Wed, Dec 01, 2010
Terrafugia To Work With AAI Corporation On DARPA Transformer
(TX) Project
DARPA has been talking for some time about developing a four
person flyable and roadable vehicle it describes as a 'flying
Humvee', a project with a budget of about $65 million. Terrafugia,
the developer of the Transition Roadable Aircraft, or 'Flying Car',
is the largest subcontractor to one of two winning teams, led by
AAI Corporation and comprised of other Textron companies.
Terrafugia Roadable LSA
The vehicle, known as the Transformer, or TX, would function
like a Humvee on the ground while also providing helicopter-like
mobility. The result will be "unprecedented capability to avoid
traditional and asymmetrical threats while avoiding road
obstructions," according to a DARPA announcement. Intended missions
include medical evacuation, avoidance of improvised explosive
devices, remote resupply, and Special Forces insertion. The vehicle
will be able to travel 280 miles by land and air, using vertical
take-off and landing to increase access to difficult terrain, and
automating flight controls to enable operation by non-pilots.
Phase I of the five year, three-phase program will focus on
conceptual design of both a prototype and a production vehicle.
Phases II and III will focus on the design and manufacture of the
prototype, which could be ready as early as first quarter 2015.
The work calls for Terrafugia's
expertise in drive and flight integration, deployable flight
surfaces, and automotive crash safety for an aircraft. Chief
Executive Officer Carl Dietrich says, "This DARPA program
effectively leverages Terrafugia's core competencies and enables us
to grow from a pure GA company to an emerging aerospace company
with both general aviation and defense development programs. Our
strong team of Terrafugia engineers with recent experience
designing and building a dual purpose vehicle will bring a unique
perspective to the TX program that is highly valued by DARPA and
the other contractors on our TX team."
File Photo
The TX program represents an opportunity for Terrafugia to
rededicate members of its engineering team as its primary business,
the Transition Light Sport Aircraft Program, moves forward on
schedule from detailed design to fabrication, testing and
production in the second half of 2011.
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