Flying car Terrafugia got the go-ahead for flight tests

The collective dream of mankind about flying cars comes true.

The four-seater Terrafugia TF-X with folding propeller wings was first shown to the public in 2013. Since then, its technical development has continued, in the summer of 2015, the company released a modernized prototype. Finally, now is the time for real flight tests. Well, almost real.
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The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a special permit from the Massachusetts-based company Terrafugia to test the Terrafugia TF-X unmanned vehicle, made on a 1:10 scale.

However, testing even a small model is already a significant step forward. Tests will help engineers bring the design to mind, and the next step will be testing this machine.

Model 1:10 is allowed to climb to a height of no more than 121 meters and reach a speed of no more than 160 km / h. For flights, it is permitted to use all US airspace, but drone operators are required to constantly maintain contact with relevant authorities.

“Extensive flight tests of the reduced model sUAS [small Unmanned Aircraft Systems], together with the wind tunnel blowing and aerodynamic simulation, are key factors for specifying the vehicle design,” said a Terrafugia press release .

In connection with the unique design of the car flight tests really are of key importance, experts say . According to them, it is very important to achieve a steady continuous state of soaring on a reduced model in order to realize this in the final design.

When the Terrafugia TF-X enters the market, the car will have a maximum flight speed of 322 km / h and a range of 805 km. He does not need a special runway: he will rise into the air directly from the road or from any other place (vertical takeoff).

For takeoff and landing, two small propellers are used, which fold into wings during flight at cruising speed.



According to the plans of Terrafugia, the development of a commercial version of a flying car will take from 8 to 12 years.