Wide Angle: Transition from Street to Sky

March 23, 2009

As soon as MIT spinoff Terrafugia's flying car's maiden flight hit the news, my head filled with nightmarish, Jetsons-like visions. Like the planet needs this! Turns out, we do.

Cofounder and CEO Carl Dietrich enlightened me--check out the video, above. He explained how the fuel-efficient "Transition" vehicle could reduce aviation emissions, take advantage of under-utilized public airports, and fill awkward transportation gaps. New York City to northern New England without an epic train ride, seven-hour drive, or expensive commercial flight? I'm in. Plus, if conditions aren't ideal for flying, the vehicle can be driven back at the end of a trip--a reassuring feature when considering recent crashes.

Dietrich doesn't like to call the Transition a "flying car," despite how catchy it sounds. That implies nearly anyone could just get in and fly when drivers actually need to be trained pilots. Instead, he refers to it as a "street legal plane." Whatever we end up calling it, this type of vehicle could lighten traffic on the ground and in the sky.

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