Three If By Sky: Prototype Makes First Flight

Peekaboo!  Let's head for the airport.
all images courtesy Terrafugia

While at Sun 'n Fun I heard the good news that the long-in-development Terrafugia Transition® Street-Legal Airplane (that's it's latest name) hit the road, then the skies on its first production prototype flight.
You may remember there was a “Roadable” in the name at one time, but whatever the official moniker, everybody pretty much still calls it "that flying car."

Movin' on down the highway...

Terrafugia forges on with the first flight announcement, happily picked up in media outlets from science mags to newspapers around the world, which took place March 23, 2012.
How long until the $250,000-plus car-plane rolls off the production lines? Sometime within the next year is as close as the company is willing to predict, having been at it for a few years now.
The flight reached 1400’ AGL and lasted eight minutes.  Six flight test phases are planned before the craft, which is still targeted for ASTM certification as an S-LSA, is ready for prime time.

"Yes, ma'am, it's an airplane.  Yes ma'am, it's a car too.  Yes ma'am,
I have a driver's license, a Sport Pilot's license,  a TSA redress
number and a note from my Mommy, now may I go flying please?

By the way, if you're in the Big Apple, you can see the production prototype up close and personal.  It's on display at the New York International Auto Show until April 15th.  Location: Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
If you want to see a piece of history in the making, y'all come on down.

"Spread your wings and take the sky,
Oh, your mammy's rich, and your daddy's good looking.  
So hush little baby, don't you cry."`

"Whee!  Auto-piloting: Nothin' to it."

"I feel for those poor turkeys in gridlock down there...heh heh heh."

"Hey Frank, check out my new ride!  No, you can't take it for a spin 
around the block.  Sorry dude, that's just the way it is."