The Herald Bulletin - 9:14 p.m.: ‘Segway of the sky’: Air Buoyant developing single-passenger flying platform

Wed, Nov 25 2009

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Pete Bitar shows off the prototype of their VertiPod in their shop inside Anderson Tool and Engineering.
John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin

Pete Bitar and his VertiPod, a single passenger untralight aircraft, made by his company Air Buoyant.
John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin

The VertiPod uses a 50-horsepower, 440 cc motorcycle engine, with a single propeller.
John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin

Pete Bitar and his VertiPod, a single passenger untralight aircraft, made by his company Air Buoyant.
John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin

9:14 p.m.: ‘Segway of the sky’: Air Buoyant developing single-passenger flying platform

Justin Schneider

“I would love to get him a hangar up there,” said Tony Rogers, president of the Anderson Board of Aviation Commissioners. “I like the way his company is going, and I would like to give him the opportunity to expand if it didn’t come with more expenses to me.”

Amid talk of a new airport in southwest Madison County, Bitar has even submitted a proposal to purchase the airport from the city. He has submitted a written offer of $500,000 and pledged to keep the airport open for public use, which he said would save the city around $200,000 a year and preserve grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.

With the VertiPod, Bitar said, Air Buoyant could expand into aerospace in the coming years, and he is already exploring work with satellites.

“I hope this can become a hub for aviation and aerospace,” Bitar said. “One day we can call it the Anderson Spaceport.’”

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VertiPod

Anderson-based Air Buoyant is developing the VertiPod, a single-passenger flying platform that President and CEO Pete Bitar describes as “the Segway of the sky.” A prototype of the vehicle is currently being tested. Bitar sees the military and border patrol as potential markets, but said the VertiPod will be available to consumers in a kit to be assembled in a weekend.

- Classification: Ultra-light aircraft

- Engine: 50-horsepower, 440-cubic-centimeters

- Fuel: Gasoline or ethanol (using 2 gallons per hour)

- Altitude: 5 to 15 feet

- Top speed: 40 mph

- Cost: $10,000

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