Terrafugia Shows Off Outer Mold Line For TF-X Hybrid Electric Aircraft

Terrafugia first showed off its TF-X hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft back in 2013. The aircraft is designed to be able to cruise on the streets as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and then take off, and land vertically when the driver wants to take to the skies. Terrafugia has announced that it is showing off the new Outer Mold Line (OML) for the TF-X.

The OML was developed in collaboration with Ben Schweighart and Transportation/Automotive Designer Verdan Martinek. In addition to showing off the Outer Mold Line, the company is also testing a one-tenth scale wind tunnel test model of the TF-X that was developed based on the new OML.

That wind tunnel test model is on display at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI now. The model will be tested at the MIT Wright Brothers wind tunnel, which is the same place the Terrafugia Transition was tested.

The wind tunnel testing will measure drag, lift, and thrust while simulating hovering flight, transitioning to forward flight and full forward flight. Terrafugia is working hard to bring flying cars to the market, but there is no word on when this vehicle might be ready for public purchase.

SOURCE: Terrafugia