Saturday, April 25, 2009

Terrafugia Transition

Here it is ! Possibly the first viable car/aircraft. Granted there have been other before it. But it looks like this one may have a shot.

It's an aircraft... wait its a car?

Its both actually. Although the company is not marketing it as a flying car (more of a "roadable aircraft") It gives pilots the opportunity to fly to an airport and then drive to your destination! Pretty nice if you hit weather along the way, just land and continue on your merry way!
Currently all that is needed to operate this "roadable aircraft" is a sports pilot certificate.

Right now the Terrafugia Transition is a little out of my price range. At an estimated purchase price of $194,000 I would think twice about getting one. I would question driving it on the road as well because one little fender bender and your roadable aircraft is only roadable.

Check the link: Terrafugia Transition

Private Companies still flying Private Jets

Because of recent events, it has become politically incorrect to use private jets for business purposes. Why? I was recently reading an article from MSN about companies that refused to give up their jets. Mind you I am not important or rich enough to justify use of these machines, but they do serve a purpose.



Think about business today. It is not restricted only to the office. It can happen anywhere and at any time. A private jet enables an individual to get to a location in a timely matter and complete a job. Business is ruthless, and if you can't get to a particular location to close a deal, someone else will.



Why CEO's elect to own jets


The biggest reason is that it lets them get more work done. "What people don't understand is that business jets are mobile offices," says Robert N. Baugniet, a Gulfstream spokesman. He is exactly right. These jets give their owners room to hold informal meetings, prepare speeches etc... Hard to do if your cramped in tiny seats aboard a Boeing or Airbus.



The other big reason is it allows them access to more areas than flying conventionally. America is a land full of airports. According to Bureau of Transportation about 13175 (in 1996), however less than half are serviced by commercial airlines. Corporate jets are able to fly just about anywhere and at anytime, allowing that deal to get closed!
Danbury Airport (no airlines here)

The article from MSN is partly accurate. However I think it misses the point. Most of the article is focused on the amount of money that is spent on corporate aviation. How much money was made because they had those jets? I suppose we'll never know.








Friday, April 24, 2009

First Post !

Hello out there !??



Welcome to TrueFlyer, I'm glad you could make it. I wanted to start this blog because I am interested in the world of Aviation. GA, Corporate and the airlines, they all contain some interesting and fascinating things. Aviation it self is an ever evolving beast. Take for example what has happened this year alone. On March 5th, 2009 Terrafugia Transition achieved it's first flight. If you haven't heard, it literally brings us a step closer to having flying cars! On the other side of the fence you have Corporate Aviation being brought to its knees by the current economy and the stigma as corporate excess.

The great thing about aviation is that something new happens every day. You can fly the same route everyday on tour and have a completely different flight everytime. The same goes for planning or dispatching. There is a pretty famous quote,

"Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree
than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or
neglect."

— Captain A. G. Lamplugh

Aviation takes Planning, Knowhow and sometimes Luck. Never get behind the airplane. Stay ahead and you'll be ok!