Transition flying car cleared for takeoff

Terrafugia has reached a milestone by obtaining an FAA Special Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) airworthiness certificate for its Transition roadable aircraft.

An integration of a two-seat aircraft and an automobile, the Transition is designed to meet safety standards from both the FAA and the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), according to officials with the Woburn, Mass.-based company. 

The vehicle that received the certificate is legal only for flight and represents the initial version of the Transition, company officials noted. Terrafugia will produce and sell additional flight-only versions as it evolves the driving portion of the Transition design, with the goal of being legal both in the sky and on roads in 2022.

“We are excited to have reached our goal of an airworthiness certificate for the initial version,” said Kevin Colburn, vice president and general manager of Terrafugia. “During an extremely challenging pandemic year, our team remained focused, improved our quality system, completed the critical aspects of the design, built the vehicle, completed 80 days of flight testing, delivered 150 technical documents, and successfully passed the FAA audit. This is a major accomplishment that builds momentum in executing our mission to deliver the world’s first practical flying car.” 

The Transition

The initial version of the Transition is powered by a 100-hp Rotax 912iS Sport fuel-injected engine with a 2,000 hour TBO. It has a flight speed of 100 mph and runs on either premium gasoline or 100LL. Standard features include a Dynon Skyview avionics package, an airframe parachute, four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, a rigid carbon fiber safety cage, and folding wings to allow storage in a single-car garage.