21 March,2009 09:03 AM IST | | Agencies
Airport parking will become a thing of the past if the Transition flying car ever catches on.
It can fly for 724 km at more than 185kmph, can drive at highway speed on the ground and launches from road to air in less than 30 seconds.
It runs on unleaded petrol from any normal filling station.
The "roadable aircraft" is categorised as a light sport plane and owners will need a sport pilot licence to fly it.
The estimated price of the Transition is around u00a3140,000 (Rs 1crore).
Light aircraft
Other flying cars have been demonstrated before, but this is the first proven model with foldable wings which allows it to seamlessly transfer from air to road.
As a light aircraft, it will struggle to fly in poor weather, bad visibility or restricted airspace, but it does have the added advantage of continuing the journey by road if conditions turn for the worse.
Phil Meteer who piloted the maiden flight earlier this month said, "The first flight was remarkably unremarkable."
