Calverton, NY. June 10, 2016. When pilot Robert Lutz flew the VO-Substrata aircraft for about 20 minutes in the first test flight it was a dream come true for its founder and CEO Daniel Preston. “Long Island is known as the Cradle of Aviation, and we want to do our part to keep it here where it belongs,” he said.
Luminati hopes to start manufacturing by the end of the year. Luminati paid $3.4 million last year to acquire 16.3 acres of land from the operator of a now-closed skydiving facility on the former Northrop Grumman property, and it announced intentions to develop the next generation of drones at the site. Preston, who holds more than 1,200 patents, formerly founded and operated Atair Aerospace from 2001 to 2008.
The pilot Lutz said after his flight that the aircraft is “very birdlike.” “You know you go up there and you feel like you’re in the environment up there with the creatures,” he said. “Hawks will be circling around, and they kind of flock to you. It’s the only aircraft I’ve ever flown where I can hear a helicopter next to me. It’s a little spooky but pretty cool.”
