World's first flying car on the roads from next year - yours for just £130,000

t's been a pipe dream for 30 years but now the world's first fully available flying car is set to hit the roads next year.
Ever since the Back to the Future movies lit up our screens in the 80s, designers have dreamt of an automobile that could take to the skies at the push of a button.
And now qualified pilots can order their very own Terrafugia Transition 'roadable' plane for just  £127,000, with delivery planned for late next year.

The Terrafugia Transition 'roadable' plane can be kept at home, with wings folded up, in your garage

 

The 'light-sport airplane' promises to bring more 'flexibility and convenience to your flying'.
The plane, which has fold-out wings that span 27.5ft when extended, has an airborne range of 460 miles and can cruise at 115mph.
Back on terra firma, it is capable of travelling at 'highway speeds' in car mode.
Fuelling the 19ft long plane couldn't be simpler - you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up with unleaded.
It is powered by a 100 hp, Rotax 912S, four-stroke engine.

Action! The 19-foot-long plane has an airborne range of 460 miles and can cruise at 115mph

A spokeswoman for designers Terrafugia, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, USA, said: ‘You can keep your Transition in your garage.
‘Then you simply drive to your local airport, fly up to 460 miles, land, convert and drive directly to your destination.
‘You'll always be ready to drive or fly.’ 
A series of simple commands made from the cockpit convert the white craft from plane to car and vice versa.
But the wings only fold out if the correct key code is entered by someone with a pilot's licence.

Simple: The 'roadable' plane can be filled up at the local petrol station with unleaded

Unlike many 'flying car' concepts which use thrusters to take off vertically, the Transition needs a short runway to take to the air.
The spokeswoman added: ‘Never let questionable weather cancel or endanger your trip again.
‘You can simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears.’ 
You can secure your very own Transition aeroplane by simply paying a deposit of £6,500.

Ease: Pilots will be able to drive to the local airport, take off and then fly for up to 460 miles (740 km)

The firm's website, 'Terrafugia.com', says of prospective owners: ‘Your deposit doesn't just reserve your very own roadable airplane, it gives us proof that today's pilot community is ready for this dream to finally become reality.
‘There's no risk to you - only the chance to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future.
‘Production schedules are filling up quickly.’

Will Bolivia Be Ruined, Improved, or Hated Because of Electric Cars?

With growing speculation that electric cars and other energy efficient vehicles will soon dominate markets worldwide, Bolivia is a nation that perhaps stands to benefit (or suffer) more than any other from the energy revolution.

Most electric cars will be powered by lithium batteries, and Bolivia has more lithium than any other nation worldwide. How this development will affect Bolivia is unknown, but will squarely place the South American country at an intriguing and crucial crossroads.

Bolivia: a Microcosm of World’s Struggles and Possibilities

Even though Bolivia might have incredible economic growth thanks to future sales of lithium, it does not change the fact that Bolivia currently struggles in almost every possible way.
The government is unstable, in part because of a fight over one of Bolivia’s other abundant natural resources: natural gas. I have written before about how President Evo Morales’ government plans to redistribute land, a controversial move that many of the country’s wealthier citizens think amounts to theft, despite claims that some wealthy ranchers have enslaved tribal people. On the other hand, regardless of what you think of modern socialism, or of Evo Morales and his followers, I think it is reasonable to say that with two thirds or more of the country living in poverty, the idea to redistribute land is not without its supporters.

Car d Lane 2010 pics

A wonderful sunny Friday and Saturday brought out all the classic cars this year. Here are some of the pics.

How to Find Classic Car Deals

Finding the perfect classic car is like sleuthing antique shops for that rare and beautiful find; however, you do not need to feel like you need to discover a million-dollar treasure in a garbage heap. This isn’t the Antique Roadshow—your search should be much more personal. If you do find that treasure…well, remember your blogging friends!
Instead, be open to stumbling upon a cool, neat, fun-to-drive classic car, even if it isn’t the most rare diamond-in-the-rough. Many of these old, classic, albeit not one-of-a-kind, beauties can be had for only $1000 – $5000. If it drives and looks good and, most importantly, you look good driving it, then who cares how rare it is?
And many times the car might have a history behind it that makes it seem more valuable (even if only to you). George Costanza was perfectly fine driving Jon Voight’s car (allegedly) and so should you be fine driving a quality classic with an interesting background.
You don’t want to be overly picky about condition, either. It doesn’t have to be in perfect condition. In many cases you can get great deals on really fun cars because the condition is not what we’d call “excellent”. Boom!—you are now a collector of classic cars. Just like that.
But how do you find these classic cars, gumshoe? Ask around. You want to get involved with local car clubs and tap into the classifieds and auctions, sure, but you can also simply talk your way to a classic car. Or, even more effective, listen. Take a trip to an old auto-shop or gas station and ask the owner or employers about regular customers, maybe that haven’t been around in a while. Listen to the stories, ask questions, and be a detective. The smallest lead, if you’re listening, can guide you to a great car and a great deal! Never underestimate the value and wisdom of old folks! They will not only have great stories, but might lead you to a prize find (or may have a great classic car themselves). Start visiting the retirement homes and get to know the men and women—you may just find a woman who had a neighbor who had a son who knew a guy with a rusting but running Bugatti.
When sentimentality is involved, and it often is with classic cars and their owners, you can usually find a fair price because the seller is more interested in finding a good home for their love rather than getting rich by taking advantage of some know-nothing fool.
In essence, buy what you can afford, what you can drive, and what you like. Everything else doesn’t really matter! Great deals and great cars are hidden all over the place—get out there and find them!

For the Collector Who Knows Exactly What He/She Wants…

The first thing you will want to do, if you haven’t already, is choose the type of car you want—year, make, and model. Research it. Know it. Love it…in no particular order.
Now that you have an idea of what kind of classic car you want, decide on the purpose of the car. Are you looking for a fixer upper in poor condition, a project that needs body and engine work, or are you wanting a pristine, already-restored or miraculously well-kept vehicle ready for cruising? Or maybe somewhere in between?
You will want to have a solid grip on your budget before you go hunting for a car. To manage a firm budget, you will need a firm understanding on the fair market price of the vehicle you are looking for. To research this, we recommend checking out the pricing help offered by trusted sites and guides like Old Car Buyers Guide, Hemmings, or NADA’s Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide & Directory. Additionally, if you are going to be doing a lot of repairs on a restoration project, make sure that extra cost is calculated into your budget. If you don’t plan on any restoration work, pad a little extra into the budget for “just in case”…well-kept classics are still classics, i.e. old!
And now, at long last, you hunt. Your first stop is probably going to be online—it’s easy and convenient and, admittedly, has some great deals. You can try specific classic car sites or generic classifieds sites with classic car categories. It’s also a good idea to hop on classic car blogs (like this one) and post in the forums what you are looking for; get involved in the classic car community! Check the papers, go to shows and auctions, ask local auto shops, tap into local clubs. If you have patience, you’ll find what you are looking for.
Whether your sleuthing clues and taking a more Zen approach to finding your dream car, without an idea of what that dream car is, or if you know exactly what you are looking for and just need to find it—that perfect classic car is out there, waiting for you to take it home. Good luck and happy hunting!
Belle is a writer for reycler.com, where she writes on classic cars and buying used cars.