Flying car takes to the skies

Flying is fun. It's the rest of the faffing about that ruins the whole experience, not least airport parking.

Losing your car in some vast windswept expanse of concrete, endless waits for buses - we've all been there.

GALLERY: Transition Terrafugia flying car

The idea of a vehicle you can park at home, drive to the airport and then fly away in seems like a distant dream. But it's a dream that could soon come true, if American company Terrafugia has anything to do about it. Yes, with its Transition the idea of a flying car is one step closer to reality.

Terrafugia will tell you the Transition isn't there to replace your regular car. But if you fly regularly the idea of a plane you can store in a typical suburban garage and transport itself to suitable airstrip is massively appealing. And it's this flexibility that the Transition hopes will be the secret of its success.

Where other light planes can be grounded by bad weather the Transition owner can continue their journey by road, until a gap in the clouds and a friendly airfield can be found. For journeys of 100 to 500 miles Terrafugia reckons the Transition is the perfect solution.

Powered by a 100hp Rotax engine, the Transition cruises at around 115mph airborne and has a range of over 400 miles. Back on land it'll do 65mph and return a very reasonable 30mpg. A price tag of around $200,000 is comparable with a Lamborghini Gallardo. And when did you last see one of those loop the loop?

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