02/28/2014. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg: "The Transition was an original design roadable light aircraft designed by Carl Dietrich with assistance from several colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Aeronautics. The design, described as PAV=Personal Air Vehicle, won the prestigious 2006 Lemson-MIT Student Price and it featured an all composite construction. For further development and marketing Terrafugia, Inc was founded and a prototype (Proof of Concept) aircraft (N302TF) performed the maiden flight on March 5, 2009.

Dimensions of the proof of concept vehicle included wingspan 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m), length 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m) and height 6 ft 3.2 in (1.91 m). The Terrafugia met the rules of the US LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) class and was planned to be available as S-LSA factory produced aircraft. Standard power plant was an 100 hp Rotax 912ULS which was also used for road travel, the wing folding mechanism was electric.

During 2009 extensive redesign took place and this resulted in changes such as a stretched fuselage (length 19 ft 9 in, 6.02 m), a new wing profile (span 26 ft 6 in, 8.08 m), open rear fuselage with twin tail booms (same height: 6 ft 3.2 in, 1.91 m), rear wheel rather than front wheel drive and structural and aerodynamic improvements. A new prototype was constructed, pictured above, which was first flown on March 23, 2012.

In January 2013 Terrafugia announced that, following evaluation of the test result of the second prototype, it might have to build a third prototype, prior to final compliance testing for certification production."