Woburn Company Close To Selling Flying Car
BOSTON (CBS) - The latest version of the flying car is another step closer to going on sale.
Terrafugia of Woburn says it's prototype has completed its first test flight, flying for about eight minutes at 1,400 feet.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Anthony Silva reports
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But Terrafugia vice president Richard Gersh says the car can fly much farther.
"It has a range of about 400 to 450 miles, which would take you somewhat in the order of three to three-and-a-half hours," Gersh told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
Gersch says the Transition flying car will be formally introduced this week at the New York Auto Show and orders are piling up.
"We have approximately 100 orders on the books and we expect first delivery within the year," he said.
The Transition has folding wings and seats two.
So, how do you drive or fly it?
"It drives just a like a car. It has a steering wheel, a gas pedal and a brake pedal. And, essentially, it has an automatic transmission. That's when the wings would be folded up," Gersh explained.
"When the wings are unfolded at your airport, it converts to flight mode, which disengages the road transmission and engages the propeller. And in that case, to fly the vehicle, you have a control stick, which, actually is located on the floor of the vehicle, kind of like a fighter pilot plane. And when you are flying the aircraft, you use the stick on the floor, but the wheel does remain attached, you just don't' have to use it in the air."
The Transition does not come cheap.
It will sell for about $279,000.