Is it a car? Or, is it an airplane? It's The Transition!

William Atkins
Thursday, 19 March 2009 19:34

Science - Space

Check out the Boston Herald for more information on The Transition: “Museum lands a flying miracle of science.” (March 19, 2009).

Also, read the  MIT Technology Review article “Flying Car About to Take Off?”, from October 10, 2007.

In the MIT article it mentions that Felix Longobardi was issued the first patent in the United States for a flying car.

The patent was issued by the U.S. Patent Office on December 3, 1918.

Read about Mr. Longobardi's invention in the Roadable Times article "The Very First Patented 'Combination Vehicle'."

In addition, in 1949, the Aerocar was produced by U.S. aeronautical engineer Moulton "Molt" B. Taylor. The Aerocar tried to be a commercially successful air-road hybrid vehicle in the 1950s, but it didn't succceed.

See also the Shanaberger article "Aerocar III."

The Transition by Terrafugia, Inc. hopes to change that and produce the first successfully sold Roadable Aircraft, or flying car, in the United States.