How to go faster than 110km/h and be exempt from speeding fines

[flappist]

http://www.terrafugia.com/

If they get it going I will buy one, Sydney to Melbourne in about 4 hours

[burnz]

does it have airbag and abs??

when i read the header i thought it was about challenging speeding fines in court story..ha ha

wasn't their something similar type hybrid plane on the market??

[auxr]

Good read - but, I think I'd rather take my chances on terra firma in a GT.

[DBourne]

can u do barrel rolls to impress ur mates?

[aussie muscle]

but for that you'd need both a driving license AND a pilots license. probably neat d close to the airport too

[nstg8a]

wonder how id get on trying to drive onto the runway at brisbane airport ... i know the drivers at work hate going there lol.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by auxr

Good read - but, I think I'd rather take my chances on terra firma in a GT.

Flying takes a lot more skill and situational awareness than driving, it is not for everyone.

It is also very unforgiving, if you get a fright you can't just pull up on the side of a cloud and have a little break until your nerves settle down.

For me it would be a Godsend. I used to use bugsmashers on bush jobs that usually took 8 hours driving and was usually back by lunchtime. The problem was if the job site did not have its own strip I had to get to it somehow which often meant walking.

I think it is bloody brilliant.

[mik]

i can see the attraction of this vehicle. i have a mate that lives in Melb and commutes to Horsham for his 2nd business via ultra light, this would be ideal, do you have your pllots ticket Flappist?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

wonder how id get on trying to drive onto the runway at brisbane airport ... i know the drivers at work hate going there lol.

Last time I landed at Brisbane International on the GA strip the landing fee was $250, I suspect no one would go there.

Redcliff in the north or Archerfield in the south or one the the many ALAs would be the best choice.

[DJL351]

They have been granted a exemption (in the US of A) meaning that to fly this car... craft only requires about 20 hours exp.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by flappist

http://www.terrafugia.com/

If they get it going I will buy one, Sydney to Melbourne in about 4 hours

LOL.. it will bring a literal meaning to "overtaking"...

[auxr]

Originally Posted by flappist

Flying takes a lot more skill and situational awareness than driving, it is not for everyone.

It is also very unforgiving, if you get a fright you can't just pull up on the side of a cloud and have a little break until your nerves settle down.

For me it would be a Godsend. I used to use bugsmashers on bush jobs that usually took 8 hours driving and was usually back by lunchtime. The problem was if the job site did not have its own strip I had to get to it somehow which often meant walking.

I think it is bloody brilliant.

Gives new meaning to park n fly - certainly this chariot would be a bonus for you flappy, but for me I'd hate to get stuck in a storm in it.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by auxr

Gives new meaning to park n fly - certainly this chariot would be a bonus for you flappy, but for me I'd hate to get stuck in a storm in it.

I don't go anywhere near air I can't see through

[flappist]

Originally Posted by DJL351

They have been granted a exemption (in the US of A) meaning that to fly this car... craft only requires about 20 hours exp.

Don't get sucked in by the marketing...

It is a minimum of 20 hours of training. The pilot must actually be able to pass their rather low standard (by our levels) test.

Aviation training in Australia is very different to driver training.
All training is done by a qualified instructor and follows a rigid curriculum.
Testing is done by a different instructor and is done in stages.
1) Solo, you can fly by yourself but only in the training area and have to be checked (retested) every 3 hours.
2) GFPT, you can fly by yourself or with pax but only in the training area and are checked (retested) every 15 hours.
3) PPL, you can fly by yourself or with pax anywhere but only in daytime, and fine weather. You are restricted to aircraft with 1 engine, fixed pitch prop, fixed tricycle undercarrage and are checked (retested) every 2 years.

If you are very very good you can do this in 40 hours but the average is above 60.

Of course if you want to have pax that pay it is 200 hours, flying at night, multi engine, flying in cloud, pressurisation, variable prop, retactable undercarriage, tail dragger, skis, floats, floating hull, turbine all required extra training.

AND THEN:

Each different model requires an endorsment that can take 5-50 hours of training. e.g. the car equivelent would be when you upgrade your BF2 GT to FG GT you have to do your driving test again and you cant drive a Pursuit because you have net been tested in it.

[Fled74]

I'd love to see James May testing this.

[james22]

$200,000 US Each - I think i'd just rather buy a proper plane.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by james22

$200,000 US Each - I think i'd just rather buy a proper plane.

You do realise that a "proper plane" will cost between $300,000 for a basic no options entry level trainer (e.g. a Hyundai Getz with wings) and $2,000,000 USD and that is just for a single engine?

And then what do you do when you land at some little town in woop woop that does not even have a taxi service?

[SpoolMan]

Reminds me of the cartoon show we watched as kids The Jetsons.

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by flappist

Don't get sucked in by the marketing...

It is a minimum of 20 hours of training. The pilot must actually be able to pass their rather low standard (by our levels) test.

1) Solo, you can fly by yourself but only in the training area and have to be checked (retested) every 3 hours.

Thats right, most people can acheive thier first solo before 20 hrs (usually from 12-17 hrs) but that is pretty well all you will know at that stage. As Flappist said, it takes a whole lot more than 20 hrs.

Originally Posted by flappist

Flying takes a lot more skill and situational awareness than driving, it is not for everyone.

Spot on Flappist! If everybody had to do their PPL as part of their driver training they would have a very different view concerning driver attitude and ability. My biggest lesson was the theory of pushon-itus, whether it was fuel, weather or just fatigue. Also in a car it seems to be cool, (even in my day) to scare the sh^t out of your passengers, in a plane it is considered poor airmanship. You never want a reputation as poor or bad pilot. In a plane you are very lucky if you even get a second chance.

Originally Posted by flappist

I don't go anywhere near air I can't see through

Are you VFR only, do you hold a night rating?

Having said that, I don't think that this is for me either. But you are right about remote airstrips with no services though.

[ELGT4me]

Originally Posted by Fled74

I'd love to see James May testing this.

Or ltd!!!

[Bundy]

Fly cars, what will they think of next LOL

Actually a very practical bit of kit and like everything over time the price will drop if they can get it mass produced like regular vehicles.

Then some bogan will want to put a chev badge on it .....

[Franco Cozzo]

Not bad, I work inside an airport, live 10 minutes away from a dirt runway too haha.

But I don't know about you guys, take a look at the cars on the road, would you want those owners who don't service their cars, flying around you?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by flappist

Flying takes a lot more skill and situational awareness than driving, it is not for everyone.

True. Although we should wonder about people who...

Fly around at night with the headlights turned off and the interior lights turned on.

Stop at the end of 3 kms of concrete with the brakes on and the engines redlining.

And stop by chucking the thing into reverse!!

[yanknbank]

No doubt we've all heard the old saying "if it looks right, it'll fly right".
Well this thing looks like a dog and from what I've seen of it on TV over the last couple of days, I don't reckon it'll fly a whole lot better.

[Romulus]

Wow it has a low stall speed. Would make my trips to and from Perth to Port Hedland a whole lot faster

No landing or take-off fees either if you use a freeway or Highway. I wonder if cruise control works in this thing? Altitute hold, wing leveller and heading hold would be enough for most people.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by GT Falcon

Wow it has a low stall speed. Would make my trips to and from Perth to Port Hedland a whole lot faster

No landing or take-off fees either if you use a freeway or Highway. I wonder if cruise control works in this thing? Altitute hold, wing leveller and heading hold would be enough for most people.

The canard does that, it is interesting to note that rotation is 80mph (70kts) though which is pretty high. I have never flown a canard aircraft though I have seen quite a number in action. The idea of the nose dropping before the wings stall is a very good safety feature.

[Riksta]

Reminds me of the Moller which if I recall correctly, and pardon the pun, never got off the ground...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moller_Skycar

[motorcycles4eva]

it was on the ten news tonight.. you need 35 hours flying lessons and 500000.00 dollars to get one..
i'll have enough to buy the wheels i think..???

[superpursuit83]

I wonder what there ceiling hight and Max G's is?
I have aerobatics rating above 5000 feet. Would love to see how these things perform.

The 80mph rotation seems a bit high though. Would get a speeding ticket on the freeway before you could fly over the camera...lol

[XC_Lizzard]

Originally Posted by flappist

http://www.terrafugia.com/

If they get it going I will buy one, Sydney to Melbourne in about 4 hours

4 Hours Plus stops for fuel, the range is listed as 460 miles (which works out to about 730 Km).