[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 39 (Monday, March 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING SKYRUNNER

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, American small businesses are 
cultivating the Nation's brightest minds to innovate with ingenuity. 
Technological advancement is a crucial element in fostering economic 
growth, increasing educational opportunities, and retaining high-
skilled, technical jobs. Its importance cannot be understated. This 
week, I am honored to recognize a small business that highlights this 
exciting aspect of today's economy. Congratulations to this week's 
Small Business of the Week, Skyrunner, located in Shreveport, LA.
  Stewart Hamel and Gilo Cardozo created the Skyrunner in order to 
reinvent recreational sports vehicles--an all-terrain buggy that also 
flies. Located in Northwest Louisiana, Skyrunner has combined a 
recreational off-road vehicle with paragliding equipment that allows 
the driver to use the machine in either of its two modes: car and 
flight. When in car mode, the vehicle boasts a rugged, dependable frame 
ideal for demanding terrains. The flight mode deploys the latest in 
reflex paragliding technology, allowing the vehicle to float back down 
to the ground upon entering the air. The vehicle's top speed reaches 
115 miles per hour and can accelerate to 62 miles per hour in 4.3 
seconds, which can launch the vehicle into the air with minimal effort.
  The Skyrunner is more than just a recreational vehicle. With its 
minimum weight and outstanding performance, the Skyrunner has the 
potential to be incorporated as a valuable tool for various Federal 
agencies, local and State governments, and adventure enthusiasts alike. 
CEO Stewart Hamel of Shreveport believes his spin on the all-terrain 
vehicle will revolutionize the way we manage natural resources, protect 
Federal lands, aid in natural disasters, and adventure into the 
wilderness.
  When moving its headquarters to Louisiana from the United Kingdom, 
Skyrunner struggled to get a unique military application approved to 
import products because a bureaucrat at the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency was blocking the application. Fortunately, I was able 
to advocate on Skyrunner's behalf to move past bureaucratic red tape, 
which allowed the company to begin pre-production of their product in 
Shreveport, LA. With a handful of prototypes under their belt, 
Skyrunner begins mass production of their aerodynamic dune-buggy within 
the next few months.
  It is important that we cut through government regulations to allow 
our small businesses to act on innovative ideas and develop their 
products, market base, and workforce. By supporting these local small 
businesses, we can bring new technology, jobs, and state-of-the-art 
equipment to the areas that need it most. Congratulations again to 
Skyrunner for being selected as Small Business of the Week. I wish you 
all the best in your endeavor and thank you for bringing innovative 
technology to Northwest Louisiana.

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