Flying car (aircraft)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Flying car" redirects here. For other uses, see Flying car (disambiguation).
A flying car is a hypothetical personal aircraft that provides door-to-door aerial transportation (e.g., from home to work or to the
supermarket) as conveniently as a car and without the requirement for roads, runways or other specially-prepared operating areas.
Such aircraft lack any visible means of propulsion (unlike fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters) so they can be operated at urban areas,
close to buildings, people and other obstructions.
The flying car has been depicted in fantasy and science fiction works such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets, The Jetsons, Star Wars, Blade Runner, Back to the Future Part II and The Fifth Element as well as articles in the American
magazines Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, and Mechanix Illustrated.
The flying car was a common feature of science fiction and futuristic conceptions of the future, including imagined near futures such as
those of the 21st century. For instance, less than a month before the turn of the millennium, the journalist Gail Collins noted:
Here we are, less than a month until the turn of the millennium, and what I want to know is, what happened to the flying cars? We're
about to become Americans of the 21st century. People have been predicting what we'd be like for more than 100 years, and our
accounterments don't entirely live up to expectations. (...) Our failure to produce flying cars seems like a particular betrayal since it was
so central to our image.
[1]

As a result, flying cars have become a running joke; the question "Where is my flying car?" is emblematic of the supposed failure
of modern technology to match futuristic visions that were promoted in earlier decades.
[notes 1]

The term "flying car" can also be used to refer to roadable aircraft and hovercar.
Contents
[hide]
1 Feasibility and challenges
o 1.1 Engineering
o 1.2 Economics
o 1.3 Safety
2 Notable flying cars in fiction
o 2.1 Back to the future II (1989)
o 2.2 Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
o 2.3 Blade Runner (1982)
o 2.4 The Fifth Element (1997)
3 Efforts to build flying cars
o 3.1 Early efforts
o 3.2 Urban Aeronautics X-Hawk
o 3.3 Moller Skycar M400
o 3.4 Terrafugia TF-X
4 In popular culture
o 4.1 In films
o 4.2 In television series
o 4.3 In video games
o 4.4 In literature
5 See also
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links
Feasibility and challenges[edit]
Several challenges to a practical flying car exist.
Engineering[edit]
A practical flying car would have to be capable of taking off, flying and landing throughout heavily populated urban environments.
However, to date, no vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle (VTOL) has ever shown to demonstrate such capabilities. To make such an
aircraft would require an aircraft with a propulsion that is quiet to avoid noise pollution, but is not visible
[clarification needed]
so it could fly
safely in urban environments. Additionally, to lift such an aircraft off the ground would require very powerful engines or turbines with
extremely high tolerances. Many type of aircraft technology have been suggested, such as ducted-fan and tiltrotor,
[3]
but previous
designs have suffered from aerodynamic problems; ducted-fan aircraft tend to lose their stability easily and fail to pass the speed of 30-
40 knots,
[4]
and the tiltrotor V-22 Osprey, like all forms of transportation, has suffered accidents and incidents.
Economics[edit]
Due to the requirement of propulsion that is both small and powerful, the cost of producing a flying car would be very high and
estimated by some as much as 10 million dollars.
[5]
In addition, the flying car's energy efficiency would be much lower compared to
conventional cars and other aircraft; optimal fuel efficiency for airplanes is at high speeds and high altitudes,
[6]
while flying cars would
be used for shorter distances, at higher frequency, lower speeds and lower altitudes.
Safety[edit]
Although statistically flying is safer than driving, unlike commercial planes, flying cars might not have as many safety checks and their
pilots would not be as well trained. Humans already have problems with the aspect of driving in two dimensions (forward and
backwards, side to side), adding in the up and down aspect would make "driving" or flying as it would be, much more difficult.
[7]
In mid-
air collisions and mechanical failures, the aircraft could fall from the sky or go through an emergency landing, resulting in deaths and
property damage.
[8]
In addition, poor weather conditions, such as low air density, lightning storms and heavy rain or fog could be
challenging and affect the aircraft's aerodynamics.
[9]

Notable flying cars in fiction[edit]
Back to the future II (1989)[edit]
In Back to the Future part II Doc Brown invites Marty and Jennifer in his modified flying car DeLorean time machine and time travels to
the year 2015 where flying hovercars are flying all over the place.
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999)[edit]
Flying cars can be in the republic city of Coruscant
Blade Runner (1982)[edit]


Spinner prop at EMP Museum, Seattle


Police spinners flying above Los Angeles in Blade Runner
"Spinner" is the generic term for the fictional flying cars used in Blade Runner, set in futuristic-cyberpunk Los Angeles of 2019. A
Spinner can be driven as a ground-based vehicle, and take off vertically, hover, and cruise using jet propulsion much like Vertical Take-
Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. They are used extensively by the police to patrol and survey the population, and it is clear that despite
restrictions wealthy people can acquire spinner licenses.
[10]
The vehicle was conceived and designed by Syd Mead who described the
spinner as an "aerodyne"a vehicle which directs air downward to create lift, though press kits for the film stated that the spinner was
propelled by three engines: "conventional internal combustion, jet, and anti-gravity"
[11]
Mead's conceptual drawings were transformed
into 25 working vehicles by automobile customizer Gene Winfield.
[12]
A Spinner is on permanent exhibit at the Science Fiction Museum
and Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington.
[13][dead link]

The Fifth Element (1997)[edit]
In The Fifth Element, set in 2263 New York City, flying cars are used as main mean of transportation. The production design for the film
was developed by French comics creators Jean Giraud
[14]
and Jean-Claude Mzires.
[15]
Mzires wrote the book The Circles of
Power, which features a character named S'Traks, who drives a flying taxicab through the congested air traffic of the vast metropolis on
the planet Rubanis. Besson read the book and was inspired to change the Dallas character to a taxicab driver who flies through a
futuristic New York City. The costume design was created by French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier.
[16][17]

Efforts to build flying cars[edit]
Early efforts[edit]
Mark my word: a combination airplane and motorcar is coming. You may smile, but it will come.
Henry Ford, 1940
In 1926, Henry Ford displayed an experimental single-seat aeroplane that he called the "sky flivver". The project was abandoned two
years later when a distance-record attempt flight crashed, killing the pilot.
[18]
The Flivver was not a flying car at all, but it did get press
attention at the time, exciting the public that they would have a mass-produced affordable airplane product that would be made,
marketed, sold, and maintained just like an automobile. The airplane was to be as commonplace in the future as the Model T of the
time.
In 1956, Ford's Advanced Design studio built the Volante Tri-Athodyne, a 3/8 scale concept car model. It was designed to have three
ducted fans, each with their own motor, that would lift it off the ground and move it through the air. In public relation release, Ford noted
that "the day where there will be an aero-car in every garage is still some time off", but added that "the Volante indicates one direction
that the styling of such a vehicle would take".
[19]

In 1957, Popular Mechanics reported that Hiller Helicopters is developing a ducted-fan aircraft that would be easier to fly than
helicopters, and should cost a lot less. Some estimated that in 10 years a four-place fan would cost like a good car. Hiller engineers
expected that this type of an aircraft would become the basis for a whole family of special-purpose aircraft.
[20]

In 1956, the US Army's Transportation Research Command began an investigation into "flying jeeps", ducted-fan-based aircraft that
were envisioned to be smaller and easier to fly than helicopters. In 1957, Chrysler, Curtiss-Wright, and Piasecki were assigned
contracts for building and delivery of prototypes. They all delivered their prototypes, however Piasecki's VZ-8 was the most successful
of the three. While it would normally operate close to the ground, it was capable of flying to several thousand feet, proving to be stable
in flight. Nonetheless, the Army decided that the "Flying Jeep concept [was] unsuitable for the modern battlefield", and concentrated on
the development of conventional helicopters. In addition to the army contract, Piasecki was developing the Sky Car, a modified verision
of its VZ-8 for civilian use.
Urban Aeronautics X-Hawk[edit]
Urban Aeronautics' X-Hawk
[21]
is a VTOL turbojet powered aircraft announced in 2006 with a first flight planned for 2009. It was
intended to operate much like a tandem rotor helicopter, but with ducted fans rather than exposed rotors. The requisite decrease in
rotor size would also decrease fuel efficiency. The X-Hawk was being promoted for rescue and utility functions. As of 2013, no flights
had been reported.


Moller Skycar M400 to the right, next to older Moller models
Moller Skycar M400[edit]
The Moller Skycar M400
[22]
is a prototype personal VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft which is powered by four pairs of in-
tandem Wankel rotary engines, and is approaching the problems of satellite-navigation, incorporated in the proposed Small Aircraft
Transportation System. Moller also advises that, currently, the Skycar would only be allowed to fly from airports & heliports. Moller has
been developing VTOL craft since the late 1960s, but no Moller vehicle has ever achieved free flight out of ground effect. The proposed
Autovolantor model has an all-electric version powered by Altairnanobatteries.
[23]

Terrafugia TF-X[edit]
On May 7, 2013, Terrafugia announced the TF-X, a plug-in hybrid tilt-rotor vehicle that would be the first fully autonomous flying car. It
has a range of 500 miles per flight and batteries are rechargeable by the engine. It is expected to hit the market in 2015.
In popular culture[edit]


"Where's my flying car?" on the March 2008 cover of Popular Science, who reported on flying cars and related futuristic aircraft
throughout the 20th century
Complaints of the non-existence of flying cars have become nearly idiomatic as expressions of disappointment in the failure of the
present to measure up to the glory of past predictions.
The December 30, 1989 Calvin and Hobbes comic strip depicted an early instance of the "Where are the flying cars?" idea:
Hobbes: "A new decade is coming up."
Calvin: "Yeah, big deal! Hmph. Where are the flying cars? Where are the moon colonies? Where are the personal robots and the
zero-gravity boots, huh? You call this a new decade?! You call this the future?? HA! Where are the rocket packs? Where are
thedisintegration rays? Where are the floating cities?"
[24]


A 2001 IBM television commercial featured Avery Brooks (know for his role as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Captain Benjamin Sisko )
complaining "It is the year 2000, but where are the flying cars? I was promised flying cars. I dont see any flying cars. Why? Why?
Why?"
[citation needed]

Comedian Lewis Black had a similar routine early in the decade: "This new millennium sucks! It's exactly the same as the old
millennium! You know why? No flying cars!"
[citation needed]

In films[edit]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: In this movie Professor Caractacus Potts Salvages a broken Model T and converts it into a flying car with
glider wings.
The Absent Minded Professor: In this movie, Ned Brainard, played by Fred Macmurray, invents a flying car Model T using Flubber
in his engine. He uses his flying car for a fun joyride and to get to the Medfield Basketball tournament. Ned Brainard would again
use his flying car Model T in Son of Flubber. The flying car would be seen again in the 1997 Flubber remake starring Robin
Williams.
Star Wars: Flying cars can be seen in the republic city of Coruscant.
Back to the Future Part II: Dr. Emmett Brown uses a DeLorean DMC-12 to invent a time machine, which is modified in the second
part of the Back to the Future trilogy so that it can fly.
Blade Runner: wealthy people and police use a "Spinner", an antigravity flying car, to move in the futuristic-cyberpunk Los Angeles
of 2019.
The Fifth Element
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: a magician enchanted a Ford Anglia 105E to make it flyable and invisible.
Pinocchio 3000: Flying cars can been seen in the city Scamboville. Mayor Scamboli owns a flying black car, Marline owns a red
flying car convertible. The Scambocop owns a flying police car. Pinocchio steals the flying taxi bus and flies in the skyways to find
his dad Geppetto while the Scambocop goes on a flying car chase to pull over the flying taxi bus.
Star Trek Into Darkness: Many flying cars are seen in the skies of San Francisco and London, including flying garbage trucks. The
final action sequence showed Spock fighting Khan on top of a couple of flying garbage trucks.
In television series[edit]
The animated television series The Jetsons, premiered in 1962, reflected the idea that flying cars would become a significant means
of transportation in the future.
In the children's TV show, Supercar, the flying car "Supercar" was invented by Rudolph Popkiss and Horatio Beaker, and piloted by
Mike Mercury.
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: In this 1993 TV show Power Rangers. Billy the Blue Ranger invents a flying car using the
Volkswagen Beetle he dubbed the "Rad Bug" It was useful at times when they couldn't teleport to places.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward in the 6th season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 series. Splinter the Rat and
the 4 mutant Turtles Leo, Mike, Ralph, and Don time travel to the year 2105 in a New York city filled with flying cars and wheel cars.
Cody Jones also runs Neil Tech industries.
In the animated television series, Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century, set in the 22nd century in New London, people use flying
cars as main mean of transportation.
The Flying Car was a humorous short film written by Kevin Smith in 2002 for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. It featured Dante
Hicks and Randal Graves stuck in traffic, discussing the lengths to which a man might go to obtain such a vehicle.
[25]

The Onion News Network: At episode 245, titled "Mean Automakers Dash Nation's Hope for Flying Cars", The Onion's
anchor Brandon Armstrong humorously argues about the feasibility and existence of flying cars with representatives from major
automobile manufacturers - General Motors, Toyota and Ford.
[26]

In video games[edit]
Beam Breakers 2002: In the year 2173 you are driving in a flying car in the skyways dodging other flying cars in cities like "Neo
York". There are 57 missions in story mode and the goals include dodging flying police cars, stealing other flying cars, ramming into
an opponents, vandalizing restaurants and competing in a flying car race with flying car racers.
Eyetoy: Antigrav 2004: This game has flying cars in 4 cities you have to dodge while riding on a hoverboard.
Crime Cities 2001: Flying car can be seen flying in the city. Also you can drive your flying car and you can shoot flying cars out of
the sky.
In literature[edit]
In the science fiction novel, Ralph 124C 41+, people use "Aeroflyer", a small flying car that can reach speeds of up to 600 mph
Valrian and Laureline in the fifteenth volume, The Circles of Power
Personal air vehicle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A personal air vehicle or PAV, also personal aerial vehicle, is an emergent aviation market that would provide on-demand aviation
services. This term was first used by NASA in 2003 when it established the Personal Air Vehicle Sector Project, as part of the
Aeronautics Vehicle Systems Program. This project was part of NASA Vehicle Integration, Strategy, and Technology Assessment
(VISTA) office, which also included sectors for Subsonic Transports, VTOL Aircraft, Supersonic Aircraft, and High Altitude Long
Endurance Aircraft. The objective of each sector was to establish vehicle capability goals and the required technology investment
strategies to achieve those breakthroughs.
Contents
[hide]
1 Origination
2 A new mode of transportation
3 PAV definition outline according to NASA
4 Barriers to PAV vision
5 Progress
6 Driverless PAV's
7 PAV challenge
8 Other notable designs
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Origination[edit]
The first technical paper to explain the difference in vehicle characteristics between PAVs and existing General Aviation single engine
piston aircraft was "Personal Air Vehicles: A Rural/Regional and Intra-Urban On-Demand Transportation System" by Mark D. Moore
(the NASA PAV Sector Manager) from NASA Langley Research Center. This paper was presented in September 2003 at an American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) conference as AIAA Paper 2003-2646. This paper established advanced concepts that
would provide vehicle characteristics that dramatically enhanced the 1) Ease of Use, 2) Safety, 3) Efficiency, 4) Field Length
Performance, and 5) Affordability. Many additional papers were presented at AIAA and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
conferences through 2006 that further refined the definition of PAV capabilities, technologies, and concepts. In 2006 the Vehicle
Systems Program was replaced by new NASA Aeronautics initiatives. PAV technology development efforts at NASA shifted to a prize-
based investment, with NASA Centennial Challenge Prize funds being provided for competitions in 2007 (Personal Air Vehicle
Challenge, with $250,000 in prizes), 2008 (General Aviation Technology Challenge, $350,000 in prizes), and 2011 (Green Flight
Challenge, $1,500,000 in prizes). All of these competitions were completed for NASA by the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency
(CAFE) Foundation in Santa Rosa, California.
A new mode of transportation[edit]
Currently the doorstep-to-doorstep average speed for cars is 35 mph. In the greater Los Angeles area, this speed is predicted to
degrade to 22 mph by year 2020. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) states that 6.7 billion US gallons (25,000,000 m
3
) of
gasoline are wasted in traffic jams each year.
A future system of travel by PAVs avoids air traffic jams and can help to relieve those on highways.
[citation needed]

PAV definition outline according to NASA[edit]
Seats: Less than 5 passengers.
150200 mph (240320 km/h) cruising speed.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
Reliable.
Able to be flown by anyone with a drivers license.
As affordable as travel by car or airliner.
Near all-weather capability enabled by synthetic vision systems.
Highly fuel efficient (able to use alternative fuels).
800 miles (1,300 km) range.
Provide "door-to-door" transportation solutions, through use of small community airports that are at closer proximities to businesses
and residences than large airports.
Barriers to PAV vision[edit]
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) infrastructure is not currently capable of handling the increase in aircraft traffic that would be
generated by PAVs. The FAA is planning the Next Generation Air Transportation System targeted for 2025 to expand and completely
transform the current aged system.
[1]
Modeling by NASA and others have shown that PAV's using smaller community airports would not
interfere with traffic at larger airports serving the commercial fleet. Currently there are over 10,000 public and private small airports in
the United States that could be used for this type of transportation, which is currently being underutilized primarily by recreational
aircraft.
Community noise generated by aircraft is a factor for PAVs that would be operating in close proximity to homes and businesses with
much greater regularity that existing recreational aircraft. Without lower noise levels enabling residential landing capabilities, any PAV
must still take off and land at an FAA controlled airport or private airfield, where the higher sound levels of operating aircraft have been
approved.
Studies have been performed to determine ways to make helicopters and aircraft less noisy, but noise levels remain high. In 2005 a
simple method of reducing noise was identified: keep aircraft at a higher altitude during landing, called Continuous Descent Approach.
[2]

The European Union is funding a 3-leg 4.2m programme (under the Seventh Framework Programme) to study technologies and
impacts for PAVs in a Personal Air Transport System; Human-aircraft interaction, Automation of aerial systems in cluttered
environments, and Exploring the socio-technological environment.
[3][4]

Progress[edit]
Fulfillment of the NASA vision for PAVs is likely to unfold over several decades. Several vehicle types exist which strive to meet the
PAV definition:
Roadable aircraft
Light Sport Aircraft
Push-pull configuration aircraft
Flettner airplanes
Human-powered aircraft
Sailplane
Ultralight trikes (powered hang gliders with motorized wheels)
Powered paragliders
Touring motor gliders (TMG)
Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft
Most vehicles in the above category can not yet perform all of the requirements set by NASA. However, some vehicles falling under the
above have already set-down fair all-round performance in all of NASA's requirements.
[5]
Especially ultralight aircraft are of specific
interest since their energy consumption is very low. Hybrid forms of the vehicle types above can also be useful. Some hybrid forms that
exist are:
the AeroVironment SkyTote is a combination of airplane and a helicopter. It is also fully automated, similar to driverless cars.
The Ornithopter is a similar helicopter/ornithopter hybrid.
The Theolia Windream One and Hunt Aviation
[6]
have come up with airship hybrids. Airships may also be foreseen with ground
effect modifications.
The Solar Impulse and the electric airplane feature all-electric propulsion.
Driverless PAV's[edit]
Besides the fabrication of personal air vehicles, the creation of driverless systems for PAV's is also being researched. First off, synthetic
vision electronic flight instrument systems (EFIS) asHighway in the sky (HITS) makes it much easier to control aircraft.
[7]
Also, Phantom
Works is working on designing a system that allows to automate PAV's. The PAV's are designated their own "lanes" in the sky, hereby
ensuring the avoidance of possible collisions. In addition, the different PAV's are also capable of detecting each other and
communicating with each other, further decreasing the risk of collisions.
[8]

PAV challenge[edit]
NASA Langley has researched and prototyped the necessary PAV technologies and has dedicated the largest cash prize in the history
of GA to the PAV that can demonstrate the best overall combination of performance. The PAV flight competition for this prize, known as
the first annual PAV Challenge, was held Aug 4-12, 2007 and hosted the CAFE Foundation in Santa Rosa, CA.
In 2008 the challenge was renamed as the General Aviation Technology Challenge.
The new prizes were:
The Community Noise Prize ($150,000)
The Green Prize ($50,000) (MPG)
The Aviation Safety Prize ($50,000) (Handling, eCFI)
The CAFE 400 Prize ($25,000) (Speed)
The Quietest LSA Prize ($10,000)
The winners were:
Community Noise Lambada N109UA $20,000
Green Prize no winner n/a
CAFE Safety Pipistrel N2471P $50,000
CAFE 400 Pipistrel N2471P $2,000
Quietest LSA Lambada N109UA $10,000
Shortest Takeoff Pipistrel N2471P $3,750
Best Angle of Climb Pipistrel N2471P $3,750
Best Glide Ratio at 100 MPH Flightdesign CTSW N135CT $3,750
Cabin Noise (tie) Lambada N109UA Pipistrel N2471P $3,750 ($1,875 each)
Other notable designs[edit]
Terrafugia Transition
Urban Aeronautics X-Hawk
CarterCopter / Carter PAV
Moller Skycar
Parajet Skycar
Martin Jetpack
ICON A5
Puffin (aircraft)












A New Dimension of Freedom

While our ability to communicate and access information is increasing dramatically, personal transportation has not improved
significantly in the past 50 years. If anything, travel today is more of a hassle. While the airlines have an impressive safety record,
commercial air travel is far from convenient. Cars let you set your own schedule, but theyre slow and dangerous: the average
commuter spends nearly five hours a week stuck in traffic, and globally, more than one million people die in car crashes each year. We
need the safety of commercial aviation, the convenience and flexibility of a car, and the freedom of the open sky. We need a new
industry that makes personal aviation safer, as simple as driving your car, and convenient for everyone. We need a practical flying car.
Terrafugia intends to lead the creation of a new flying car industry that will help humanity achieve this new dimension of personal
freedom.
We are Driven to Fly.



Our Company
Terrafugia was founded in 2006 to combine driving and flying in a new and practical way. Our founding team of award-winning MIT-
trained aerospace engineers and MBAs are committed to making general aviation safer, more convenient, more fun, and more
accessible.
We were one of three award winners in the MIT $100K Business Plan Competition in 2006. That summer, we launched the company
publicly at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI where we met our first angel investors and received our first refundable deposits for the
Transition.
The Transition is a two-place, fixed wing street legal aircraft that fits in a single car garage and is designed to be flown in and out of
general aviation airports. It is designed to be easy and fun to fly and is extremely simple to convert between flying and driving modes.
Component and vehicle prototyping began in earnest in 2007. The Proof of Concept Transition was successfully flown for the first
time in March of 2009. Moving to our current 19,000 square foot location in Woburn, MA in the fall of 2010, we accelerated prototyping
and pre-production activities. In late 2011 the second generation Transition prototype entered its testing program. This second
generation prototype flew for the first time in March of 2012, and conducted a live flying-driving demonstration for the first time that fall.
Terrafugia made our debut outside of the aviation world at the New York International Auto Show in April 2012 for a crowd of over a
million attendees and continues to attend EAA AirVenture annually.
Terrafugia was also a subcontractor on a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to do
conceptual design and sub-scale system prototyping on the Transformer X program to develop a semi-autonomous dual-mode vehicle
for the U.S. military from 2010 through mid-2012.
The Transition is a Proof of Process for the vision for the future of personal transportation that we shared during the spring of 2013 by
unveiling the TF-X concept. TF-X is a four-place vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hybrid electric vehicle that is designed to
revolutionize personal travel as Terrafugia leads the creation of a new flying car industry.
By the spring of 2013, Terrafugia had grown from its initial founding team and three full time employees in 2007 to over twenty people
on-site in Woburn, MA dedicated to the development, testing, certification, and production of the Transition and realization of
Terrafugias vision. To learn more about joining Terrafugia in creating the future of personal transportation, explore our Careers and
Get Involved sections, reserve a place in production for the Transition, or visit our Investor Relations page.
- See more at:
Management
Our Partners
Terrafugia would like to acknowledge those companies and organizations who are instrumental to the success of the Transition
Development Program.







We'd like to also thank Lockwood Aviation, Willis Aviation, Ballistic Recovery Systems, Plattsburgh International Airport, Sheltair
Aviation Services, Lawrence Municipal Airport, Laurence G. Hanscom Field Airport, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the
Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, the EAA, and our local chapter, EAA 106.
If your company is intereseted in partnering with Terrafugia to make our vision for the future of transportation a reality, please contact
us at
Careers
Highly qualified candidates seeking permanent placement for jobs they do not find listed above are encouraged to submit their resumes
anyway. In a cover letter, please explain how you can contribute and what you consider to be your job satisfaction criteria (what can
you do for us, what we can do for you). Proposals for contract work cannot be considered at this time.
Program Manager
Senior Aerospace Design Engineer
Staff Aircraft Design Engineer
HR Generalist
Engineering Internships & Co-ops

Program Manager
Terrafugia is a fast-paced, energetic company currently developing the Transition Street-Legal Airplane, which is often referred to as a
flying car. We are currently looking for program manager to work closely with our engineering team with experience in aviation who
likes being part of a dynamic team and brings a positive attitude, integrity, and enthusiasm.
Key Responsibilities and Activities:
Direct work flow and resource usage to mitigate design risk and maintain schedule and budget adherence to an established program
plan.
Ensure the timely completion of design activities specific to aircraft and automotive systems.
Support compliance and certification activities, including design, test, and analysis documentation, and internal and external audits.
Capture requirements from internal and/or external customers and regulators and develop them into achievable design requirements.
Help enforce established design development and documentation procedures.
Facilitate the execution of design reviews as required to resolve design or engineering issues.
Apply and demonstrate familiarity with the applicable regulatory environment, including the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 14
CFR Part 23 general aviation aircraft regulations, and ASTM F2245 and other Light Sport Aircraft standards.
Coordinate and communicate effectively with other engineering management and technical players.
Ensure design risks are assessed and mitigation plans developed via DFMEA.
Ensure the development of design verification & validation test plans.
Manage schedule creation and ongoing variance tracking.
Support manufacturing process verification & validation planning.
Elements:
This position may include travel outside of typical business hours.
This position will involve exposure to a typical office environment.
This position may involve the use of machines, tools or processes that require certification or internal company training.
This position may involve exposure to harmful chemicals.
This position may include vehicle testing, including driving and/or flying.
Required Skills and Experience:
Bachelors degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent) is required.
15+ years of general technical experience in vehicle development programs is required.
10+ years of progressive project and/or program management experience in the context of a vehicle development program is required.
5+ years working within an aviation regulatory environment is required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Project (or open-source equivalent) and Microsoft Office products is required.
Familiarity with SolidWorks is required.
Demonstrated ability to work on a fast-paced, deadline-driven Engineering design team is required.
A high level of initiative and proactivity is required.
Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, strong organizational and time management skills, and strong analytical abilities are
required.
Valid US drivers license is required.
Desired Skills and Experience:
Experience with 14 CFR Part 23 or ASTM F2245 is highly desirable.
Experience with ANSYS Mechanical and Fluent is highly desirable.
A general aviation background and pilot training is highly desirable.
Please send a resume and cover-letter to jobs@terrafugia.com if you have what it takes to help us take our development program to
the next level.
TOP

Senior Aerospace Design Engineer
Terrafugia is a fast-paced, energetic company currently developing the Transition Street-Legal Airplane, which is often referred to as a
flying car. We are currently looking for a world-class engineer to join our vehicle development team. Candidates should be self-
starters who are willing to ask questions, like being part of a dynamic team, and bring a positive attitude, integrity, and enthusiasm as
we push the boundaries of personal aviation.
Key Responsibilities and Activities:
Participate as a key player in the design-build-test process for the Transition, including concept generation, requirement definition,
design documentation, design reviews, prototyping, and testing.
Technical program and functional leadership under the support and direction of the Chief Engineer and VP Engineering.
Apply expertise in weight-critical, high performance design techniques.
Design activities for mechanical systems, including fit, finish, functionality and interface management across the vehicle as well as
brainstorming and concept generation, detailed design, CAD realization, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.
Design activities for composite structures, assemblies, and parts, including those related to brainstorming and concept generation,
detailed design, CAD realization, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing (e.g. bonding considerations and mold design).
Support and participate in testing component, flight, and drive activities as needed. Including test plan creation, data analysis, and
test report generation and documentation.
Design documentation including compliance matrices, requirement documents and presentations.
Conduct finite element analyses (FEA) of parts sufficient to validate design concepts using SolidWorks and/or ANSYS software
packages.
CAD work in support of design activities, including directing drafting and product definition staff, including application of good drawing
habits and industry best-practices for GD&T.
Apply and demonstrate familiarity with the applicable regulatory environment, including the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS), 14CFR Part 23 general aviation airplane regulations, and ASTM F2245 and other Light Sport Aircraft standards. Generate
and work to requirements documents for the product.
Support the VP Engineering and Director of Certification with compliance and certification activities, including design, test, and analysis
documentation, internal and external audits, and other activities as needed.
Provide project leadership for system or subsystem development and test activities, working to direct a small team or work individually
as appropriate. Coordinate and communicate effectively with other engineering management and technical players.
Elements:
This position may include travel outside of typical business hours.
This position will involve exposure to a typical office environment.
This position may involve the use of machines, tools or processes that require certification or internal company training.
This position may involve exposure to harmful chemicals.
This position may include vehicle testing, including driving and/or flying.
Requirements:
Bachelor degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering with aircraft design experience, or equivalent
7+ years technical experience
Complex prototype development experience, especially in the automotive and/or aviation industry
Design experience specific to high performance automobiles, including vehicle dynamics, powertrain, and mechanical systems is
desirable
Proficiency in SolidWorks and Microsoft Office products is required
Familiarity with ANSYS and Fluent are desirable
Valid US drivers license
Understanding of the Agile process management system
Team management experience
A general aviation background and pilot training is desirable
Please send a resume and cover-letter to jobs@terrafugia.com if you have what it takes to help us take our
development program to the next level.
TOP
Staff Aircraft Design Engineer
Terrafugia is a fast-paced, energetic company currently developing the Transition Street-Legal Airplane, which is often referred to as a
flying car. We are currently looking for a world-class engineer to join our vehicle development team. Candidates should be self-
starters who are willing to ask questions, like being part of a dynamic team, and bring a positive attitude, integrity, and enthusiasm as
we push the boundaries of personal aviation.
Key Responsibilities and Activities:
Participate as a key player in the design-build-test process for the Transition, including concept generation, requirement definition,
design documentation, design reviews, prototyping, and testing
Technical program and functional leader under the support and direction of the Chief Engineer and VP Engineering
Apply expertise in weight-critical, high performance design techniques
Conduct aerodynamic analyses of the aircraft sufficient to support design activities, e.g. through spreadsheet or other basic
computations tools; either conduct full CFD analyses or be the primary point of contact for outside CFD consulting or contract
relationships
Design activities for composite structures, assemblies, and parts, including those related to brainstorming and concept generation,
detailed design, CAD realization, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing (e.g. bonding considerations and mold design)
Design activities specific to aircraft, including aerodynamics, powertrain, flight controls, and aircraft performance and dynamic studies.
Design activities for mechanical systems, including fit, finish, functionality and interface management across the vehicle as well as
brainstorming and concept generation, detailed design, CAD realization, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.
Support and participate in testing component, flight, and drive activities as needed. Coordinate with Director of Flight Test
Operations on direction and execution of flight test activities including test plan creation, data analysis, and test report generation and
documentation.
Design documentation including compliance matrices, requirement documents and presentations.
Conduct finite element analyses (FEA) of parts sufficient to validate design concepts using SolidWorks and/or ANSYS software
packages
CAD work in support of design activities, including directing drafting and product definition staff, including application of good drawing
habits and industry best-practices for GD&T.
Apply and demonstrate familiarity with the applicable regulatory environment, including the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS), 14CFR Part 23 general aviation airplane regulations, and ASTM F2245 and other Light Sport Aircraft standards. Generate
and work to requirements documents for the product Support the VP Engineering and Director of Certification with compliance and
certification activities, including design, test, and analysis documentation, internal and external audits, and other activities as needed
Provide project leadership for system or subsystem development and test activities, working to direct a small team or work individually
as appropriate.
Coordinate and communicate effectively with other engineering management and technical players.
Elements:
This position may include travel outside of typical business hours.
This position will involve exposure to a typical office environment.
This position may involve the use of machines, tools or processes that require certification or internal company training.
This position may involve exposure to harmful chemicals.
This position may include vehicle testing, including driving and/or flying.
Requirements:
Bachelor degree in aerospace or aeronautic engineering or equivalent
10+ years technical experience
Complex prototype development experience, especially in the automotive and/or aviation industry
Proficiency in SolidWorks and Microsoft Office products is required
Familiarity with ANSYS is desirable
Experience with Fluent or similar CFD package
Experience with wind tunnel testing
Proficiency with aerodynamic computational design tools (e.g. panel methods and vortex lattice codes)
Proven aircraft design experience
Team management experience
Understanding of the Agile process management system
Pilot training is highly desirable
Valid US drivers license
Please send a resume and cover-letter to jobs@terrafugia.com if you have what it takes to help us take our
development program to the next level.
TOP
HR Generalist
As Terrafugia continues to grow, we are looking for a caring, responsible individual to support the team. Key responsibilities and
activities include: Development and execution of systems and processes within the organization to address the strategic needs of the
business, keeping the company compliant to all state and federal employment standards, and most importantly, always considerating
employee safety. Acting as an equal representative to the employee base whilst keeping the companys best interest at the forefront of
decision making. This position will also act in a customer service role to help create a favorable employee experience.
Key Responsibilities and Activities:
The sole practitioner HR Generalist will provide solutions that increase employee contribution, capability, and commitment by:
Developing a strong partnership with the management team, understanding their people needs and propose innovative HR solutions
aligned with the business strategies
Creating and executing procedures and policies to support the HR function
Offering support to the Administration and Executive Team when necessary to ensure the facility runs effectively
Defining and implementing HR programs to improve employee engagement and retention
Reviewing resumes for various open positions and helping with the transactional tasks associated with recruiting
Assisting in the implementation of training and development programs for management and employees
Resolving employee relations issues by leveraging an in-depth knowledge of US employment laws
Providing performance management guidance to management
Maintain an awareness of emerging industry trends
Participate on an as-needed basis with the management and leadership functions of the organization
Requirements:
Bachelors degree and PHR/SPHR preferred
Effective communications skills and a high level of energy and proactivity
2-5 years of sole practitioner experience, or leadership in a customer service role
Proven delivery of work that requires high attention to detail and also confidential in nature
Understanding of the MBTI
Excellent presentation skills are required to deliver training, open enrollment and benefits presentations
Valid US drivers license
Please send a resume and cover-letter to jobs@terrafugia.com if you have the enthusiasm and qualification needed to
be a key resource for Terrafugia and our team.

- See more at: http://www.terrafugia.com/careers#PM
Engineering Internships & Co-ops
We are always open to highly qualified students looking for a unique, fun, educational, and challenging experience for a summer
internship or spring/fall co-op term. The job requirements are similar to that of our Vehicle Engineer position.Internship positions are
volunteer-based and require a minimum of 9 weeks' commitment (12-15 weeks preferred).Please send a resume and cover-letter
to jobs@terrafugia.com if you are interested in a fantastic learning experience and have what it takes to contribute to our world-class
engineering team.TOP
- See more at: http://www.terrafugia.com/careers#PM