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‘Flying Platform’ prototype up for sale

By Janice Wood · September 13, 2010 ·

AirBuoyant is offering its prototype flying platform, the VertiPod 2 (N6172N, formerly the PAM 100B Individual Lifting Vehicle), for sale.

With its contra-rotating rotors below the pilot and a new protective pilot’s “cage” installed, the twin-engine VP2 is ready for flight or further development, according to officials with the Anderson, Indiana-based company. With some 200 Hirth-supplied horsepower available through a modified Volvo marine transmission, the VP2 has undergone a variety of improvements, including the pilot’s cage, simplified controls, new rotor blades, and a new main frame, officials add.

The VP2’s throttle is directly controlled by the pilot, who also directs trajectory with weight-shifting. The VP2 can skim over flat or rutted ground, grass, sand, or water, at speeds of 20 mph or more. Useful load allows full fuel plus 400 pounds, making it possible to add instrumentation or equipment in further development.

AirBuoyant President and founder Pete Bitar says, “This platform has shown us what we need to know  to proceed with a commercial version. While it’s obviously not a cross-country machine, it is clearly a unique aircraft, the only flying platform with a proven flight record, that is not missing or in a museum. I hope that someone will continue to enjoy, or even develop this machine; or that an appropriate museum can be interested in it.”

The VP2 is being offered either as a one-off aircraft, or in an enhanced package that includes design and documentation, for someone who is interested in the full history and possible commercial application.

Bitar said he is not getting out of the flying platform business, but he is concentrating on his new models, including a possible ultralight (Part 103-conforming) platform.

For more information: 765-644-7323 or AirBuoyant.com

About Janice Wood

Janice Wood is editor of General Aviation News.

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Comments

  1. Ernest Dizon says

    June 25, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    I had discovered a motor ,solely powered by Permanent Magnets,here are the Details:two disk,? both with thirty magnets on its circumference,Magnet one is Permanently mounted on a one inch wooden -board,the second disk is the Revolving one ;through a simple Clutch system?when put near to the first Disk? it would spin,with out stopping ?until stopped,no Batteries or fuels are used, this model two disk motor ?is for demonstration only;but my production model would hav eight disk,and powered by Nyudimium Magnets,whislt are very expensive ,and thats ,whats holding me up,on my Invention;I named my Motor? Dyna Flux for (Dynamic Fluxtuation),it uses the principles of? REPULSION,and the secret of my motor ?is in the shape of the Magnets;on the first disk!

  2. Ernest Dizon says

    June 10, 2015 at 1:37 am

    ever since I was little?when my Dad gave me a “Flapping -Butter- Fly,” thats made of cellophane? i Got hook on to Flight,during my teen years i made a delta shaped and the fuselage was a stick,where i hook my rubber band to the Prop,,and Iwent to my roof,and it flew beautifull,at an angle of 45%and it slowly glide to another roof top,,I presumed it was lost but my theory worked,and thats the most important fact ,to me,by the way I carved my own Proppeler,out of Pine wood,or in Spanish Palo-Cheena,I made another model that was larger then the one I lost.but it took me quite a time to carve a larger proppeler.but all in all my experiments worked,by the way my delta shaped model -plane was made out of “Card-Board.”cuz Balsa wood was very expensive in the earl 1954.

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