You have so far seen wonderful flying cars in reel world of Hollywood science fictions or Bond movies, but you will now see flying cars in the real world. Recently, a prototype of a flying car designed by Terrafugia Inc. completed its maiden test flight in upstate New York.

Set up by the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) graduates four years ago, the Woburn, Massachusetts based Terrafugia is the company working to develop The Transition, a roadable aircraft that the company describes as a "Personal Air Vehicle".

Terrafugia's Transition "roadable" aircraft debuted in Boston Wednesday. It was exhibited during a press conference at Boston's Museum of Science. Carl Dietrich, the CEO and founder of Terrafugia, said, "The Transition changes the world of personal mobility and travel now becomes a hassle-free, integrated land-air experience." Commenting on The Transition's maiden test flight, Dietrich said, "This flight is a symbol of a new freedom in aviation. It's what enthusiasts have been striving for since 1918."

The company also reported that its Transition "roadable" aircraft completed its first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, N. Y. on March 5 with retired U. S. Air Force Col. Phil Meteer as its test pilot. According to the company, Meteer lifted off the Transition "roadable" aircraft to several hundred meters in the air and landed back safely on the runway. The flight covered some 900 meters.

Speaking of The Transition and the flight, Meteer said, "It was kind of a wahoo moment."It (The Transition) has all of the controls of a car so that any driver can drive it ... in the air it has all the controls of a normal airplane so that any pilot can fly it."

According to Terrafugia, The Transition is two-seater vehicle looks more like an airplane, but it has four wheels. It can run at 105 kilometers per hour (65 mph) at road and its cruising speed in air is 185 kph (100 kts or 115 mph). Its fuel average is 30 miles per gallon.

Richard Gersh, a vice president of Terrafugia, said The Transition fits into the light sport aircraft category. Gersh told that the company has already received more than 40 orders for the Transition, and The Transition will be released for public by next year. Gersh said it will be priced between $148,000 - $194,000.

Anna Dietrich, chief operating officer of Terrafugia, said, "We're not going to have a flying car, as people think of it, for a while. I would never say it's not going to happen, but today the infrastructure is not there, nor is the training, nor are the avionics that would make the training unnecessary. What makes sense right now is a 'roadable' aircraft."