About six years ago Steve Saint and his friend Mincaye visited Madison and wowed a church audience with their blow-gun skills by popping several balloons high above the congregation with their darts. They also told the story of the Waodani tribe, including Mincaye, who had killed Steve’s father and four other missionaries in Ecuador in 1956. Mincaye and many other members of the tribe eventually became followers of Christ.
At that time they were promoting a documentary called Beyond Gates of Splendor, that told the Waodani story. In 2006 a dramatic version of the story was released called End of the Spear, showing in Madison and in movie theaters across the country.
Steve Saint has been back in the news lately for his technical achievements, a flying car that can be used by missionaries and others who need to reach remote areas.
To help the Waodani (who are now also called the Huaorani) and other indigenous peoples deal with the technical challenges of adjusting to 20th and 21st century life while retaining their indigenous and Christian values, Steve began the Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center (I-TEC), which is based in Dunellon, FL, near Ocala.
The Maverick, as the flying car is called, is I-TEC’s most well-known product so far. CNN recently reported that the Maverick has been certified by the FAA, and has the story on its Belief Blog web page. The Maverick is capable of freeway speeds on the highway, up to 80mph. When the road runs out, it takes to the air under a parasail, with a speed of about 40mph.
The Maverick was featured at the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh in 2009. A video prepared for the 2009 Airventure quotes Saint as saying the project taught him perseverance. Popular Mechanics also gave The Maverick a Breakthrough Award in 2009.
Now that the Maverick has its FAA certification Saint told CNN that he believes I-TEC can produce about 100 models per year, with a price of around $80,000. If he can get the Maverick into commercial production, he hopes to lower the price significantly. \
UPDATE – Check out the new video of Steve Saint’s drive to the 2010 EAA fly-in at Oshkosh.