The Roadable Plane or The Flying Car . . . You Decide

Recession or No Recesion, a Flying Car from America Takes Off for the First Time

News Release:

http://www.terrafugia.com/newsreleases.html

Video Link:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=12548906&ch=4226721&src=news

More Videos Links:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Terrafugia+Transition&aq=f

For decades, mankind has suffered the indignity of commercial air travel. The long security lines. The middle seats. The surly flight attendants. It's enough to make a person say, "I'd rather drive my car." Well, the Terrafugia Transition hopes to do you one better. It wants to let you "fly" your own car.

The much talked about flying car is finally here. A Massachusetts company called Terrafugia Inc. has developed and manufactured a two-seater called the Transition. In 30 seconds, it can be transformed from an extremely ugly automobile into an honest-to-goodness airplane can fly at about 115 mph.

According to Terrafugia, the Transition's weight is under 850 pounds, thanks to its carbon fiber body, and that it'll get about 23 mpg from its 100 hp Rotax 912 S engine. Unlike something like the fabled Moller Skycar, however, this one won't do vertical take offs and landings, so you'll either need a really long driveway or access to a runway of some sort. Terrafugia says it already has fifty customers awaiting delivery of the vehicle, which the company is promising will happen in 2010.

After a recent test flight for reporters, queries on "terrafugia" and "flying car" both soared into the stratosphere. The Boston Herald chimed in with their thoughts on the future of the Transition, and notes that while the idea of owning a flying car is certainly appealing, the reality won't come cheap. Sticker price is a jaw-dropping $194,000. And, of course, drivers will need a pilot's license as well. Maybe sitting in 33C isn't so bad after all.

Recession or not, I am sure many spoiled rich yuppies in Bangkok will try to outdo each other to be the first to drive and fly one of these flying beetles when it finally becomes available for export.  What do you say?