Terrafugia will in July unveil a new design for its roadable aircraft Transition. The vehicle will be lengthened and other structural and aerodynamic changes will be made to achieve automotive and aviation certification.
A first flight is planned for 2011. As well as being longer, the prototype will meet the light sport aircraft category's gross take-off weight limit of 600kg (1,320lb) and will have a roll cage and crumple zones for road use while retaining its wing-folding method and engine type. The Transition has a Rotax 912S engine and can be fuelled with premium unleaded or 100 Low Lead Avgas.
Woburn, Massachusetts-based Terrafugia began work on the beta prototype in May 2009. Chief executive Carl Dietrich says: "We are using Dassault Systemes' Catia software. The finite element analysis tool is very useful. [Optimising the structure] would be bordering on the impractical without the tool."
© TerrafugiaTerrafugia will in July unveil a new design for its roadable aircraft Transition |
Made longer to increase the distance between the pitch axis controls and the wing to improve pitch control, the beta prototype version will still fit inside a standard garage.
The Transition's proof of concept vehicle made 28 flights including its first at Plattsburgh airport in upper New York state on 5 March 2009. Terrafugia had aimed to have the Transition certificated by the end of 2009. Last year the company said that the aircraft was priced at around $200,000 and is designed to fly at 100kt (185km/h) with a 740km (400nm) range while offering highway speeds for land travel.
Source: Flight International