The future of personal aviation has just gotten rosier: Terrafugia has just announced that its Flying Car has finally received regulatory clearance from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The administrative coup means the car-plane hybrid will be allowed to take to the road – and air – when it hits the market next year.

The new exemptions granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will allow Terrafugia to use a polycarbonate windshield on Transition, its flying car, allowing it to withstand the stress of landings. The Transition’s tires are rated for highway speeds and the vehicle’s weight and fit in the same classification as SUVs and light trucks, but they weigh only a fraction of other tires in its class.

In automobile mode, the front wheel drive vehicle has its wings folded up, and will fit in a standard garage. Thirty seconds is all it takes for the Transition to well, transition from car to aircraft. The Transition, which has completed several successful test flights, is expected to enter production in late 2012. Take a look at the video below for a blow-by-blow account of the car’s astonishing lift-off. To the future – and beyond!

Terrafugia