Terrafugia Transition street legal flying car completes the first stage of flight accreditation.
The fantasy of flying cars moved a step closer to reality with the Terrafugia Transition successfully completing the flying test. US-based firm Terrafugia said their production prototype Transition car-plane had successfully carried out the test flight, clearing the way for it to hit the market within a year.
Terrafugia argues that the Transition offers unparalleled freedom of movement, with a range of 787km and without the need to check bags. Spanning 2.3m as a car, it fits into a normal-sized garage, before unfurling an 8m wingspan. To take advantage, would-be owners will need to have both a driver's and pilot's licence - with a minimum of 20 hours of flying time.
Terrafugia says it will launch into full commercial production. The two-seater craft costs around $US279,000 ($A268,000) and some 100 vehicles have been ordered.