World's first flying car

Thu, Jul 1, 2010

World's first flying car, that was caught in a legal snarl in the US, has been given the green signal. It is developed by Boston-based Terrafugia Transition. The car-cum-plane vehicle called 'the flying car' has got the waiver on its weight from the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) making it a reality.

Under FAA rules, the flying car -- categorised as a 'light sport' aircraft -- was required to be strictly under 1,320 pounds in weight. But with the addition of car safety features such as airbags, crumple zones and a safety cage, the vehicle overshot the weight-limit. Costing about $200,000, the flying car will travel up to 725 km in the air at a speed of more than 115 km per hour.

Fuelled by gasoline, it will have front-wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. With its wings folded, it can be parked in an ordinary car garage. It says tests have shown that the vehicle can drive, fly and switch from being a plane to a car in just 30 seconds.