Tech Talk
By

Amanda Kooser /

CBS News/ June 7, 2012, 12:46 PM

This hovercraft can be yours for $190,000

Flying Hovercraft

The Flying Hovercraft in action

/ Hammacher Schlemmer

(CBS/CNET) - You're probably familiar with the concept of the hovercraft, an inflatable craft that glides over land and water on a cushion of air. Now add wings, a sweet yellow and black paint scheme, and a $190,000 price tag and you get the Flying Hovercraft from Hammacher Schlemmer.

The Flying Hovercraft can get up to 20 feet off the ground and hit a top speed around 70 mph thanks to an assist from a 130-hp twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled gas engine. It has both a thrust propeller and a lift fan to help it leapfrog over obstacles like floating logs and lake monsters.

The hovercraft can operate over fresh or salt water and can also tackle up to 30 percent inclines over other surfaces like sand, swamps, and snow. You might want to keep one in your garage for those snow days when the streets haven't been cleared.

Keeping the weight down is a necessity when you're hovering and flying. The hull is made from fiberglass and PVC. The landing skids use a Kevlar composite. The whole crazy thing is controlled with a joystick.

The hovercraft can carry up to 600 pounds of people or cargo and boasts a 160-mile range. Though the hovercraft has some flying skills, it still has to be registered as a boat.

This story originally appeared on CNET.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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7 Comments Add a Comment
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chwick says:
so quiet you could hear a pelican yell......:)
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formerlyluvnut says:
ANYBODY born & raised in Florida's everglades or Louisiana could build one for $50.
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1nAmillion says:
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

also

My hovercraft is full of eels.
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enlightenu says:
It is technically an ekranoplan with a hover component. The canopy could use some refining.
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skeezix06 says:
Yeah. Right. If I had $190,000 I would NOT spend it on a hovercraft.
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Bojax39 says:
Try finding a local repair shop for this overpriced toy. On the upside, think of the money you'd save on tires and tubes.
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neanderthalus replies:
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You know what this looks like? Kinda like the Supermarionation "Supercar" from te 1960's.