Meet George Jetson...Or At Least His Signature Flying Car!

[Brian Damage]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Meet George Jetson or at least his car. The flying car has been cleared for takeoff, and it may not be long until you see one in the rear view mirror.

It's appropriately called the transition, the makers say it's a "roadable aircraft," designed to seamlessly shift from the road to the air and back again.

The company is Terrafugia, and they've been developing the flying car since 2008.

The big news now is that the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has cleared it for the road.

Terrafugia had to get special exemptions to use lighter-weight plastic windows instead of glass, and heavier-than-usual tires that could handle a landing and standard road-based driving.

The transition was cleared by the FAA as a "light sport aircraft" last year.

So who will be allowed to drive them? Anyone with a valid driver's license can drive the transition on the road. But if you want to fly the car, you'll need at least a sport pilot's license.

And you can't land right in front of your house. You'll have to take-off and land at the airport.

So don't expect to see cars taking off and landing on the interstate any time soon.

And the opportunity to play George Jetson won't come cheap. The flying car will set you back about $250,000. The company is taking reservations if you're willing to plunk down $10,000 deposit. Terrafugia says about 100 have been reserved so far.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/waterc...ars-touch-down