Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Flying car developer Terrafugia is making its NBAA show debut this year, highlighting its TF-2 eVTOL transportation concept at Booth 3134 and displaying a Transition flying car in the indoor static display.

 


China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group purchased Terrafugia in late 2017, and the influx of resources by the new owners has led to growth in staffing, opening of new facilities, and a plan&nbsp;to begin producing the Transition flying car next year. In August, the company leased 6,700 sq ft of hangar and office space at Nashua Airport in New Hampshire. Earlier this year, Terrafugia added a research and development facility in Petaluma, California. Staffing has grown from 20 to more than 200 people.

 


Founded by five Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates in 2006, Terrafugia pursued a unique path to bringing a flying car to market. The Transition has wings that fold up against the cabin after landing, for a simple transition between flying or driving modes. But what makes the Transition different from other flying cars, including two that achieved FAA certification but never made it into production, was the light sport aircraft (LSA) regulations that came into effect in 2004.

 


Terrafugia’s engineers calculated that they could design a roadable airplane—a true flying car— that would fit within the strict LSA weight and performance constraints. While the company did try to meet those constraints, it petitioned the FAA for an exemption, which was approved in 2016, for a higher maximum takeoff weight, to 1,800 pounds. The LSA weight limit is 1,320 pounds, although in 2010 Terrafugia had received an exemption to 1,430 pounds, the same weight allowed for amphibious LSAs.

 


Terrafugia’s Transition first flew in 2009 and made a big splash at EAA AirVenture 2013 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the test pilot drove the flying car in front of crowds, pushed a button to unfold the wings, then took off and flew in front of thousands of fascinated spectators.

 


Two flight-test Transitions have flown more than 200 hours, but despite earlier promises, the product languished, and progress seemed to have halted until the new owners injected fresh funding.

 


At this year’s AirVenture, Terrafugia unveiled design changes and improvements to the two-seat Transition, which will meet FAA LSA and U.S. National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration standards. Terrafugia expects LSA validation of the Transition in 2019.

 


The burden on the Transition’s Rotax engine will be reduced in driving mode, aided by a new hybrid mode. A new lithium-ion battery system will help power the Transition on the ground. The engine will have a boost mode to provide “a brief burst of extra power while flying.” New safety systems include improved seat belts, airbags, and three rearview mirrors. Terrafugia has selected Dynon for avionics and BRS to supply a whole-airframe parachute system.

 


Terrafugia plans to manufacture composite components in its Lianjing, China facility, then ship them to company headquarters in Woburn, Massachusetts, for final assembly, followed by delivery at Nashua Airport, according to a company spokeswoman.

 


Current pricing of the Transition is not yet available, but the company is taking deposits with letters of intent for purchase. Terrafugia had more than 10 deposit holders as of the end of September, she told AIN.

 


The TF-2 is Terrafugia’s concept for an eVTOL-type system that separates a passenger cabin or cargo container from the aircraft or ground vehicle portion. Passengers, for example, would climb aboard a four-seat cabin, which would be transported by the ground vehicle to a flight facility. Once there, the ground vehicle would move the cabin into position to be mated to the air vehicle, which would then fly the cabin to another location, where another ground vehicle would take the cabin to its final destination.

 


The Petaluma R&amp;D center is “completing the initial design,” said the spokeswoman. Flight testing of scale models is planned by the end of 2019, and a TF-2 model is on display at the Terrafugia booth.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Terrafugia Prepping for Transition Production

The Terrafugia Transition flying car is expected to begin production in 2019.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

Deal to close this year

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

Helsinki Evaluates Hybrid-electric Flight Connections

City officials and a local university are working with manufacturer Electra

Zuri Prepares to Fly Hybrid-electric Cargo Drone

Platform offers 100 kilogram payload and 300 nm range

Jetcraft Bullish on Preowned Business Aircraft Market

Broker says new aircraft production rates and tax changes are key drivers

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN