News Releases
June 3rd, 2009
“FLYING CAR” SOARS THROUGH FLIGHT TESTING
Transition® Roadable Aircraft Moves on to Next Stage of Development
Woburn, MA – June 3, 2009: Terrafugia, Inc. has successfully completed the flight testing program designed for its Transition® Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. Having been dubbed “The Flying Car”, the Transition® completed its historic first flight on March 5, 2009 with 27 additional flights completed over the next several weeks.
The successful completion of flight-testing with the Proof of Concept concludes the first stage of a four stage process to bring the Transition® into production. Work is underway on Stage 2, the Beta Prototype. First delivery is expected in 2011.
The Proof of Concept vehicle is the first and only Transition® to be built thus far. It has now achieved its goals by demonstrating driving, flying, and automated transformation between the two in one integrated aircraft. The flights conducted a plan set specifically for the Transition®: characteristics such as handling, performance, and take-off and landing, stability and stall were evaluated. B-Roll footage is available of representative flights. The flight-testing program demonstrated the safety of the vehicle in the air while identifying modifications that will be incorporated into the next Transition® model to be built, the Beta Prototype.
Test Pilot Colonel (Retired) Phil Meteer had a positive review of flying the POC: “I would like to keep flying this Proof of Concept vehicle, but it makes sense to move on to the Beta Prototype.”
Categorized as a Light Sport Aircraft, the Transition® requires a Sport Pilot certificate to fly. It is a two-seat aircraft designed to take off and land at local airports and drive on any road. Transforming from plane to car takes the pilot less than 30 seconds. The Transition® will cruise up to 450 miles at over 115 mph, will drive at highway speeds on the road, and fits in a standard household garage. The vehicle has front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. Both modes are powered by unleaded automotive gasoline. By giving pilots a convenient ground transportation option, the Transition® reduces the cost, inconvenience, and weather sensitivity of personal aviation. It also increases safety by incorporating automotive crash structures and allowing pilots to drive under bad weather. Refundable airframe reservations are currently being accepted.
Terrafugia (ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah), based in Woburn, MA, is comprised of a team of award-winning engineers who have been advancing the state of personal aircraft since 2006. Founded by five pilots who are graduates of MIT and supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors, Terrafugia’s mission is the innovative expansion of personal mobility. "Terrafugia" is Latin for "escape from land."
Terrafugia would like to acknowledge and thank its corporate sponsors: Ansys, Nor-Tech, SolidWorks Corporation, and CableOrganizer.com. Additionally, the following business partners have contributed to a successful flight testing program by furnishing equipment and services: SpaceAge Controls, Garmin International, Dynon Avionics, CO Guardian, David Clark Company, Bose Corporation, Telex Communications, Aloft Technologies, Icom Inc., JH Audio, and Air Graphics LLC.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Richard Gersh at Terrafugia +1-781-491-0812, visit www.terrafugia.com, or e-mail: press@terrafugia.com
Images and broadcast-quality video of flight testing may be obtained by e-mailing press@terrafugia.com
March 18th, 2009
Historic Takeoff Makes "Flying Car" a Reality
The Transition® Roadable Aircraft Completes
Successful First Flight
Boston, MA – March 18, 2009: Terrafugia, Inc., a game-changing aircraft company, announced today the first flight of its Transition® Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept. Often referred to as a “flying car”, the Transition® is a two-seat aircraft designed to take off and land at local airports and drive on any road. Transforming from plane to car takes the pilot less than 30 seconds.
An historic milestone for aviation, the flight comes after six months of static, road and taxi testing. The Transition® cruises up to 450 mi at over 115 mph, can drive at highway speeds on the road, and fits in a standard household garage. The vehicle has front wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. Both modes are powered by unleaded gasoline from a regular gas station.
“This breakthrough changes the world of personal mobility. Travel now becomes a hassle-free integrated land-air experience. It’s what aviation enthusiasts have been striving for since 1918,” says Carl Dietrich, CEO of Terrafugia.
By giving pilots a convenient ground transportation option, the Transition® reduces the cost, hassle, and weather sensitivity of personal aviation. It also increases safety by incorporating automotive crash structures and allowing pilots to drive under bad weather.
For its first flight, the Transition® was flown by Phil Meteer, Colonel, USAFR (Retired) at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, NY. The chase aircraft was piloted by Giora Guth.
Categorized as a Light Sport Aircraft, the Transition® requires a Sport Pilot license to fly. The Proof of Concept will undergo additional advanced flight and drive testing and a pre-production prototype will be built and certified before first delivery. Refundable airframe reservations are being accepted.
Terrafugia (terra-FOO-gee-ah), based in Woburn, MA, is comprised of a team of award-winning engineers who have been advancing the state of personal aircraft since 2006. Founded by five pilots who are graduates of MIT and supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors, Terrafugia’s mission is the innovative expansion of personal mobility. "Terrafugia" is Latin for "escape from land."
The Transition® will temporarily be on exhibit at the Museum of Science, Boston on March 18, 2009.
Terrafugia would like to acknowledge and thank its corporate sponsors: SolidWorks Corporation and CableOrganizer.com. Additionally, the following business partners have contributed to a successful first flight by furnishing equipment and services: Garmin International, Dynon Avionics, CO Guardian, David Clark Company, Bose Corporation, Icom Inc. and Air Graphics LLC.
Satellite Space has been booked for VNR and B-Roll distribution as follows:
AMC 15 Transponder K 07 located at 105 Degrees West
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:00pm to 12:30pm Eastern Daylight Time
Downlink Frequency is: 11840.0000 Vertical
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Anna Mracek Dietrich at Terrafugia (781) 491-0812, visit www.terrafugia.com, or e-mail: press@terrafugia.com
January 23, 2009
Terrafugia COO Anna Mracek Dietrich chosen as a
"Woman to Watch"
Mass High Tech honors 10 women in technology with 6th Annual “Women to Watch” Awards
Newspaper will recognize achievements of 10 top women executives from New England technology companies
BOSTON – Ten women who excel in technological innovation, entrepreneurship and community involvement are being honored as leaders in their field through the 6 th Annual “Women to Watch” Awards, announced today by Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology.
The publication, working with an advisory panel drawn from some of the region's leading academic and business institutions, selected the 2009 honorees, who exemplify the best and brightest among women at the highest level of technology businesses in New England.
The 10 women will be recognized as an evening gala at the Charles Hotel, One Bennett St., Cambridge, on Thursday, March 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The women are being honored for their outstanding dedication to technology, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and civic responsibility.
“This is our sixth year honoring women working throughout the innovation economy. Each time we go through the nomination process, we are amazed at the entrepreneurial spirit of women doing great things within the largest corporations and the smallest startups,” said Douglas Banks, Mass High Tech editor.
“These women are bringing technologies out of the labs and into markets where they can benefit all of us, whether in life sciences, information technology, alternative energy or transportation,” said Michael Olivieri, MHT's publisher. “But beyond their contributions as technologists, each gives back to the community in their own way. ”
The nomination process closed in early January, with almost 100 submissions received. A short list of 25 candidates was created, and the advisory committee met to make final 10 selections.
The Women to Watch program offers a positive view of a segment of the business community, women who have proven accomplishments, and are viewed as industry leaders of the future. of their successes ahead of them.
The 10 Women to Watch in 2009:
* Jill Becker, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cambridge NanoTech Inc. in Cambridge
* Sangeeta Bhatia, Co-founder, Hepregen Corp. in Winchester and Professor of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT
* Amy Cueva, Founder and Chief Experience Officer, Mad*Pow in Portsmouth, N.H.
* Heather DeJesus, Director of Program Management, Azima DLI in Woburn
* Anna Mracek Dietrich, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Terrafugia Inc. in Woburn
* Sandra Glucksmann, Senior Vice President Research and Business Operations, Cerulean Pharma Inc. in Cambridge
* Susan Leschine, Founder and Chief Scientist, Qteros Inc. in Marlborough and Professor, Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
* Ronnie Maffa, Director of Social Software Product Development, IBM Corp.
* Mondira Pant, Lead Technologist, Intel Corp.
* Yvonne Spicer, Vice President, National Center for Technological Literacy, Museum of Science Boston
The Mass High Tech article is here.
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