Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given a go-ahead for the Terrafugia Transition Flying car to be self-certified as Light Sports Aircraft (LSA) by waiving the weight and stall speed limits required for such certification.
Massachusetts-based flying car manufacturer applied for FAA waiver in 2014. To be certified as an LSA, a vehicle is required to weigh less than 1,320 pounds (598.7 kg) and have a max stall speed limit of 45 knots.
However, in order to make the Transition flying car road worthy, the company has to adhere to several safety norms which drove the weight up and resulted in higher stall speed. The company appealed for a waiver from FAA stating that the roll cage and crumple zones that are required for a road car will also make the vehicle safer than a regular LSA.
According to the waiver appeal, Terrafugia wanted the weight and stall speed limits to be pushed to 1,800 pound (816.4 kg) and 54 knots respectively. Now that the FAA has given a green light, the Transition and other such flying cars can finally be a reality.
The flying car folds its wings while on the road.
The Terrafugia Transition flying car has been in development since 2006 and took off for the first time in 2009. The second gen concept came into existence in 2012 and the company is set to get the third gen concept ready for testing in 2016-17.
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Market launch of the flying car will take place once the testing of third generation model is completed.
Via – Aviationweek.com
Source: FAA green lights Terrafugia Transition flying car
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