The plane stress | 7 Project study: a dual-mode (road/air) vehicle Taylor Aerocar Existing and proposed roadable aircraft Convair Aircar (prototype) “chap07” — 2003/3/10 — page 175 — #1 176 Aircraft Design Projects Introduction ‘Flying car’, ‘roadable aircraft’, ‘dual-mode vehicle’ and other terms are used to describe the all-purpose vehicle that can fly like an airplane and drive on the highway like an automobile. Make it amphibious and we have the perfect all-purpose vehicle! Nevertheless, this might be taking our ideas a bit too far. It has long been the dream of aviation and automobile enthusiasts to have a vehicle that will bring them the best of both worlds. Many drivers stuck in rush hour traffic have fantasies about being able to push a button and watch their car’s wings unfurl as they lift above the stalled cars in front of them. Just as many pilots who have been grounded at an airport far from home by inclement weather have wished for some way to wheel their airplane out onto the highway and drive home. This yearning has resulted in many designs for roadable aircraft since as early as A designer of a flying car will encounter many obstacles, including conflicting regulations for aircraft and automobiles. As an automobile, such a vehicle must be able to fit within the width of a lane of traffic and pass under highway overpasses. It must be able to keep up with normal highway traffic and meet all safety regulations. It must also satisfy vehicle exhaust emission standards for automobiles. (Note: these regulations are easier to meet if the vehicle could be officially classed as a motorcycle.) Therefore, the wings must be able to fold (or retract) and the tail or canard surfaces may have to be stowable. The emission standards and crashworthiness requirements will add weight to the design. The need for an engine/transmission system that can operate in the stop and go, accelerate and decelerate environment of the automobile will also add system complications and .
