Flying Car for the Masses.

[astr0144]

Flying Car for the Masses.

If I cannot have a Flying Disc Bob Lazar Model or Saucer type UFO to transport around on and off Earth..

I may settle for  one of these  when on Earth, until they can create other forms of domestic type quicker type / instant transportation to get from point A to Point B.

It could travel at 200 MPH for upto 500 miles.
























https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=wHJTZ7k0BXU

http://www.terrafugia.com/tf-x

The TF-X™ is the practical realization of the dream of countless visions of the future; it is designed to be the flying car for all of us. In order to achieve this long-sought-after vision, Terrafugia will focus the TF-X™ program with clear goals that enhance the safety, simplicity, and convenience of personal transportation.  We believe these goals are achievable today.


TF-XTM Quick Facts:

Timeline: The TF-X™ is still in the early stages of development, with a production date estimated at 8-12 years in the future.
Pricing: The price will be consistent with high-end luxury cars. More specific pricing information will become available as we progress in the development of the TF-X™ program.
Range: the TF-X™ will have a range of 500 miles with cruise speeds up to 200mph.
TF-XTM Goals:

Safety

Operating the TF-X™ should be statistically safer than driving a modern automobile.
The TF-X™ will be capable of automatically avoiding other air traffic, bad weather, and restricted and tower-controlled airspace.
The TF-X™ will have a backup full-vehicle parachute system which can be activated by the operator in an emergency if the operator believes the TF-X™ to be incapable of auto-landing.
If a TF-X™ operator declares an emergency (which will automatically notify authorities of the situation), the TF-X™ can be landed in non-approved landing zones.
If the operator becomes unresponsive, the TF-X™ would automatically implement an emergency auto-land at the nearest airport.
Simplicity

Learning how to safely operate the TF-X™ will take substantially less time than would be required for a traditional aircraft.
The TF-X™ will give the operator significant freedom in flight – controlled in a manner similar to steering a car.
The TF-X™ will be able to fly in either "manual" or "automatic" modes between approved landing zones or airports.
Convenience

The TF-X™ will carry four people in car-like comfort.
The TF-X™ will have a non-stop flight range of at least 500 miles.
The TF-X™ will fit into a standard construction single car garage.
The TF-X™ will be able to take off vertically from a level clearing of at least 100ft in diameter.
The TF-X™ will be able to drive on roads and highways – providing true door-to-door convenience and an automotive level of weather insensitivity.
In order to facilitate the achievement of this new dimension of personal freedom, the TF-X™ will be priced as low as possible while still allowing Terrafugia to grow to support our customers.  The final pricing will not be set until we are much closer to delivery.  The biggest price driver is the cost of production. It is likely that TF-X™ will be more expensive than a "normal car" due to the higher costs of the necessary light-weight materials, but with investment in automotive scale production, early studies indicate that it is possible that the final price point could be on-par with high-end luxury cars of today.  As demand increases, new materials and manufacturing processes will surely be developed and the price may come down further in the distant future.

Vision of TF-X™ Technical Operations:

The TF-X™ is a fixed wing street-legal aircraft with electric ground drive and electric power assist on takeoff and landing.
The TF-X™ will be able to recharge its batteries either from its engine or by plugging in to electric car charging stations.
The TF-X™ will be capable of "auto-landing" at approved landing sites within approved weather limits.
Prior to departure, the operator will select a primary target landing zone and backup landing zones.  If the TF-X™ calculates insufficient energy on board to conduct last minute aborts at the first two sites and safely navigate to and land at the third within a 30 minute reserve, or if the forecast weather in any of the three landing zones would be outside the allowable limits, or if any of the selected landing zones are in temporarily restricted airspace (TFRs), departure will not be allowed until appropriate landing zones are selected.
If manual operation (sightseeing) or changing weather causes the second backup landing zone to fall outside the range of the limits, the operator will be notified and prompted to select new landing zones within the new restrictions.
The TF-X™ operator will have final say over whether an approved landing zone is actually a safe place in which to land, and they may abort the landing attempt at any time.
Aborting the third landing at the end of an extended flight would result in the automatic declaration of an emergency and a horizontal (airplane-like) landing at the nearest airport.
Normal TF-X™ operations will be conducted only in non-tower controlled airspace (Class E and G) and on the ground.  Operators who wish to operate in tower controlled airspace (Class B, C, or D) will be able to get additional training.
Licensed TF-X™ operators will be allowed to apply to add new landing zones to an approved landing zone database.
The TF-X™ will advise the operator if they are approaching restricted or tower-controlled airspace, or unnecessarily increasing the risk to human life (as could happen through carelessness, bad intentions, or if the operator becomes incapacitated).  If the operator does not take the appropriate corrective action, the TF-X™ vehicle will automatically notify authorities by "declaring an emergency" on behalf of the operator.
Development of the TF-X™ is expected to last 8-12 years.  If you wish to be one of the first to own a TF-X™ vehicle, consider reserving a Transition® today.  The Transition® will be delivered long before the TF-X™ is ready, and as loyal Terrafugia customers, Transition® buyers will be given the option to purchase TF-X™ vehicles before the rest of the public.  The knowledge and experience you gain as a Transition® owner will help prepare you for the TF-X™, and your feedback on our first product will help us craft the second.

Become a part of the Terrafugia transportation revolution today!



http://on.aol.com/video/flying-car-for-the-masses-set-for-take-off-517791147

[funbox]

is it me or have they just converted a reliant Robin ?

I think, though,a release handle might be too taxing for some in the future

as if parachute's aren't tricky things already

funbox

[astr0144]

If you are from the U.K you maybe familiar with this Reliant Robin...

Maybe the Trotters / Delboy can now convert his reliant Robin to flying model !

Luvly Jubly as he would say ! 








https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=1505JtiBmlY

[funbox]

If you are from the U.K you maybe familiar with this Reliant Robin...

Maybe the Trotters / Delboy can now convert his reliant Robin to flying model !

Luvly Jubly as he would say ! 

them two would certainly have problems with the handle ...
constructing a trebuchet though..
no chance


funbox

[astr0144]

Not sure how many may be familiar with Del Boy outside the U.K or in the USA ! He is quite a Character !


"Only Fools and Horses"...was and still is One of the UKs best ever Comedy series ever made..and a great duo with his brother Rodney !.

This is Del Boys flying version !



But yes he and his side kick brother may have trouble operating it !

Parachute is the only option if disaster and the engine fails or something unfortunately should happen.

bit of a bumpy landing !

them two would certainly have problems with the handle ...
constructing a trebuchet though..
no chance

[funbox]

flying Reliants with a fan , to jet propelled ones

topgears rendition



I doubt a parachute would help with this attempt

and of course the trouble with all them aircorners



funbox

[rdunk]

My thought on this "flying car for the masses" subject is..........I can think of nothing worse for this world, than to have the skies full of people "flying" their cars.........and that would by limitation, have to be the same skies that all of the other flying craft of all sorts are flying in too!!!! Maybe a fun/Dick Tracy/science fiction world thought, but the reality of it, by today's general technology, is pretty much nonsense to me.

There are so many negative aspects to consider in even thinking about this, including the laws and regulations that are involved in "building aircraft"  that it is ludicrous to think that a flying car would only cost similarly to a high end auto! The FAA would have to be involved in all aspects of such flying machines, and that in itself would significantly be a controlling factor in every aspect of flying cars, from manufacturing and safety requirements to ongoing maintenance inspection requirements. 

Can we even imagine the possibility of every street and highway having the possibility of being a "runway" for the take-off and landings of "flying cars", or "car aircrafts"?

And on and on and on and.......................!!!!

Of course, if the sublime thought is to find ways to limit and or reduce the population of the world, then maybe the "flying car" might be a way to make that happen!!

[astr0144]

Hi RDunk,

You make some very valid points.. that maybe the fantasists have not as yet even considered..

My initial answer to it, maybe, could we imagine back in the 1500s that we may have cars and road systems like we have today..

If they did ever create such a way to have all of us with a Flying car...eventually I suspect that will we have various airspace lanes and ways to prevent collisions..

It will probably be only for the Rich at least initially..

but I am certain that it could be done to a certain extent..for quite a large sized % of a population.

Just how quickly is my question ?

If already have the technology...and have created such a Flying Vehicle...then in theory...Maybe in less than 100 years...maybe under 50 yrs , at a guess. if they really wanted to achieve it.

but again no doubt only the Rich would obtain that early on.

I agree it would seem very expensive and take up a LOT of space for us to find a place to take off from that does not create forms of congestion and safety concerns in certain places..such as Rotating blades/ propellers  in ones street where Children maybe..

or maybe initially we would have to drive to the nearest mini air-car ports ? or to a place on our Road that is classed as a Safety area..

Later on New Houses will have Helecar Ports or pad  built on the Roof ! and you may have a small hanger to put your car into.
(At least for Larger Detached type houses, again for the Rich ! )

It maybe that Air Car maintenance may not be as great on certain things as present Normal cars ,  if say most of the Flying places less stress on the main parts...but it maybe the Engine / propulsion system that has to be more carefully monitored. If the system can land without creating excessive stresses on the cars wheels and suspension system may be an issue.but new designs may improve on that !

It could have numerous advantages IMO..and be something many would really want !

there is no doubt a whole lot of things to be considered to create such a fantasy...

I think in the Movie "The 5th Element" with Bruce Willis, that  they touched on it in the Streets of New York !..

Other than having a SAFE type small  Saloon car sized type UFO flying disc...that can just hover and take off to anywhere we select almost in an instant.. as maybe Possible for ETs..

My ultimate fantasy is to be able to be like in Star Trek and beam to any location , in a type of surrounded bubble  or force-field if needed...as forms of protection in certain environments../ or against weather, extreme  temperatures or terrain, etc..

so we can just find a place to bed down surrounded by a comfort type of surrounding at / with comfortable conditions..Humidity, Temp, etc (In a Good type atmosphere surrounding) and just lie down in my Comfort bubble and sleep anywhere in comfort, be it in the desert, in the Artic or on a Mountain or in a Jungle..MY Bubble or cover protects me.. also helps feed and waters me with modern ways to create moisture or types of liquid type energy source that we either carry certain things with us to add to liquids created.. but we do not carry lots of bulky stuff...

...so that we can explore our World so much easier and quicker..THEN to take that to the Star Systems / other planets.

That may now be my main aim in my remaining years to dream about or ponder on !  My Fantasy !

or to be able to dream and have it happen..if not always mentally and Physically..maybe  I will have to settle for Mentally  !



Maybe looking down from the Empire State or top of the Skyscraper like buildings..