars will decrease.

5. Can anyone fly a flying car?

Flying a car requires specialized training and licensing, similar to that of a pilot for an aircraft. It is not something that just anyone can do without proper training and certification. In the future, as flying cars become more prevalent, it is possible that laws and regulations may allow for easier access to flying car operation for the general public.

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