The Chinese can make money out of darn near anything. I am not surprised they want it one bit. I think there is enough interest in the concept going forward that it could be capitalized on, particularly if you are using cheap labor and stolen technologies. I suppose we will see what happens with it in their hands.

The Chinese can make money out of darn near anything. I am not surprised they want it one bit. I think there is enough interest in the concept going forward that it could be capitalized on, particularly if you are using cheap labor and stolen technologies. I suppose we will see what happens with it in their hands.

I think you're missing the point entirely. You (and I) are biased because we live in US with huge distances and good interstate system, where distances are counted in hours and most of the time you get there +/- 10 minutes.

Look at it from European (or Asian/Indian) perspective, where 200 miles often means 5-6h drive (and landing in another country) and where hangars at the airport cost fortune or simply do not exist.

This is jetski of the skies - toy really that will get you to the airport on the roads that have 35mph limit anyway (city speed limit in Europe) and even flying at 100kts will get you to your lunch in half the time you needed before.

It was a stupid idea. Who wants a mediocre car and a mediocre airplane combined into one silly package? You’d have to be a fool think the insurance costs wouldn’t be 3-5x higher than a Lancair IV-P. If insurance companies are worried about your airplane operating out of grass airports then try to imagine how concerned they would be about operating them on roads with snow and drunk drivers. :shrug

There is already a solution and it includes the Escalade, or the surface vehicle of your choice, just drive up the ramp. As a bonus, you only have to load bags once. There are at least three choices, take your pick:

Shorts Skyvan

Casa 212

Or if you prefer old school: de Havilland Caribou

The Chinese made a bad purchase. The MIT engineering students that promoted their version of the flying car and new company surely must have known this concept would never deliver their promises.

I think you're missing the point entirely. You (and I) are biased because we live in US with huge distances and good interstate system, where distances are counted in hours and most of the time you get there +/- 10 minutes.

Look at it from European (or Asian/Indian) perspective, where 200 miles often means 5-6h drive (and landing in another country) and where hangars at the airport cost fortune or simply do not exist.

This is jetski of the skies - toy really that will get you to the airport on the roads that have 35mph limit anyway (city speed limit in Europe) and even flying at 100kts will get you to your lunch in half the time you needed before.

A twin turbine cargo plane and a rotax powered avgas burner probably aren’t going after the same buyer.

You are right, the twin turbine plane actually has buyers as opposed to the Terrafugia.

Mike C.

I think you're missing the point entirely. You (and I) are biased because we live in US with huge distances and good interstate system, where distances are counted in hours and most of the time you get there +/- 10 minutes.

Look at it from European (or Asian/Indian) perspective, where 200 miles often means 5-6h drive (and landing in another country) and where hangars at the airport cost fortune or simply do not exist.

This is jetski of the skies - toy really that will get you to the airport on the roads that have 35mph limit anyway (city speed limit in Europe) and even flying at 100kts will get you to your lunch in half the time you needed before.

well, there is Europe and there is Europe.
I specifically had in mind the part called Poland where I was born and spent first 25 years of my life and to these day (despite huge advances in autobahn networks) driving 200 miles takes you 5-6h no matter how you slice it unless it happens to align with said autobahn.

My home town lies about 50 miles from the nearest autobahn exit. It takes me 1h to get to it unless I'm driving like an idiot, then it takes me 58 minutes.
My dad has a vacation home about 100 miles from home and it takes almost 3h to get there. 2.5h if you're lucky.

Maybe the Chinese owners will remove the wings and sell it as a propeller powered car. That probably has the same novelty value as a driving plane and it’s easier to make.

Oddly enough, the airplane part is approved, the car part isn't.

Mike C.

A crappy plane that’s also a crappy car, all at the price of a house. Who would have guessed it became a dismal failure?

Like the Amphicar... crappy boat, crappy car. At least they sold a bunch back when.

I remember seeing them as a kid. I thought they were the coolest idea ever. I tried to talk my dad (who didn't have or want a regular boat, let alone a "boat-car") into getting one. It didn't work, but we did end up somewhere (Disney maybe?) where they were giving rides into and around a small lake. I can still remember watching them drive into and out of the water like magic. I don't remember my ride as well as that image. I remember seeing them now and then driving down the road with their propellers sticking out the back. That was a fun little thing even if it made no sense.