Tag: flying

Video: Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition flying car

It was only a month ago when Terrafugia took its Transition flying car (or driving plane, as CEO Carl Dietrich says) to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for some exposure and its first public flight demonstration. We know the flight was a success, but Translogic was also there to get an inside look at the street-legal flying machine and capture it on video.

Dietrich says that the toughest part of building the Transition was to engineer a single solution to satisfy both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations. But the resultant vehicle raises the level of safety of personal aircraft through the use of automotive safety features, is better for the environment than traditional airplanes and will make use of the network of 5,000-plus public-use airports, “our nation’s largest underutilized transportation resource,” Dietrich states.

Be sure to watch the video below to find out what the future holds for flying cars – including Terrafugia’s next flying car/driving plane project, the gas-electric hybrid TF-X.

Continue reading Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition flying car

It was only a month ago when Terrafugia took its Transition flying car (or driving plane, as CEO Carl Dietrich says) to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for some exposure and its first public flight demonstration. We know the flight was a success, but Translogic was also there to get an inside look at the street-legal flying machine and capture it on video.

Dietrich says that the toughest part of building the Transition was to engineer a single solution to satisfy both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations. But the resultant vehicle raises the level of safety of personal aircraft through the use of automotive safety features, is better for the environment than traditional airplanes and will make use of the network of 5,000-plus public-use airports, “our nation’s largest underutilized transportation resource,” Dietrich states.

Be sure to watch the video below to find out what the future holds for flying cars – including Terrafugia’s next flying car/driving plane project, the gas-electric hybrid TF-X.

Continue reading Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch Terrafugia Transition flying car make its first public flight

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition made its first public takeoff.

The boundless imagination of post-war American car design has long been on display at the AirVenture museum in the form of the 1949 Aerocar. But as of Monday, flying cars became a bit more relevant when the long-delayed, street-legal Terrafugia Transition took off and flew in public for the first time, reports the Journal Sentinel.

It was the first day of the EAA AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, an international event where the newest in aviation technology is often unveiled. The Transition took off, flew smoothly and circled around the airfield for the public audience, and the low-speed landing looked especially drama-free, with all four of the flying car’s wheels touching the ground at the same time. After landing, the pilot parked for a minute to show off a crucial feature: motorized self-folding wings. The pilot/driver can fold the wings up after a flight and be ready for street driving without ever having to get out of the vehicle. The vintage Aerocar, on the other hand, had removable wings that had to be towed when it was driven on the street.

While everything seemed to go as planned for the Transition, at the 31-second mark in the first video we noticed that the wings didn’t fold up at the same speed, which has us questioning the effectiveness of the prototype’s wing-folding mechanism. It’s a good thing that this is the second of three generations of prototypes, so Terrafugia has plenty of time to iron out the details.

Look for the Transition to go on sale in 2015 or 2016 with a projected price tag of $279,000. The company is taking $10,000 refundable deposits now, the Journal Sentinel reports, and over 100 people have already reserved their own flying car. Check the takeoff, flight and landing in the videos below.

Continue reading Watch Terrafugia Transition flying car make its first public flight

Watch Terrafugia Transition flying car make its first public flight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touring Superleggera ramps up production of Bentley Flying Star

Filed under: Coupe, Wagon, Bentley, Luxury

Touring Superleggera Flying Star – Click above for high-res image gallery

Bentley shooting brake, anyone? Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera can hook you up. The Milanese coachbuilder unveiled the Flying Star at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, and stole our hearts in the process. But since the shooting brake debuted and its order books opened, Touring has only made three examples of the custom creation.

No wonder, as the coachbuilder says it takes 4,000 man-hours to transform a Continental GTC (still the outgoing model, we gather) into the long-roofed coupe. But thanks to increased investment in the form of new equipment and staff, Touring can now reportedly be working on up to five vehicles at a time.

Each example still takes six months to deliver, with total production limited to 19 examples. Fortunate buyers can specify from a range of customizations, including the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 in states of tune ranging from 552 horsepower (base) to 621 (Supersports).

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star

Live Photos: Jonny Lieberman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Autocar]

Touring Superleggera ramps up production of Bentley Flying Star originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wald gives the Bentley Flying Spur the Black Bison treatment

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Bentley, Luxury

Wald International Bentley Continental Flying Spur Black Bison – Click above for high-res image gallery

With the new Bentley Continental GT on its way, you can bet it’s just a matter of time before the rest of the Continental family – GTC convertible and Flying Spur sedan – join the coupe under the knife. But if you can’t wait for the new Spur – or fear your existing one will soon look out-of-date – Wald International has announced a series of aftermarket upgrades to the big sedan that ought to set yours apart.

The package is primarily visual, adopting a fresh aero kit comprised of a new front bumper (incorporating bigger vents and LED running lights), side skirts, a rear bumper with faux-diffuser, and itty-bitty little spoilers on the trunk lid and side windows. A quad-pipe exhaust system is also on offer, along with extra carbon fiber trim and spoke-tastic new wheels.

Check it out in the gallery below, and keep your eyes peeled on this space for the next-generation Spur to come Flying along any month now. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: Wald International Bentley Continental Flying Spur Black Bison

[Source: Autoblog.nl via Carscoop]

Wald gives the Bentley Flying Spur the Black Bison treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Terrafugia flying car to start production by end of year

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition flying car

Terrafugia Transition flying car – Click above for high-res image gallery

Terrafugia, the Massachusetts-based flying car company, has announced that it is one step closer to putting a road-and-air-going flying car in your driveway. A suitable production facility has been located in Woburn, MA, just down the road from the company’s headquarters. A story posted on USAToday.com states that production could begin within three months, and that Terrafugia plans to hire 50 skilled workers over a period of three years. Extensive testing will begin on two prototypes – one will focus on flight behavior while the other will stick to the ground. If that’s the case, three months seems pretty optimistic.

Regardless, we are getting closer to realizing many a young person’s dream. A flying car evokes romantic visions of picking up a date then soaring through the clouds. Sure, the styling of the Terrafugia Transition is a cross between a PT Cruiser and a Paul Walker Pep Boys special, and yes, we are also aware that the skies will eventually become clogged with traffic and flying down the Air-405 will be a nightmare. Still, it’s not often you get to see a childhood fantasy come to life.

Gallery: Terrafugia Transition – First Flight

[Source: USA Today]

Report: Terrafugia flying car to start production by end of year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley launches two Middle East-only editions of Flying Spur

Filed under: Sedan, Bentley, Middle East, Luxury

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed Arabia

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed Arabia – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you’re a Bentley dealer in the Middle East, you’ve got it easy. With mounds of disposable income littering that part of the world, it’s a prime target for high-end luxury brands. To that end, Bentley has announced a special run of 50 Continental Flying Spur sedans that will only be available in the Middle East. Called the Flying Spur Arabia and Flying Spur Speed Arabia, these two special editions feature special Arabia badges on their fenders, door sills and ash-tray lid. The non-Speed Flying Spur also gets a new unique 14-spoke wheel design while the higher performance Speed model (above) gets 20-inch, ten-spoke wheels.

Bentley says the Middle East now accounts for one-tenth of its worldwide sales and supports the region with nine dealers. No doubt we can expect more of these special editions to come from Bentley and other brands both in the Middle East and China, as both markets become increasingly important to ultra high-end automakers.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Arabia

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley launches two Middle East-only editions of Flying Spur

Bentley launches two Middle East-only editions of Flying Spur originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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