Modern-Aviation

Terrafugia, the company behind the Transition car-plane from 2012, is back with a new flying car design dubbed TF-X. Due to the success of the Transition vehicle, Terrafugia announced in 2013 that they were developing the TF-X. When in flight, the TF-X is effectively autonomous, with its pilot able to navigate to a pre-specified landing zone—and pre-selected backup landing zones—by itself, although manual controls and overrides exist. Final landing must be approved by the pilot. The TF-X will also provide operators the choice to fly in either manual or automatic during flight with the ability to control the vehicle in a manner similar to steering the wheel of an automobile. Terrafugia claims that learning to drive the TF-X is likely to take five hours and will take substantially less time to learn how to safely operate than a traditional aircraft
Described as being “the flying car for all of us”, the four-seat TF-X features a plug-in hybrid powertrain which powers both its wheels when on the ground and two electrically driven rotors for flight. It’s capable of vertical take-off and landing, as opposed to needing a runway to become airborne.

Safety features
The TF-X will be capable of avoiding air traffic, bad weather, and restricted and tower-controlled airspace. For additional safety features, the TF-X would automatically land at the nearest airport if the operator becomes unresponsive. Additionally, if a TF-X operator declares an emergency, the authorities will be automatically notified of the situation and the TF-X can be landed in a non-approved landing zone. The TF-X also features a backup full vehicle parachute system that can be activated if the operator believes the vehicle is incapable of auto-landing.

Once in the air, the TF-X has a claimed range of 500 miles, although Terrafugia hasn’t specified a cruising speed. The firm’s first model, the Transition, can travel up to 410 miles at a cruising speed of 100mph. The Transition is powered by a 99bhp Rotax aircraft engine that’s capable of returning a claimed 35mpg on the road.

When in flight, the TF-X is effectively autonomous, with its makers saying the car can avoid other air traffic, bad weather and restricted air space and navigate to a pre-specified landing zone - and pre-selected backup landing zones - by itself, although manual controls and overrides also exist. A final landing can only be approved by the driver, and a full-vehicle parachute system acts as a back-up.

Terrafugia says that learning to drive the TF-X is likely to take just five hours, and that the final design “should be statistically safer than driving a modern automobile". The vehicle will be able to fit into a standard single-car garage.
The first exterior design for the TF-X was unveiled in 2013, with development to bring the car to production scheduled to last between eight and 12 years. That means the TF-X won’t be on sale until 2021 at the earliest, with Terrafugia saying the vehicle will be priced to compete with current high-end luxury cars.

Pricing
Pricing is expected to be upwards of £200,000 (roughly $300,000).