Terrafugia Transition

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Transition
300px
Production Prototype of Terrafugia Transition at the N.Y. Int'l Auto Show in April 2012
Role Flying car
Manufacturer Terrafugia
First flight March 5, 2009[1]
Introduction In development since 2006, prototype unveiled in 2009
Number built 2[2]
Unit cost
US$279,000[3]

The Terrafugia Transition is a light sport, roadable airplane under development by Terrafugia since 2006.[4]

The Rotax 912ULS[5] piston engine powered, carbon-fiber vehicle is planned to have a flight range of 425 nmi (489 mi; 787 km) using either automotive premium grade unleaded gasoline or 100LL avgas and a cruising flight speed of 93 kn (107 mph; 172 km/h). Equipment includes a Dynon Skyview glass panel avionics system, an airframe parachute, and an optional autopilot.[6]

On the road, it can drive up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h)[7] with normal traffic. The Transition Production Prototype's folded dimensions of 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) high, 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) wide and 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) long are designed to fit within a standard household garage. When operated as a car, the engine power take-off near the propeller engages a variable-diameter pulley CVT automatic transmission to send power to the trailing-suspension mounted rear wheels via half-shafts powering belt drives.[8] In flight, the engine drives a pusher propeller. The Transition has folding wings, pusher propeller and twin tail.

Design and development

The experimental Transition Proof of Concept's first flight in March 2009 was successful and took place at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York using U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tail number N302TF. First customer delivery, as of March 2009, was originally planned to take approximately 18 months and occur in 2011.[1][9][10]

On July 1, 2010 it was announced that the Terrafugia Transition had been granted an exemption from the FAA concerning its Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) allowing the Transition to be certified with a take-off weight up to 1,430 pounds (650 kg); the limit matches the MTOW for amphibious light-sport aircraft.[11] The extra 110 pounds (50 kg) granted by the exemption provides more weight allowance for the mandatory road safety features such as airbags and bumpers.[11][12]

File:Terrafugia Transition Oshkosh 2008.jpg
Oshkosh July 2008, Proof of Concept
File:Terrafugia Transition Production Prototype AirVenture 2011.jpg
Oshkosh July 2011, Production Prototype

The proposed design of the production version was made public at AirVenture Oshkosh on July 26, 2010.[13] Aerodynamic changes revealed included a new, optimized airfoil, Hoerner wingtips, and removal of the canard after it was found to have an adverse aerodynamic interaction with the front wheel suspension struts; furthermore, the multipurpose passenger vehicle classification from the NHTSA removed the requirement for a full width bumper that had inspired the original canard design.[14]

On November 16, 2010 the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published Terrafugia's petition for a temporary, three-year hardship exemption from four FMVSS standards in the Transition. Terrafugia requested to use lighter weight motorcycle tires instead of RV tires, polycarbonate for the windshield and side windows, basic airbags instead of advanced, dual stage airbags and to not include an electronic stability control system.[15][16] The NHTSA granted all of the requested exemptions on June 29, 2011, but limited the stability control and airbag exemptions to one year.[17][18]

In June 2011, a delay was announced and Terrafugia's CEO estimated that about another 18 months would be required before first customer delivery in "late 2012".[19] December 2011 saw the base price increased to US$279,000.[3]

After undergoing drive tests and high-speed taxi tests, the production prototype completed its first flight on March 23, 2012 at the same airport in Plattsburgh, New York that was used for the Proof of Concept's flight testing.[20][21][22] The production prototype then made its auto show debut at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April 2012.[23]

In June 2012, Terrafugia announced that the Transition had completed the first of six phases of flight testing.[24][25] By July, the second phase of testing was underway, expanding the performance envelope in the sky and continuing drive testing on the ground.[26]

In January 2013, development continued and the company announced that it might be necessary to construct a third, completely new prototype, due to the large number of modifications required.[27] The modifications to date are said to appear to have improved the previous handling characteristics.[28]

By March 2014, the design of the third, updated prototype had progressed to finalization of the major structural members[29] and a statement to investors said that it would be used in final compliance testing for certification before the first customer delivery which was then estimated to take at least another 18 months and occur "in 2015".[30]

By April 2014, 12 two-person test flights had taken place; this was the first time that anyone other than Terrafugia's chief test pilot had flown the Transition.[31] As of 22 August 2014, first customer delivery was hoped for in about 18 months "in the second quarter of 2016."[32]

In December 2014 the company asked the FAA to allow the Transition to be operated at a gross weight of 1,800 lb (816 kg) instead of the light-sport aircraft maximum weight of 1,320 lb (599 kg) and have a stall speed of 54 kn (100 km/h; 62 mph) instead of the category maximum of 45 kn (83 km/h; 52 mph). The company indicated that the increases were required to allow inclusion of structures to meet FMVSS ground operation safety regulations. The company had previously been granted an increase in gross weight of 110 lb (50 kg) and another LSA aircraft, the ICON A5, was granted a 250 lb (113 kg) exemption to meet FAA spin resistance requirements; this new application would increase the Transition's allowed weight by a total of 480 lb (218 kg) or 36%.[33] During consultations the request for the weight increase was supported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association. Only a few individuals expressed opposition to the request.[34]

In April 2015 the company announced that parts were being built for the third version of the aircraft, and that current planning estimated the first customer delivery after roughly two years.[35]

In November 2015, the company announced that the third version of the Transition was being tested with a Rotax 912is engine, rather than the Rotax 912ULS that the second prototype had flown with.[36]

Specifications

File:Terrafugia -- 2012 NYIAS -- head-on, wings unfolded.jpg
Production Prototype with wings extended at New York Int'l Auto Show in April, 2012
File:Terrafugia -- 2012 NYIAS -- front view, folding wings.jpg
Prototype with wings partially folded
File:Terrafugia -- 2012 NYIAS -- front view, wing folded.jpg
Prototype with wings folded
File:Terrafugia Transistion Proof of Concept cockpit.jpg
Internal cockpit view

Data from Terrafugia Transition Proof of Concept specifications.[37][38][39] Terrafugia Transition 2010 specifications.[40]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Payload: 460 lb (210 kg) ()
  • Length: 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) ()
  • Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) ()
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) ()
  • Empty weight: 970 lb (440 kg) ()
  • Useful load: 460 lb (210 kg) ()
  • Max. takeoff weight: 1,430 lb (650 kg)[11] ()
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS, 100 hp (75 kW) @ 5800 rpm (max. 5 minutes), 95 hp (71 kW) @ 5500 rpm (continuous) ()
  • Propellers:
    Proof of Concept - Prince Aircraft Company, four-bladed "P-Tip"[41][42]
    Production Prototype - Sensenich 3 Blade Rotax Ground Adjustable Propeller[43] propeller
    • Propeller diameter: 68 in. (1.7 m) ()
  • Cockpit width: 48 in (1.2 m) at the shoulder
  • Fuel capacity: 23 US gal (87 L; 19 imp gal), 141 pounds (64 kg)
  • Length on road: 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) with elevator up
  • Width on road: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) with wings folded
  • Height on road: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Rear wheel drive on road

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 kts (115 mph or 185 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 93 kts (107 mph or 172 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 54 kts[33] (62 mph or 100 km/h)
  • Range: Flying - 425 nmi (489 mi; 787 km) () ; Driving - 805 mi (1,296 km; 700 nmi)
  • Maximum speed on road: 70 mph (110 km/h)[7]
  • Fuel economy in cruise flight: 5 US gal (19 L) per hour, 21.4 mpg‑US (11.0 L/100 km; 25.7 mpg‑imp)
  • Fuel economy on road: 35 mpg‑US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg‑imp)
  • Certifications: Both FAA and FMVSS certifications planned

Avionics
Glass panel; the Proof-of-Concept airplane includes:[44][45][46][47]

  • Dynon Avionics EFIS-D100 Electronic Flight Information System with HS34 Nav and GPS Connectivity
  • Dynon Avionics EMS-D120 Engine Monitoring System
  • Garmin GTX 327 Transponder[44]
  • Garmin SL30 nav/comm transceiver[44]

The Production Prototype has a glass cockpit including:[6][48][49][50]

  • Dynon Avionics SkyView SV-D1000
  • XCOM Avionics VHF Transceiver
  • Transition custom touch screen dashboard computer

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/30062010/36/flying-car-closer-reality-0.html
  5. ↑ TERRAFUGIA presentation of Transition aircraft "The Transition", 5 march 2012
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ [1]
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Fast Lane to Sky High, Ansys Fluid flow simulation software co-pilots design of production prototype roadable aircraft by Gregor Cadman, Engineer, Terrafugia, Woburn, MA, USA
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Page, Lewis, "Terrafugia flying car gets road-safety exemptions", The Register, 4 July 2011; retrieved 11 July 2011.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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