Flying Hovercraft Doesn't Require Pilot's License
A DIY flying hovercraft can not only cross over land and water, but soar up to 10 feet in the air.
While hovercrafts aren't anything new, a New Zealand man has taken the concept to a "higher level" by designing a hovercraft that can actually fly. As if yanked straight out of the future, the craft is capable of traveling not over land and water, but can soar over rough terrain of up to 10 feet in the air.
AutoMotto reports that it took designer Rudy Heeman almost ten years to create the vehicle. Constructed in the garage, Heeman used various parts from other vehicles such as junked cars, scooters, and even BBQs to produce the craft in its present form.
Under the "hood," the hovercraft packs a 1.8 liter Subaru engine which has the potential to crank out a maximum of 140 MPH. The machine works as a boat without its wings and tail, however with the appendages attached, the craft will actually take flight once it speeds beyond 43 MPH. The craft can also carry two people, or 352 pounds, whichever is greater.
At the time of this article, Heeman has placed the hovercraft up for bid on the New Zealand auction site Trade Me. "It comes with a purpose built trailer, GPS, ASI, and all the engine gauges," Heeman said in the listing. "This machine is fast and furious, it roars like a lion, and is not for the 'faint hearted.' It is adrenaline pumping and exciting."
The current bid is set for $27,000.00. There is no indication that Heeman is interested in building another flying hovercraft.
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It can't travel over land or water?
Only $27,000? It seems to me that stuff like this typically sells for far more.
OH COOL!!! I'll put this in my garage next to my joystick-controlled party boat thing! Is there any video of it in action?
It can't travel over land or water?
He means not only over land and water.
Why would he spend 10 years building it just to sell it?
id pay 27,000$ to c this guy get pulled over for a ticket ....
Sounds more like a ground effect vehicle than a hovercraft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle
Does he accept credit cards? In!
im from NZ, and there is only going to be one of these, the craft is actually poorly constructed, the fabric covering flaps on the top of the wing!
Sounds like a scam to me. This could easily have been Photoshoped.
Sounds like a scam to me. This could easily have been Photoshoped.
There was a video of this on msn videos
Doesn't require licence... YET.
Hm.... that's an unusual way to measure an engine. Do you mean 140HP?
http://video.ninemsn.com.au/video. [...] 20e1f468cb
No scam buddy
Sounds more like a ground effect vehicle than a hovercrafthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle
That is sweet.
Looks like a blast!
Hovercrafts are just for fun. If you want hardcore aplications, you should see the ekranoplan.
In other news, a New Zealand man dies in a flying car crash today. Tragic.
I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE! Cool a cookie! I WANT ONE!
yea new zealand FTW!!!
Ok, not a practical way of traveling, probably uncomfortable as hell and with a huuuuge gas consumption BUT who cares?
I cannot begin to imagine the FUN I'd have with it!!!!!
hehe heeman
He means not only over land and water.Why would he spend 10 years building it just to sell it?
I suspect he learned a lot building that thing. And wanted to do it again from scratch. Which with his new learned i can build it and perhaps lack of funds. He wishes to use the money to go back and do it right. I bet he does the same thing after learning more the second time around and until he gets some sort of funding keeps selling his prototype till he gets what hes looking for.
How can an engine crank out MPH? Don't they mean that the subaru from which they took the engine could do 140mph?
Why didn't they just say it has a 210HP engine, or whatever those quick subarus have.
I suspect he learned a lot building that thing. And wanted to do it again from scratch. Which with his new learned i can build it and perhaps lack of funds. He wishes to use the money to go back and do it right. I bet he does the same thing after learning more the second time around and until he gets some sort of funding keeps selling his prototype till he gets what hes looking for.
Yeh, if you look at the video it would probably only take him a couple months to build a new one when he gets the money.
Surely you mean less?
Maybe the sentence should have went, "The craft can carry two people, or up to 350 lbs."
The thing about this hovercraft is you can buy the base craft for under 10k and the wings are not exactly aircraft quality or anything... there basically plastic stretched over fiberglass. So I suspect hes selling it for twice the price so he can build 2 more and sell those for twice their price to build 4 and on, and on, and on, and on... hey its a business... with profits! NOOOOOO! LOL
http://video.ninemsn.com.au/video. [...] 20e1f468cbNo scam buddy
Oh man, I thought this was cool just reading about it. after seeing that video, I'm even more amazed.
I suspect he learned a lot building that thing...He wishes to use the money to go back and do it right.
I bet your right, I can't wait to see the second iteration.
Huh, i guess he really "HAVE THE POWER!!!"