Flying Cars by 2009

"Oh you, pretty chitty bang bang…" Come on, tell me I'm not the only one singing here?

Well, by the end of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I was extremely disappointed to find that the whole story had simply been a dream. The fantastic flying car that Dick Van Dyke took a lifetime in that garage to perfect, was actually very plain and ordinary.

So thank god for the team at Terrafugia. They are working on the 'Transition' in a bid to make the flying car a reality. Well, it's actually described as a 'Roadable Light Sport Aircraft'.

It is hoped that the Transition will be rolled out by the end of next year. But as with every new and exciting concept, you know it's not going to come cheap for us mere mortals. Nope, it will cost an enormous $194,000.

The Transition will boast two 10-foot wide wings and four wheels. Gas powered and designed to comply with automotive crash safety standards, the Transition has a flying range of approximately 450 miles. And for your safety (and peace of mind…) you can choose to include a full-vehicle parachute. Now that’s something I'd like to see.

When I was younger, thoughts of the year 2000 included space-age flying cars and the likes. Almost a decade later, we may almost be there! The first test flight will be taking place sometime next month. Fingers crossed if it all goes smoothly.

So what are we thinking about this flying car / road worthy plane? Let us know your thoughts!

And if you would like to find out more (or if you’re rich, have a license and wish to reserve yours…) visit Terrafugia’s Website here.

Image Source: Ubergizmo.