Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
Imagine a car that can also fly. Well, it is a matter of just five years when you could see your fantasy becoming a reality.
A flying car, called the Terrafugia Transition, has already been given clearance in the US, and experts are hoping it could soon hit roads within five years.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
The $250,000-vehicle is actually a two-seater light aircraft, which has a top speed of 185 kmph, a range of 800 kilometres on a tank of fuel and requires just 20 hours training to fly.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
The vehicle, which requires just 15 seconds to fold its wings and re-route power from the propeller to the rear wheels, can be driven at up to 100 kmph and will comfortably fit in a standard size garage.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
"It's like a little Transformer," Terrafugia founder Carl Dietrich was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
Although aimed primarily at buyers in the US where there are plenty of airstrips and 600 "fly-in" communities, about 20 Britons have already shown interest in the carbon-fibre vehicle.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, who set a world record for a cross-Channel journey in an amphibious car, said: "What a great idea. I'd absolutely like to hear more and I'm going to look into it myself."
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration paved the way for the flying car to be rolled out after recently announcing exemptions to allow it on American roads.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed such backing meant it would be relatively easy to be granted clearance by the European Safety Agency, based in Cologne.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
Spokesman Jonathan Nicholson said: "Safety standards are very similar between there and the US."
The project, which began in 2006, appeared doomed as recently as last summer after expensive design changes costing over $19 million were demanded.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
These included introducing a stability control system and fitting tyres that could be used on public roads as well as runways. But it was saved when the US military awarded a $65 million contract to develop a flying Humvee.
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Flying cars may be in the skies in five years!
Last updated on: July 20, 2011 11:39 IST
Two prototypes are now nearly finished and few changes are expected to be needed before the final model is ready to roll off the production line next year.
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