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This company has existed almost as long as YC, yet is just now getting their first product to market. I think I'd heard of them before I'd heard of YC.

rory096 8y ago
For years they were a scrappy independent company slowly getting FAA/NHTSA approvals and variances but without major financial resources — I recall they were one of the early participants in Wefunder back in 2014. (To this day, at least from my perspective, I'd say they're the most notable company to equity crowdfund. But I might not be a typical observer.) https://wefunder.com/terrafugia https://wefunder.com/terrafugia Then in July 2017 they were acquired by Zhejiang Geely, the owner of Volvo. I imagine that gave them the resources necessary to create a manufacturing line and come to market. (Still unclear to me whether the purchase is because they'd finally reached a point in R&D where it was market-ready so they sold or if the influx of capital pushed them over the finish line.) https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-100-day-update-since-acquisition-by-zhejiang-geely-holding-group/ https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-100-day-update-sin... https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-to-create-130-new-u-s-jobs/ https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-to-create-130-new-...
walrus01 8y ago
Partially due to legal/liability concerns and the FAA regulatory process, bringing an entirely new aircraft to the market in the US is very long process. Just the various manufacturers that have been developing diesel engines for small single engined aircraft have gone through very long testing processes.
- dver 8y ago
  No kidding I've been following https://deltahawk.com/about https://deltahawk.com/about, since before my first child was born and now he's in college.
starpilot 8y ago
Testing for certification takes a long time. Also, adding to the fun: FAA cert is only good for the US. If you want to sell your aircraft in Europe, you need EASA certification. And so on for Canada, Russia, China, Brazil etc. Though many of the requirements overlap, it may still take additional years to secure certification from each country's aviation regulatory body.
- phkahler 8y ago
  It says they're approved to sell it as an 1800 pound LSA. The normal weight limit for an LSA is 1320lbs. This seems rather exceptional.
  - racnid 8y ago
    There's a proposed rule working it's way through the system to increase the LSA weight limit to 3600lbs. It would essentially bring Cessna 152/172 class aircraft under the rule and make LSA much more attractive. One of the main complaints with LSA is that the aircraft are too light to be useful even as trainers.

rory096 8y ago

For years they were a scrappy independent company slowly getting FAA/NHTSA approvals and variances but without major financial resources — I recall they were one of the early participants in Wefunder back in 2014. (To this day, at least from my perspective, I'd say they're the most notable company to equity crowdfund. But I might not be a typical observer.) https://wefunder.com/terrafugia https://wefunder.com/terrafugia Then in July 2017 they were acquired by Zhejiang Geely, the owner of Volvo. I imagine that gave them the resources necessary to create a manufacturing line and come to market. (Still unclear to me whether the purchase is because they'd finally reached a point in R&D where it was market-ready so they sold or if the influx of capital pushed them over the finish line.) https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-100-day-update-since-acquisition-by-zhejiang-geely-holding-group/ https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-100-day-update-sin... https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-to-create-130-new-u-s-jobs/ https://www.terrafugia.com/terrafugia-inc-to-create-130-new-...

walrus01 8y ago

Partially due to legal/liability concerns and the FAA regulatory process, bringing an entirely new aircraft to the market in the US is very long process. Just the various manufacturers that have been developing diesel engines for small single engined aircraft have gone through very long testing processes.

dver 8y ago
No kidding I've been following https://deltahawk.com/about https://deltahawk.com/about, since before my first child was born and now he's in college.

starpilot 8y ago

Testing for certification takes a long time. Also, adding to the fun: FAA cert is only good for the US. If you want to sell your aircraft in Europe, you need EASA certification. And so on for Canada, Russia, China, Brazil etc. Though many of the requirements overlap, it may still take additional years to secure certification from each country's aviation regulatory body.

phkahler 8y ago
It says they're approved to sell it as an 1800 pound LSA. The normal weight limit for an LSA is 1320lbs. This seems rather exceptional.
- racnid 8y ago
  There's a proposed rule working it's way through the system to increase the LSA weight limit to 3600lbs. It would essentially bring Cessna 152/172 class aircraft under the rule and make LSA much more attractive. One of the main complaints with LSA is that the aircraft are too light to be useful even as trainers.