It’s a plane! No it’s a car! It’s a flying car! Finally man has realized his dream of an airplane turning into a car by pressing just one button. Yes we are talking about Transition from Terrafugia(USA) . Recently media reported that the first Transition would be brought to India by U.K based Indian entrepreneur, Subhash Shihora. What is flying car, Transition? Why did Subhash Shihora felt the need to buy such a car?
Since the dawn of the Aviation Age, Man has been trying to build a flying car. In 1917 Glenn Curtiss, the chief rival of the Wright brothers, was the first to design a flying car. His large, three-wing Autoplane was able to hop, not fly. The first flying car to actually fly was built by Waldo Waterman. On March 21, 1937, Waterman’s Arrowbile first took to the air. It could fly at 112 mph (180 km/h) and drive at 56 mph (90 km/h). Many prototypes were developed but none could be taken to the production stage. In recent times, Transition from Terrafugia seems most probable in fulfilling the old age dream.
Transition is a two-seater vehicle in the light aircraft category and requires a private pilot licence to fly it. The vehicle is big enough to fit into a home garage. It can fly at 115 mph, can travel around 500 miles and it runs on unleaded petrol. It’s unique design allows it to fold and extend its wings by pressing a button. It is expected to cost between $200,000 and $250,000, a fraction compared to the most expensive street car Bugatti Veyron ($1.7 million) or the most expensive car the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe ($8.7 million). Transition is more expensive than a luxury car and a plane. But it addresses the issues that pilots face: cost, weather sensitivity, high overall door-to-door travel time and a lack of mobility at destination. Over 80 such aircraft have been reserved.
Dimensions
| Driving: 80” (2m) tall 90” (2.3m) wide 18’ 9” (6m) long |
Flying: 78″ (2m) tall 26′ 6″ (8m) wingspan 19′ 9″ (6m) long |
Cockpit: 48” at the shoulder Carry-on luggage Golf clubs Two place, side-by-side |
Transition is being made by Terrafugia, an aviation firm in Massachusetts(USA). Terrafugia in Latin means escape from the land Terrafugia. was founded by the graduates of MIT in 2006. The idea for the aircraft came to Carl Dietrich, one of Terrafugia’s cofounders in 2004 when Federal Aviation Administration (USA) created a new category of plane, light-sport aircraft which would require only 20 hours of flight time for pilot certification.
Terrafugia started work on proof of concept for Transition in 2006. In 2008 Transition was shown at annual experimental aircraft conference, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. It did not fly but demonstrated folding of wings to a rapt crowd. In 2009 a test pilot safely took it off and successfully completed its flight test program in New York. Construction, testing and certification of the next generation Prototype are now underway. First customer delivery of a Transition is expected to occur in 2011.
Recently, Subhash Shihora made headlines as the one to buy first Transition and bring it to India by end of 2011 after necessary approvals. Subhash Shihora is of Indian origin working in Urok International, a UK-based consultancy firm. In 2008 Subhash Shihora’s had sued Deccan Aviation airlines for Rs 21 crore when his wife and six-month-old son were not allowed to board a flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad. When he had called the airlines to resolve the issue, he was kept on hold for an hour. He was angry and not wanting to be short-changed again on flights he booked Transition. It would also allow him to attend meetings in different cities in a day – from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, then to Bangalore, Hyderabad and be back home(Ahmedabad).
Terrafugia clarified “He does not at this time have a Transition on order. A special opportunity will be made available to acquire the first Transition which has not yet been sold (http://www.terrafugia.com/news_media.html).
Will Transition be successful? Who will fly the first Transition? Will Subhash Shihora get his flying car? Only time which flies, will tell!
Subhash shihora and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi met in Gujarat and then Subhash Shihora organized the meeting of Akshay Kumar with Narendra Modi through some invitation procedures. Who has paid 3 crores to Akshay Kumar for the meet and inaugurating the sports function at Gujarat? The Government of Gujarat or Subhash Shihora or Subhash Shihora made any business deal with Akshay kumar if he meets Gujarat CM and inaugurate the Baroda Sports function for free that Government should tell under the RTI Act 2005 of INDIA.
Dear sir,
I am really happy and proud to be indian who have chance to take flying car.
Congratulation sir !!!!!!!!!
dear admin,
an ant can defeat the elephant that i read while i was child and might you know the same. why you think you are small ? try for it. the google is the best way to find anything and specially for the media people like you as being the individual we cannot ask such things to any person. thank you and expect the reality from you.
Thanks Nandita. You have placed a big onus on us. Right now not upto it.
So dear admin,
you given up. But the title you have given that looks more confident as it is confirming the future that the
gentleman will NOT be the first.
Where even company says that it would be auctioned
where anyone could be first but they not denied that he will NOT be like you claimed.
So even if you are unable to get a simple reply from the company THAN how could you BLAME someone that
He WILL NOT BE with full assurance.
Thats why i told you in my first comment that in INDIA many people are like CRAB. They don’t like any INDIANS going ahead AND you gave a Best example for the same.
To make prestige takes long way but people like you ruin it for anyone without any evidence or any cross check/verification.
Neither you know the gentleman NOR the company. And company didnt Bother about your communication. THAN who you are to defame anyone, when specially it is about INDIANS? Dont take proud for INDIANS as might you could be from PAKISTAN but dont defame any INDIANS.
Pen is a strength for the TRUTH. Write anything with assurance and for TRUTH not with any fantasy without any verification/cross examine.
TRUTH is always harsh but it TRUTH. Now as an INDIAN i would ask you for the evidence that what sort of evidence you do have for the future that “Gentleman Will Not be”
An INDIAN for INDIA
indians are always great and you have helped him to make controversy. because some news says he is first indian and you are saying he is not. Wish he is NOT the First indian but if will then i think he will sue you for hundred of crores ! to defame him. what do you feel. as even in day to day life as a working lady we pass through many problems like we work hard but the CHAMCHAS defame our job and then we feel them like crab and i think you have done same with this indian fellow from UK ? coz even if he is not then respect him to be announced as First indian in the world. about Gandhi ji everybody blamed him till he died then …. about Dhirubhai Ambani a business tycoon …
About you MEDIA people …. many news we see about some scams and suddenly it stops coz the agency get huge gifts to stop it ? the guy whose family suffered and he did great Job a woman and children, we respect dosen’t matter wahtever you write. I think every woman who have self respect would love to have a life partner like him. Congratulations to the gentleman from the heart and wish you ALL THE BEST
Thanks Nandita for your wishes and venting your heart out.
As mentioned in the article Terrafugia clarified “He does not at this time have a Transition on order. A special opportunity will be made available to acquire the first Transition which has not yet been sold (Reference).
Media at that time really hyped the news. Yes you are absolutely right -woman needs a partner who can stand by her and take care of the family.
Modern Indian woman has lots on her platter these days-managing home, office, kids . Hats off to them, to you. They are like unsung heroes on the border. Best wishes to you.
thanks for your reply. have you confirmed the same with the person that what is the circumstances ? as even sometimes company might lie. you have to verify with both as it says that they have received some money from the man but what has cooked actually the company is not saying. if you really honest try to find out the truth as media has reported that the same car will be arrived in March 2011, then what happened ? as i never trust americans speacilly with Indians growth and Indians fame ? Aishwarya rai even married to abhishek (with high valued family) Women works when they dont have very strong support or else they are in glamourous world, greedy or for survival otherwise every woman wants a man like the gentleman and i stick to it.
Sorry Nandita, I was waiting for reply from Terrufugia but so far no response. Sorry for delay.
You will never get it. now you can try to contact the gentleman as i heard that media people are the very strong and powerful people and can get anyone’s contact detail or related information. As my belief that something wrong is there but you are the people who can find out the truth only and let us (public) know and after i am having your reply i have start thinking something positive about the media and if possible please try to know that what happened to the gentleman’s family and how he fought with LAZIEST judiciary system of INDIA for such a huge money against the person who always nude the women in his airlines calender and advertisements. really we are very much happy with the gentleman as he has challenged a person for the respect of Women who (mallya) make the Women nude in his airlines advertisements. Please DO IT FOR PUBLIC and thank you very much to answer my doubts.
Sorry Nandita if you feel I cannot help. You are be right in saying I will not get it but maybe I don’t want to.
I have started this website and blog to make one aware esp. of money. Other than the words I write, I have no
power. You would need to find someone more competent to do it.
great news. i like that man sued deccan as i was been hurt very bad by deccan aviation in 2006 and was not allowed boarding even after i had valid ticket and later on i found that deccan flight was OVERBOOKED and that is why they denied me boarding seeing me alone, but my husband didn’t care saying “you don’t know the Indian law’ ? and also i heard that the owner of kingfisher airlines vijay malaya is also
a partner of deccan aviation. thanks to this indian to teach a great lesson to deccan a cheating company. great indian and we must proud that he broght the respect for his family. really brave. god bless him and we wish that he will be the proud owner for this car only and he deserves it. CONGRATS
Thanks Anita, In India customer is not the king. Companies have tendency to take us for granted.