Terrafugia claims to offer the future of transportation but that point still looks to be years away, if ever. The company's Transition flying car has shown itself able to fly, but the even more ambitious TF-X has been in development for years with promises of vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. So far, we've only seen renderings of the sci-fi craft take to the skies, and that hasn't changed with the latest video showing the newly updated outer mold line design.
The TF-X's revised shape features a sleeker, more car-like front end design and wraparound glass. Terrafugia is still making some absolutely monumental promises about the aircraft's capabilities, though. The four-seat plane uses an engine and two electric motors for propulsion. For take off, the wings fold out from the body, and propellers on swiveling nacelles let it take to the sky vertically like a V-22 Osprey. The props then fold back once airborne, and a ducted fan starts providing thrust, at least theoretically. Terrafugia claims the TF-X could cruise at 200 miles per hour and would offer a 500-mile range.
The time when we can see a real TF-X actually take off and land could still be quite a way off. According to Terrafugia, the company now has one-tenth scale model based on the new design. The shape is still in wind tunnel testing to work out important things like the transition from takeoff to forward flight. There's more in the press release below.
The TF-X's revised shape features a sleeker, more car-like front end design and wraparound glass. Terrafugia is still making some absolutely monumental promises about the aircraft's capabilities, though. The four-seat plane uses an engine and two electric motors for propulsion. For take off, the wings fold out from the body, and propellers on swiveling nacelles let it take to the sky vertically like a V-22 Osprey. The props then fold back once airborne, and a ducted fan starts providing thrust, at least theoretically. Terrafugia claims the TF-X could cruise at 200 miles per hour and would offer a 500-mile range.
The time when we can see a real TF-X actually take off and land could still be quite a way off. According to Terrafugia, the company now has one-tenth scale model based on the new design. The shape is still in wind tunnel testing to work out important things like the transition from takeoff to forward flight. There's more in the press release below.
Terrafugia premiers new TF-X™ Outer Mold Line
Monday, Jul 20th, 2015 by Terrafugia PR Team
Terrafugia is excited to premier the new Outer Mold Line for the TF-X™, the four-seat, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hybrid electric aircraft that will make flying easier and safer than ever before.
We are thrilled to share new image and video media that reflect our updated Outer Mold Line (OML) design for the TF-X™, developed in collaboration with Ben Schweighart and Transportation/Automotive Designer Vedran Martinek. Visit our Image Gallery to view our new stills, and watch the new video below.
In addition, a one-tenth scale wind tunnel test model of the TF-X™ has been successfully developed based on the new OML, and is currently on display at EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. The model will be tested at the MIT Wright Brothers wind tunnel, the same tunnel that was used to test models of Terrafugia's Transition. The wind tunnel test model will be used to measure drag, lift and thrust forces while simulating hovering flight, transitioning to forward flight and full forward flight.
These new developments represent exciting, significant progress on the path towards the realization of Terrafugia's revolutionary vision for the future of personal transportation. For more information on the TF-X™, please click here, and to stay up to date on the latest Terrafugia news, please sign up for our email newsletter below.
Monday, Jul 20th, 2015 by Terrafugia PR Team
Terrafugia is excited to premier the new Outer Mold Line for the TF-X™, the four-seat, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hybrid electric aircraft that will make flying easier and safer than ever before.
We are thrilled to share new image and video media that reflect our updated Outer Mold Line (OML) design for the TF-X™, developed in collaboration with Ben Schweighart and Transportation/Automotive Designer Vedran Martinek. Visit our Image Gallery to view our new stills, and watch the new video below.
In addition, a one-tenth scale wind tunnel test model of the TF-X™ has been successfully developed based on the new OML, and is currently on display at EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. The model will be tested at the MIT Wright Brothers wind tunnel, the same tunnel that was used to test models of Terrafugia's Transition. The wind tunnel test model will be used to measure drag, lift and thrust forces while simulating hovering flight, transitioning to forward flight and full forward flight.
These new developments represent exciting, significant progress on the path towards the realization of Terrafugia's revolutionary vision for the future of personal transportation. For more information on the TF-X™, please click here, and to stay up to date on the latest Terrafugia news, please sign up for our email newsletter below.
Related Gallery Terrafugia Transition
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