Anything can happen in the USA. Even for a mail order company to sell a hovercraft alongside office gadgets, furniture and accessories.
That's what Hammacher Schlemmer did with this incredible flying contraption, capable of proceeding quickly both on land and water. It looks like something out of a comic book, but I assure you that it is a real product, with some truly unique features.
Fly over land and water
For a hovercraft to fly, it takes quite a bit of energy. Hammacher Schlemmer's hovercraft is powered by a 130 horsepower twin-cylinder engine: in terms of power, in short, it competes with a nice car. It reaches a speed of almost 120km per hour, and has a range of 257 kilometres.
The vessel was designed with innovative technologies to guarantee exceptional performance. It lifts off, flies in a hover, then starts running using the thrust of a one and a half meter (60 inch) propeller. Fly on grass, water, snow and sand, and on slopes of up to 30%. It is, in short, a blast.
Why aren't hovercrafts sold?
Why aren't hovercrafts as common in real life as they are in movies and cartoons?
One possible reason could be that they are difficult to control and require a lot of energy to operate: engineers are focusing on more sustainable and economical forms of transportation for everyday use.
Despite this, nothing will stop me from pricking up my ears when I see oneespecially if it's like this.
If you are still worried about knowing how much it costs, I immediately dissuade you: on the website by Hammacher Schlemmer the bar is set at 190.000 dollars. If you have a boating license and are crazy, go ahead. And send me a postcard!
