Functional Flying Car Kept as Family Treasure

Cars that can fly? It sounds so close and yet so far away. However, the single-engine propeller plane with removable wings legal for both road and air travel Aerocar was invented 60 years ago by Moulton Taylor... One of the five of its type built and currently the only one able to fly is a 1956 model, now parked at the Auburn Municipal Airport.

This flying car was bought by its current owner, 21 years ago. Ed Sweeney said he then paid for the Aerocar $150,000 and brought it back to flying condition. He says that now it would fetch up about $1 million, as bornrich.org related.

However, Sweeney is not planning to sell this piece of aviation history, but to hand it down to his sons and keep it as a family treasure. “It’s a family treasure,” Sweeney said for the Auburn Journal. “I’ve turned down many, many offers for it.”

When driven on the ground, the Aerocar can reach up to 60 mph, while it can lift off and speed along in the air at up to 150 mph. Unfortunately, since Sweeney or his sons have no intention of giving up the flying car, all we can do is wait for Terrafugia to begin Transition mass production.

We were telling you about the unveil of the Terrafugia Transition this month at the Greenwhich Concours d’Elegance.

The Transition was then described more as a ‘roadable aircraft’, a two-place 115mph airplane with a complex ceiling that upon landing can fold up its wings and transform into a car in just 30 seconds at the touch of a button.

Unfortunately, the contraption is categorized as a light sport aircraft so enthusiasts will need a sport pilot license to fly.

Almost needless to say, the Transition Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept won't be a cheap vehicle to buy as it will cost $194,000 (about £139,000) at launch.