Presentation on blimp-like aircraft made today to port authority

VIENNA — The president of a Ohio Airships, a company that built a prototype of a blimp-like aircraft that he hopes will some day take over a part of the freight-moving industry around the world, gave a presentation today to the Western Reserve Port Authority.

Robert Rist of Mantua told the port authority board, which runs Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport here, he would need $300,000 and use of the airport in order to complete testing on the prototype, known as a Dynalifter, and take preliminary steps to begin production.

John Masternick, authority chairman, said later he was not aware that Rist would be asking for $300,000 and said he didn’t know where the authority would get the money. Presumably the port authority would need to acquire a grant, he added.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com