Terrafugia Seeks More Exemptions to LSA Weight, Stall Speed
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Terrafugia is requesting an additional weight increase and corresponding stall speed increase for its Transition roadable aircraft.
January 8, 2015 - Terrafugia has asked the FAA for additional weight and speed exemptions for its Transition roadable aircraft, now in its eighth year of development. The exemptions would allow the Transition to have a gross takeoff weight of 1,800 pounds and a stall speed of 54 knots. Terrafugia received a previous weight exemption in 2010, allowing an increase from the LSA maximum of 1,320 pounds to 1,430 pounds - the same weight exemption as LSA seaplanes - in order to incorporate safety systems for the street-legal airplane.
“Our engineering team made its best effort to refine the design of the safety systems to fit within the allowed extra weight, but it was not sufficient to achieve the desired level of safety,” Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich wrote. “Therefore, we request a new exemption for the Transition for additional weight and for stall speed.”
The added speed, increased from the statutory 45 knots, would be necessary, according to the company, because of the additional weight and the design’s wingspan, which is limited by the maximum dimensions allowed for road use.
Read Terrafugia’s complete exemption request document.
