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Terrafugia |
The
Terrafugia Vehicle: The Transition |
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Click to see the Transition change... (Requires Quicktime) |
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Introduction People have dreamed of
roadable aircraft since 1918 when Felix Longobardi was issued the first
patent for a vehicle capable of both driving on surface roads and flying
through the air. The most well known, and arguably most successful roadable
aircraft was developed in the 1950s and 60s by Molt Taylor. Although his
design was never mass produced and does suffer from a number of practical
drawbacks, there are a handful of prototypes that were built and are capable
of both flying and driving. There are also many visionaries developing their
own concepts for a roadable aircraft. A fairly comprehensive listing of
vehicles of this type along with their espousers is available at the Roadable Times website. This plurality of concepts
shows that there is a perceived need for a vehicle of this type.
Unfortunately, the cost/benefit of these vehicles (both in terms of
development and design compromises that must be made to build a vehicle like
this) never justified serious financial backing the real need was
not sufficiently acute to justify the performance sacrifices of a dual use
vehicle. Consequently, the flying car' was relegated to the realm of lone
inventors or visionaries that had the desire but not the resources/capability
to build a practical, commercially viable entity around its sale to the
global general aviation community. Terrafugia is the company that
will change this paradigm and be the first to successfully bring a roadable
personal air vehicle to the general aviation marketplace. Why will Terrafugia succeed
where so many others have failed? Team/Talent:
Terrafugia has assembled an outstanding team of business and technical talent
with the singular goal of making the Transition a commercially viable general
aviation vehicle. Never before has a team as large and diverse comprising so
much talent been assembled to bring a roadable aircraft to market. Timing: For the first
time in the history of this country, the average door-to-door travel speed is
decreasing. This diminished mobility is a result of increasing congestion on
the ground and in the nation's commercial airline transportation system. In
addition, the recently instituted Light Sport Rule will make it easier than
ever to take to the air in a Transition. Finally, many public-use general
aviation airports are closing down around the country. These wonderful public
resources are being lost at an unprecedented rate. If a vehicle like this
does not come along with the potential to bring many more US citizens into
general aviation, the nation may lose these valuable resources and the
fundamental ability to improve our mobility in the future. This confluence of
factors make this the right time to start a venture such as Terrafugia. Resources: The
Terrafugia team has assembled a superb board of technical and business
advisors from the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the MIT
Venture Mentoring Service, and the MIT Entrepreneurship Center. These
institutions not only have the experience to directly advise a new venture
such as Terrafugia's, they also have extensive contacts with venture capital
and angel investor groups from whom Terrafugia will seek the necessary
external funding at the appropriate time. How will Terrafugia
accomplish what it promises? Invest in engineering:
Terrafugia will use the most advanced engineering design and modeling
technology along with a tried-and-true spiral development program with
multiple hardware prototypes to reveal practical issues with functionality
and robustness that cannot be computationally predicted early in the design
cycle. By the time it is delivered to the first customer, the Transition will
be the most highly engineered Light Sport Aircraft in existence. Clear value
proposition: The Transition is about making flying more practical for more
pilots. While a vehicle with the undeniable James Bond appeal of the
Transition is definitely a recipe for fun, on a more fundamental level, it is
about saving time and money for our customers and increasing their standard
of living by improving their mobility. Straight forward
marketing and sales: Terrafugia strongly believes that the shortcomings of a
vehicle like this must be advertised along with the more obvious tremendous
benefits so our customers will know what to expect of their Transition. We do
not want our customers to be surprised by any potentially negative aspect of
the Transition. What is the Transition? The Transition is a Personal
Air Vehicle (PAV) designed to make general aviation more practical for
personal transportation. This increased practicality is accomplished by
enabling the promise of a true integrated roadable aircraft at an
economically compelling price. The Transition will be capable of driving at
normal highway speeds, flying at speeds that approach the light sport
aircraft limit, and parking in a standard garage. The freedom enabled by this
aircraft will fundamentally increase the personal mobility of its owners
while simultaneously improving the safety and practicality of GA travel. Specifications
Images of the Transition:
All images are the property of
Terrafugia Inc. and may not be reproduced without consent. Images and animations were
generated by Benjamin Schweighart.
Commitment to Safety: Terrafugia is commited to
designing and manufacturing the safest possible vehicle. With a founding team
populated with pilots, we know first hand both the joys and dangers
associated with flying. As engineers, we know that the Transition can not
only be a safe airplane and a safe automobile, but also offer safety at a
higher level of convenience than is currently available to the general
aviation community. |
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© Terrafugia Inc. 2006
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