New-Tech Europe Digital Magazine | Feb 2016

due to the higher costs of the necessary light-weight materials, but with investment in automotive scale production, early studies indicate that it is possible that the final price point could be on-par with high-end luxury cars of today. As demand increases, new materials and manufacturing processes will surely be developed and the price may come down further in the distant future. Vision of TF-X™ Technical Operations: The TF-X™ is a fixed wing street-legal aircraft with electric ground drive and electric power assist on takeoff and landing. The TF-X™will be capable of “auto-landing” at approved landing sites within approved weather limits. Prior to departure, the operator will select a primary target landing zone and backup landing zones. If the TF-X™ calculates insufficient energy on board to conduct last minute aborts at the first two sites and safely navigate to and land at the third within a 30 minute reserve, or if the forecast weather in any of the three landing zones would be outside the allowable limits, or if any of the selected landing zones are in temporarily restricted airspace (TFRs), departure will not be allowed until appropriate landing zones are selected. Aborting the third landing at the end of an extended flight would result in the automatic declaration of an emergency and a horizontal (airplane-like) landing at the nearest airport. Normal TF-X™ operations will be conducted only in non-tower controlled airspace (Class E and G) and on the ground. Operators who wish to operate in tower controlled airspace (Class B, C, or D) will be able to get additional training. Licensed TF-X™ operators will be allowed to apply to add new landing zones to an approved landing zone database. The TF-X™ will advise the operator if they are approaching restricted or tower-controlled airspace, or unnecessarily increasing the risk to human life (as could happen through carelessness, bad intentions, or if the operator becomes incapacitated). If the operator does not take the appropriate corrective action, the TF-X™ vehicle will automatically notify authorities by “declaring an emergency” on behalf of the operator.

Convenience The TF-X™ will carry four people in car-like comfort. The TF-X™ will have a non-stop flight range of at least 500 miles. The TF-X™ will fit into a standard construction single car garage. The TF-X™ will be able to take off vertically from a level clearing of at least 100ft in diameter. The TF-X™ will be able to drive on roads and highways – providing true door-to-door convenience and an automotive level of weather insensitivity. In order to facilitate the achievement of this new dimension of personal freedom, the TF-X™ will be priced as low as possible while still allowing Terrafugia to grow to support our customers. The final pricing will not be set until we are much closer to delivery. The biggest price driver is the cost of production. It is likely that TF-X™ will be more expensive than a “normal car”

(http://www.terrafugia.com/)

New-Tech Magazine Europe l 63