A flying car will go on sale to customers in the US next month with the first orders being delivered next year.
The Terrafugia Transition is the first model that will be available with a more advanced follow-up, the TF-X planned.
There’s no pricing information available yet but the company says it should be similar to a luxury passenger car.
A range of 400 miles is promised from the vehicle which can travel at speeds of up to 100mph.
When the Transition is on the road its wheels are driven by a hybrid electric motor. Potential buyers will, of course, need both a road driving licence and be certified to fly a light aircraft .
Pre-orders are expected to start in October and the company is also expected to announce the TF-2, which can operate as both a passenger and cargo plane.
Also planned is the TF-X which is set to offer four person capacity and achieve speeds of up to 200mph and offer 500 miles of range.
The engine in the TF-X runs on unleaded fuel and is capable of vertical take off and landing which means it doesn’t need a runway to get airborne.
The car’s propellers are electrically-powered, which Terrafugia says mean it’s quiet. The petrol engine will charge a set of batteries that are used to power both the wheels and propellers.
The car’s conversion into a plane will take less than a minute, according to the company.
Terrafugia says that the TF-X won’t need as much training to fly as a light aircraft, or the Transition.
Designed to be as simple to operate as possible the TF-X will be largely controlled by computer. Owners will pre-program a route into the vehicle and it will take off, fly and land automatically.
All the owner will need to do is confirm that they have found a safe takeoff site. The vehicle will have the option to be piloted semi-manually as well.
The TF-X will also be equipped with a parachute in case anything goes wrong.
While the Terrafugia Transition will be delivered to customers in 2019 there’s currently no date announced for the TF-X.
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