Flying cars - legal, real, true!

[Skybird]

FAA granted operation license to this thing, which is now entering serial production stage and should be avalable for around 160 thousand dollars from end of 2011 on. Rated as a lightweight aircaft, operation is allowed after just 20 hours of training. This info all taken from the comment in the second link.

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

http://www.focus.de/auto/videos/flug...vid_18419.html

[Schroeder]

I can see a lot of people landing that thing on the elevator as it is pretty close to the ground.
While this is a funny little gimmick for the rich I don't see many useful jobs for it. Maybe if you are a manager who has to travel between plants of a company and don't want to call a taxi after landing, but apart from that I don't see it's usefulness.
But it's cool nonetheless.

[GoldenRivet]

The aircraft is certified in the united states as a light sport aircraft requiring only a light sport pilot certificate to operate.

light sport pilots require 20 hours of training minimum and are not required to hold a medical certificate, instead using a state driver's license as proof that they meet vehicular medical standards.

However, as a certified flight instructor, i can assure you, becoming a certified light sport pilot would require a substantially longer commitment than 20 hours in the air though an extremely capable individual might be able to get it in that time span.

for example: The minimum for obtaining a private pilot certificate is 40 hours, the national average for obtaining that rating is closer to 60 hours.

However, the majority of light sport pilots out there are already certified private pilots, who for some reason or another no longer qualify for an FAA medical certificate due to diabetes or a heart condition etc.

These individuals - who are already licensed private pilots, can simply refuse to attempt to renew their medical certificate and immediately begin operations as a sport pilot.

* any previous history of denial of a medical certificate automatically voids your ability to operate as a sport pilot.

The sport pilot certificate comes with a number of limitations however, Day only, outside of controlled airspace, with only one passenger, and numerous aircraft performance restrictions.

if you can afford the $160,000 price tag, it would be awesome

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I can see a lot of people landing that thing on the elevator as it is pretty close to the ground.
While this is a funny little gimmick for the rich I don't see many useful jobs for it. Maybe if you are a manager who has to travel between plants of a company and don't want to call a taxi after landing, but apart from that I don't see it's usefulness.
But it's cool nonetheless.

Well, I personally would prefer a Nimbus 4 glider any time.

[Sailor Steve]

http://www.aerocar.com/

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Well, I personally would prefer a Nimbus 4 glider any time.

Have you ever taken such a thing out of it's trailer and assembled it? You sure don't want it anymore afterwards.
It's an awful task where you have to put both wing roots into the fuselage and then lift the outer ends of the wings until you can put the main connection bolt(s) in. You need at least three people for that (probably more for that huge thing) and the wings are awfully heavy when you have to hold them up until the guy at the fuselage has finally directed both wing roots into a position that he can put the bolt(s) in.
It's already quiet some task with an ASK21 which has only a wingspan of 17m.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Have you ever taken such a thing out of it's trailer and assembled it? You sure don't want it anymore afterwards.
It's an awful task where you have to put both wing roots into the fuselage and then lift the outer ends of the wings until you can put the main connection bolt(s) in. You need at least three people for that (probably more for that huge thing) and the wings are awfully heavy when you have to hold them up until the guy at the fuselage has finally directed both wing roots into a position that he can put the bolt(s) in.
It's already quiet some task with an ASK21 which has only a wingspan of 17m.

For such lower tasks I would also assemble a crowd of helpful lower beings. If I would fly, my motto would by: fly with style, leave all worries behind.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Wait a second....... they designed a hybrid car/aeroplane with automated folding wings and they're using a rope to keep the steering wheel straight during flight? Is that what I just saw?(2:17)

[Schroeder]

I guess it's a prototype feature. The car/plane that is seen flying also doesn't have the wheel covers as the one on the photos.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Wait a second....... they designed a hybrid car/aeroplane with automated folding wings and they're using a rope to keep the steering wheel straight during flight? Is that what I just saw?(2:17)

It's the way of the future

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

I guess it's a prototype feature.

LOL, yeah, it's a "feature". You should be in marketing or something - "Call now and it comes with free landing-gear alignment cord!"

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Wait a second....... they designed a hybrid car/aeroplane with automated folding wings and they're using a rope to keep the steering wheel straight during flight? Is that what I just saw?(2:17)

that wheel is not used in flight.

There is a sowable fighter pilot type stick in the floor that folds up into the pilots hands when the wings are extended.

i cant fully explain the rope / bungee cord thing... but i know the steering wheel serves no function in flight.

[SteamWake]

Rope is probably to keep the steering wheel from floping around while in flight. Not the most elegant of solutions but it works.

Frankly I find the whole concept kind of ... not workable.

Where would you park that thing?

You most likely have to drive it to an airstrip to get enough room to take off so uh... doesent that defeat the purpose? Surely if you can afford this gimmic you can afford a cab.

Nah I see it as a novelty that will spend the vast majority of its time in the hanger.

Couple of other things I noticed after watching the full video.

The turning radius, he barely is able to turn into that wide driveway.

Soooo close to the ground... Okay I have only flew cessnas which are pretty small but the seat is at least 4 feet off the tarmac. Let me tell you even that high up when your landing it feels like your going to be dragging your butt any second now... and you still got a good 20' to go

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

that wheel is not used in flight.

There is a sowable fighter pilot type stick in the floor that folds up into the pilots hands when the wings are extended.

i cant fully explain the rope / bungee cord thing... but i know the steering wheel serves no function in flight.

Does it serve a function in landing? I thought that maybe it was there to keep the wheel from turning as wind resistance might turn the tires, making for an unpleasant and probably upside-down landing. The way I see it, if they did have a mechanism that could disconnect the steering wheel from the front axles, why not just put a locking mechanism in place?

I'm not trying to be a smartass or anything, I'm just wondering.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Does it serve a function in landing? I thought that maybe it was there to keep the wheel from turning as wind resistance might turn the tires, making for an unpleasant and probably upside-down landing. The way I see it, if they did have a mechanism that could disconnect the steering wheel from the front axles, why not just put a locking mechanism in place?

I'm not trying to be a smartass or anything, I'm just wondering.

you got me.

i have a lot of the same questions.

im going to agree with steamwake. this flying car thing is a novelty only - but thats just my opinion.