TF-X by Terafugia
The traffic on the roads of cities around the world is a real frustrating thing. If one travels between work and home by car daily, for him or her moving a car during peak hours is just like snail’s drive. Despite the laid down web of roads in cities, traffic problem is still becoming from bad to worst.
People are now looking forward to flying cars as a solution to this problem. Terafugia the US based company is claiming that their prototype of flying car concept TF-X will be available to take fly by year 2018.
Switching between Flight and Drive Modes
TF-X will be provided with unique wing folding technology. This technology helps driver to switch between drive to flight or vice versa mode in just a few minutes. Due to this folding feature the TF-X can fit in ordinary garage.
Integration with Computer
The flight controls are going to be simplified; resulting in less flight training will be required by driver than a traditional aircraft. The system will have computer integration which helps in saving the data of flight planning prior to departure. This will enable TF-X to take off automatically and fly to its destination, and land their just by a push of button. The drive will be having all controls and decision power to decide whether it is safe to take-off of land. Another feature is semi manual flight mode control enabling the driver to deviate from pre-defined flight path if required.
Landing and Take-off Vertically
The vehicle will be provided with two propellers, driven by electric motor pods. They are provided on either side of it for landing and take-off vertically. As the pods are electric controlled, they are noise free and batteries will be recharged by gas engine during the flight.
Safety Features
TF-X is going to be equipped with best safety features matching its ability to provide best of car and airplanes. It will be equipped with full suite of automatic computer control safety features. The major of them are crumple zone, safety cage, airbags, seat belts with pretension load adjustment. Other than that it will be having a full car parachute system and a unique technology to avoid collision.
Vertical Take-off
The electric powered propellers are tilted by 90 degrees to give it vertical lift. Ones the car moves to forward flight mode, propellers are made to spin till they are parallel to vehicle’s body. Propeller stops rotating as the ducted fans activates, and are folded back along nacelles.
Specifications of TF-X
1. The cruising speed of the TF-X will be 200 miles per hour (322 km/h).
2. The flight range will be 500 miles (805 km).
3. Engine fuel used will be unleaded automotive gasoline.
4. Electric motor pods will be of 1 MW power capacity.
5. For flight mode fold out wing technology equipped with twin electric motor attached on each side.
6. Powered by 300 HP engine, helping TF-X moving from vertical to horizontal position.
7. Car will be 4 seater with computer controlled technology in which passenger can enter the details of destination before taking off.
8. Batteries can be recharged either from engine or using plugging feature to be used for plugging at electric charging station
The current model of TF-X was unveiled at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
X-Hawk, The Fancraft from Israel
X-Hawk is the fancraft model of an Israeli company UrbanAero, which is under development. It is the largest amongst the model developed by them as it is capable of accommodating 10 passenger excluding pilot. It is being developed by Rafi Yoeli in Yavne Israel.
Military Operation
It is actually a military aircraft designed as troop carrier, which can be used to transport units in areas where use of helicopter is impractical or difficult. It can deliver the troops with high precision at any location and also directly at any level of a building through a window. This feature avoids the use of perilous stairwells.
Besides this it is capable of performing different tactical and strategic missions, which are currently impossible using current aerial options.
Civilian Roles
Civilian Operations It can be used for variety of civil missions. Initial planning is to use it with current fleet of civil helicopter to help in emergency rescue and providing medical treatment.
Key Features
1. It is provided with twin engine.
2. Rotorless design makes it to access any location, eliminating safety hazards associated with helicopter rotor.
3. X-Hawk remains unaffected by obstacles therefore arrival time is reliable, predictable and fast.
4. No special helipad is needed for its landing.
5. It is very quiet in operation in comparison to helicopter.
6. It is capable to take off vertically with no exposed rotors.
7. It is a turbine powered vehicle.
8. Flight control system is a multi-channel Fly by Wire.
9. Equipped with automatic stabilization feature to help control it and maintain flight height.
10. Ducted fan design makes it capable of gaining the speed and manoeuvrability of helicopter.
11. Cruising speed of X-Hawk is about 155 miles per hour.
12. It can fly as high as 12,000 feet and can remain aloft about 2 hours.
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