Flying cars

Can you believe it? Yes, it seems like news taken from a science-fiction novel, but it's true.
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The Federal Aviation Administration has just given the go-ahead for a Massachusetts company to start production on the first-ever flying car.

The company, Terrafugia, has spent years working on The Transition. In the air it can go about 115 miles per hour. On the ground, it gets about 30 miles per gallon. Terrafugia says the product brings convenience to consumers: Take a trip, then simply land the bird, let it fold up its wings, drive home and park it in your garage. MSNBC’s Willie Geist says this has been a long time coming.

WILLIE GEIST: “We Americans were promised flying cars a long, long time ago. We’ve been lied to, frankly, for decades now — by our government, our scientists and our cartoon characters. The Jetsons teased us with the idea that we could run out to the grocery store by flying through the clouds with a talking dog at our side. ... The Transition. We can work on the name, but the point is the FAA just approved a damn flying car. It’s here. After all these years.”

The Transition is a bit heavy because it has to have safety devices required for both planes and cars, like air bags. So, a disadvantage is that it can only fit two people and a little bit of luggage. The Tech Journal says Terrafugia got lucky with the FAA.

“Uniquely… the FAA has granted The Transition an exemption — allowing it to be classified as a light sport aircraft despite being 120 lb over the limit. Light sport aircraft licences require just 20 hours’ flying time, making them much easier to obtain than full private licences.”

So how common will the car become? Discover Magazine has some early numbers.

“So far, Terrafugia says 70 futuristic folks have pre-ordered the car … The total price tag is $194,000.”

Those buyers should get their cars in the next year and a half. What do you think? Would you get a Transition?