#Throwback Thursday Vintage Hovercraft Video

Long before the formal founding of Hovercraft Training Centers – and before the development of the ultra-modern HoverTrek™ we train with today – Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc. was making history. That longevity as the world’s original light hovercraft manufacturer is one of the reasons we use Neoteric craft exclusively.

On this #TBT, let’s look back to a couple of Neoteric’s precursors to today’s HoverTrek™ - the Neova II and the LeMere. In the early 1980s, as their hovercraft were chosen to star in international television commercials, Neoteric was well on the way to the kind of fame they’ve earned today with Bubba’s Hover.

In this commercial for Brazil’s Hollywood Cigarettes, filmed on Lake Isabella in California, Neoteric provided four pilots, two LeMere and two Neova II hovercraft. When ordinary boats just aren’t glamorous enough, Neoteric hovercraft save the day! …

Also check out this video of vintage Neoteric hovercraft featured in a 1983 commercial for Canada’s Labatt’s Beer … and enjoy a Photographic Half-Century History of Hovercraft Training Centers and the Neoteric training hovercraft.

Essential even for a short commercial shoot, training has always been, and always will be, – the single most important factor for the successful operation of a hovercraft. And as the originator of the first successful light hovercraft, Neoteric and HTC founder Chris Fitzgerald has spent more than 50 years piloting, designing and developing hovercraft – and training those who fly them. Who better to be your instructor?

Time to step out of the past and into your future –

See how a hovercraft can make it brighter: Take a Test Flight or Training Course!

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Buy a hovercraft without training first? “Bad idea!” says airline pilot.

Bill Holzgrove knows a thing or two about flying – he was an airline pilot for 30 years. And he grew up with airplanes. “My dad was a crop duster, so I knew about airplanes,” he explained, “But I wanted nothing to do with them until I was about 25-26 years old. Then I discovered flying on my own, and I got into it, hook, line and sinker!”

When Bill came to Hovercraft Training Centers in August, the closest he’d come to flying a hovercraft was watching YouTube videos. Why did he choose HTC? A big reason was that we train exclusively on Neoteric hovercraft. “I’ve watched so many videos and I’ve been researching for several months, so I’ve done my homework,” he said. “I checked other companies, other products, but I kept going back to the Neoteric craft - the reverse thrust buckets, that makes the difference.”

Bill Holzgrove (left) accepts his Hovercraft Pilot Certification

from HTC Senior Flight Instructor Chris Fitzgerald.

And why would a former airline pilot want a hovercraft? “I have the best job in the world – I’m retired, so every day is Saturday!” he said, “Originally I was considering an airboat, but it’s too tall for the bridges on the river where I live, but a hovercraft isn’t as tall, so it’ll go under them with no problem. And I live in Minnesota, so there are lakes everywhere.”

A hovercraft will also give Bill year-round access to Minnesota’s waterways; he said the primary surface he’ll be hovering on will be ice. “In the spring and fall, when the water’s going through the transition, I’ll be the only guy out there. And then there’s the winter time on the lakes – looking forward to that!”

Bill launched on his training day with great enthusiasm. “I want to leave here with a captain rating!” he said. “I want to see what a hovercraft can do. As opposed to leaving here knowing what little bit is possible, I expect you guys to show me envelope to see all I can do!”

With Senior Flight Instructor Chris Fitzgerald in the pilot’s seat, Bill Holzgrove

begins his pilot training session – and his first flight in a hovercraft.

Former airline pilot Bill Holzgrove flies a hovercraft for the first time,

with HTC Instructor Chris Fitzgerald providing guidance and feedback.

Bill finished his training day with even more enthusiasm. “It was great! I learned a lot, stumbled a lot, learned from mistakes. That’s part of the learning process: do something wrong, then see what’s right. Every time Chris grabbed the controls, the craft just went where he wanted it to go, then I stumbled through my attempts at it. We went to places I never would have attempted on day one!”

Then the airline pilot in him added, “It’s a matter of experience. I’m guessing Chris would be unable to land a DC-10 with 305 people on board in a thunderstorm without being able to see the runway!”

At the end of the day, Bill decided a hovercraft was just what he needed. He even decided to assemble it himself, from a Neoteric Partially-Assembled Hovercraft Kit. Here it is, nearing completion at the Neoteric factory …

After this experienced airline pilot spent a day at HTC learning to fly a hovercraft, what were Bill Holzgrove's words of advice to someone who wants to buy a hovercraft without undergoing training first? “Bad idea!” he said, “Even if you have some flying background.”

Experience what you can do with a hovercraft ...

Take a Test Flight or a Pilot Training Course

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Gerald Determan: “I trained at HTC to make my dream a reality.”

Gerald Determan is a 61-year-old independent contractor from Iowa who has been in the carpentry business for 30 years - and is determined not to retire. “I want to keep working; I don’t ever want to retire,” he says. “If I retire, I’m an old person!”

And that determination is what brought him to HTC. “I’m always going to have something to do and I’m looking for something different, so I’m thinking of hovercraft as a new occupation,” Gerald explains. “I’d like to start a business selling hovercraft and giving rides. We have lots of big lakes in our area.”

Gerald Determan (right) receives his Hovercraft Pilot Certification from HTC Senior Instructor Chris Fitzgerald (left).

‘Determination’ could be Gerald’s middle name. If you want him to accomplish something, just tell him he can’t do it – and watch him go to work! That’s how he became a musician. “I’m self-taught. I took sax lessons when I was 10 years old and after 3 lessons my teacher fired me – she told my parents that I would never be a musician. I think that’s what drove me to be a musician,” he relates. “I’ve been playing music for more than 40 years now – bass guitar, acoustic guitar and 15 other instruments – sax, flute, etc. I’m playing now with the best group I’ve ever played with – we perform about 50 weekends a year.”

Naturally, Gerald’s first step was to learn how to fly one. “I’ve been checking the Neoteric Hovercraft website for five years, just dreaming about it, and now I want to make it come to reality. I’m going to become a pilot, then go back to Iowa and have further talks with the person who wants to invest in my new business.”

Gerald takes the controls for his first hovercraft flight, while Chris Fitzgerald provides constant instruction and feedback.

Gerald had never been on a hovercraft before his training course at HTC.  But his first experience with hovering left him more determined than ever to make hovercraft part of his life. And it also convinced him of the importance of training. “It was pretty darned good – I learned a lot. Training showed me the possible dangers of hovering and how to avoid them,” Gerald said. “It was a one-of-a-kind feeling, riding on air, flying backwards and sideways. If I hadn’t taken the training course, I wouldn’t get that feeling at all. It’s not something anybody can just get in and go – you need training.”

See the complete photo gallery of Gerald's flight training course ...

***

Want to start your own business? Become a Neoteric Hovercraft dealer …

But first, take a Test Flight or Training Course at HTC!

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The best hovercraft video you'll ever watch!

If you’ve ever had a question about hovercraft, this video is likely to answer it! And it will certainly give you an idea of the expertise behind Hovercraft Training Centers and the Neoteric hovercraft we use.

A TV program broadcast to more than 44 million households across the U.S., Indiana Outdoor Adventures, aired this episode featuring HTC founder / Senior Instructor Chris Fitzgerald and Flight Instructor Steve Stafford. You’ll learn how and why hovercraft came about in the first place, what makes them work, what they can do, how they’re manufactured, why they’re so safe – and lots more. And you’ll see them in lots of action.

The public response to the show has been overwhelmingly positive; here’s an example email the show received:

“Amazing! Mr. Fitzgerald seems like a really interesting man. I could listen to him talk all day. I think fire and rescue departments would really like to have these, especially in areas where ice fishing is popular. Thanks for producing another great show!”

We bet you’ll react the same way! Watch now …



We send a special thank you to the Perry Clear Creek Fire Department for their invaluable assistance in the filming of this show. Perry Clear Creek first responders and their Neoteric rescue hovercraft conducted the ice rescue demonstration in the program.

See a photo gallery of the Perry Clear Creek ice rescue filming ...

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HTC Trains Rescue Hovercraft Pilots in Viet Nam

Hovercraft Training Centers’ Senior Instructor Chris Fitzgerald recently travelled to Hanoi to conduct hovercraft flight and maintenance training for first responders from Viet Nam’s National Department of Rescue and Relief, as well as personnel from Tuyet NGA Co. Ltd., a security and rescue equipment supplier.

Tuyet NGA purchased two Neoteric rescue hovercraft, which will be used by the National Emergency Response Team of the Department of Rescue and Relief. The Department, under the Ministry of National Defense, is responsible for coordinating both military and non-military forces in search and rescue operations and disaster relief.

Chris Fitzgerald and the Chief of the National Department of Rescue and Relief shake hands during the formal acceptance of the delivery of their two new rescue hovercraft ...

 At Viet Nam’s Emergency Response Training headquarters near Hanoi, Chris Fitzgerald and officials from Tuyet NGA and the Department of Rescue and Relief join hands in a symbolic gesture of partnership …

From left: Mr. Vu Van Nam, Sales Manager, Tuyet NGA Co. Ltd.; Mr Vo Ha Trung, Head of Specialized Rescue; Unidentified member of 249 Brigade; Mr. Nguyen Duc Chien, Deputy Director, Natl. Rescue Dept.; Chris Fitzgerald, Senior Instructor, Hovercraft Training Centers, LLC; Major General Pham Hoai Giang, Director, Natl. Rescue Dept.;  Mrs. Phan Thi Van Anh, Vice General Director, Tuyet NGA Co. Ltd.; Unidentified member of 249 Brigade; Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khiem, Financial Dept. Chief, Natl. Rescue Dept.; Col. Nguyen Huu Hung, Brigadier, 249 Brigade; Mr. Nguyen Bao Tan, Financial Dept. Assistant, Natl. Rescue Dept.

Flight trainees and government officials gather to watch Fitzgerald’s first demo of one of their new Neoteric 6-passenger rescue hovercraft …

Watch a video of Fitzgerald demonstrating the extreme maneuverability the patented reverse thrust system gives to all Neoteric hovercraft as flight training begins on Suoi Hai Lake at the Emergency Response Training Facility near Hanoi …

We at Hovercraft Training Centers are honored to partner with Tuyet NGA and the Department of Rescue and Relief. Their two Neoteric rescue hovercraft – and their expertly trained pilots – will be a great asset in a nation so often plagued by monsoons and floods.

See a photo album of the Viet Nam hovercraft training ...

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Want a hovercraft? Paul Thrift knows how to “figure it all out.”

Paul Thrift, a busy 34-year-old real estate developer, takes his recreation very seriously. As President of Thompson Thrift Development in Terre Haute, IN, he describes himself as “fairly judicious in going about due diligence, perseverant – I stick with something until I figure it out – and I’m curious and like to try new things.”

So, when he started thinking about a hovercraft as a family recreational vehicle, he didn’t just call and place an order, even though he lives in the city where Neoteric Hovercraft is located. Instead, he did his due diligence: he signed up for a Test Flight and a training course at Hovercraft Training Centers.

Paul explained, “I don’t know if my expectations and curiosity are married to reality or not, so I want to see how to operate it. This way I can ascertain if it will work for our intended use and will it be practical for me to use; that’s why I’m here.”

After his training course with HTC Senior Flight Instructor Chris Fitzgerald, Paul said, “I wouldn’t even consider getting one without this training; it’s an absolute must. And Chris was impressive beyond words, given his history and passion for it, which shines through. And to spend a day of my time, I don’t take that lightly. But the day here was well worth it. Even if I didn’t go on to purchase a hovercraft, I would count the day a success and worth the money and time, just for the experience. I’d do it again just for the enjoyment!”

Here, Paul (right) and Chris Fitzgerald don their headsets before launching a 6-passenger craft on the Wabash River …

Saturday was a busy day at HTC. As Paul and Chris Fitzgerald fire up the 6-passenger craft, HTC Instructor Steve Stafford prepares to launch a Test Flight on a 4-passenger craft for the owner of Alaska’s Wilderness Place Lodge …

Paul launches the craft onto the Wabash River ...

After his flight experiences, Paul says the most enjoyable thing about a hovercraft is “It gives you the freedom to go wherever you want and experience the elements and spin around and not have the limitations of a wheeled or grounded vehicle. It looks like my family and I will be able to enjoy it recreationally, to access rivers and lakes, cruising, pleasure riding. My 16-year old son is especially excited about it – he thinks it’s pretty cool!”

Paul is now deciding whether it will be a 4-passenger or 6-passenger craft for the Thrift family. “The 6-passenger had more power, so I would probably prefer it for the capacity,” said Paul, “I’m leaning toward the large one because I want to put people in it. We like to do things outdoors as a family. Either way, I’m excited about doing something different!”

Whatever size the Thrift family hovercraft will be, thanks to Paul’s determination to ‘figure it all out’ with a Test Flight and thorough training, it will - without doubt - be just right for them!

Want to figure it all out for yourself?

Take a Test Flight or TrainingCourse

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Hovercraft Pilot Training in Viet Nam

Hovercraft Training Centers performs hovercraft pilot and maintenance training throughout the world. This week HTC founder and senior instructor Chris Fitzgerald has traveled to the Tuyet Nga company (Russia Snow Co. Ltd.) in Hanoi, Viet Nam to train company personnel as well as first responders from Viet Nam’s National Department of Rescue and Relief.

Tuyet Nga is a supplier of security and rescue equipment, with offices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. In December, the company purchased two 6-passenger Neoteric Rescue hovercraft, to be utilized by the Department of Rescue and Relief.

Here, one of the Neoteric hovercraft purchased by Tuyet Nga undergoes thorough performance testing on the Wabash River in Terre Haute, IN prior to shipment of the two craft to Viet Nam ...

Whether you come to us, or we come to you – and no matter where you live or what type of hovercraft training you need, HTC is here to serve you!

See a world map of hovercraft pilots trained by HTC …

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Hovering on thin ice: An HTC Training exercise

When you undergo pilot and maintenance training at HTC, your training doesn’t necessarily end when you complete your course. For instance, HTC flight instructors Chris Fitzgerald and Steve Stafford recently met with first responders from the Hazelton Fire Department and the Perry Clear Creek Fire Department for ice rescue training exercises on Lake Monroe.

Located near Bloomington, Lake Monroe is the largest lake in Indiana. With below-freezing temperatures and a lake covered with snow and ice that was thin in places, the conditions that day were ideal for ice rescue practice.

Check out the photos below to get an idea why a hovercraft is the only rescue vehicle that can perform fast, safe rescues on swift water, thin or broken ice, flood waters and snow …

From left to right: The HTC training hovercraft, the Hazelton Fire Department’s craft, and Steve Stafford’s personal craft are ready to launch on Lake Monroe. All three are Neoteric Hovercraft ...

The lake ice varied from solid to thin and broken – surface conditions that prohibit the use of any other vehicle. During the day, the three hovercraft cruised the entire length of the largest lake in Indiana, regardless of ice conditions …

A short pause, and they’re off again …

Hazelton Fire Department’s Jeff Splittorf stands aboard the department’s 6-passenger Neoteric rescue hovercraft ...

After a brief consultations, maneuvers begin anew. Steve Stafford and Tim Dodds are aboard Steve’s hovercraft; outside the craft are Hazelton Fire Department’s Mark Ellis (left) and Rachel Hyneman (right) …

Steve Stafford’s hovercraft with a cabin offered him some protection from the brutal weather …

Hazelton Fire Department’s hovercraft flies easily across the snow and ice …

Rachel Hyneman’s smile indicates that braving the weather was worth it. The day of practice ensured that the Hazelton Fire Department is even more fully prepared to conduct successful ice rescues with a professionally trained crew of first responders and the most maneuverable hovercraft available …

First responders: see for yourself how hovercraft keep you out of the danger – not in it!

Take a Test Flight or Training Course

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Watch tomorrow! HTC hovercraft on Discovery Channel/Velocity TV Tech Toys 360!

This will show you why HTC trains on Neoteric hovercraft! Discovery Channel/Velocity TV’s Tech Toys 360 travels the world to find the most innovative vehicles and let you meet the people behind them. So of course they found the Neoteric Hovercraft and Bubba’s Hover!  

Tune in tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 11 at 8:30 p.m. (7:30c), to meet Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald (HTC’s Senior Instructor) and take a tour through the Neoteric factory on the latest Tech Toys 360 episode, Above and Beyond! Here’s a preview …

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This weekend: HTC on Inside INdiana Business Television

Last April, in the midst of the Bubba’s Hover hubbub, HTC founder and senior instructor Chris Fitzgerald was featured on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.

The show was such a hit that it’s being broadcast again this weekend as part of IIB’s Special 2013 Look Back Show. In case you missed out in April, here’s the programming schedule so you can still get the inside scoop!

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HTC conducts training at Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, China

HTC President and Senior Instructor Chris Fitzgerald traveled to Qingdao, China the week of Nov. 20 to conduct hovercraft pilot and maintenance training at Yellow Seas Fisheries Research Institute.

Brokered through China Haipai Hovercraft, Ltd., China’s most renowned aquaculture and marine science institutions will use a 4-passenger Neoteric hovercraft in their research operations. These include Shanghai Ocean University, the Ministry of Agriculture Ocean Fisheries Training Center, the China Fisheries Network, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences and the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute.

Fitzgerald (3rd from left) is welcomed to the Institute by (from the left) China Haipai Hovercraft, Ltd. Business Assistant Zhou Meng Jie, General Manager Huang Xiaogang and Eliza, a translator …

The skyline in Qingdao, China provided a scenic setting for hovercraft flight training. Here, Dr. Sun Jianqiang practices hovering, with Chris Fitzgerald providing continuous instruction and feedback ...

Hovercraft Training Centers is honored to play a role in the important work of the vital work of these organizations, which are among the highest-ranking research institutes in the world.

See the photo gallery of HTC’s hovercraft training in China …

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HTC and Neoteric Hovercraft in Las Vegas and Ukraine

Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc. is the exclusive supplier of Hovercraft Training Centers’ training craft, as well as the manufacturer of Bubba Watson’s BW1 hovercraft golf cart featured in "Bubba’s Hover". But that, by far, is certainly not all they do!  

For example, HTC President/Senior Instructor Chris Fitzgerald and Neoteric VP Marketing Filip Przybysz recently returned from Ukraine, where they trained personnel at Superior Golf & Spa Resort to fly their new Neoteric Hovercraft Golf Cart – the first one in Ukraine. 

Custom decals decorated Superior Golf & Spa’s hovercraft golf cart before shipping to Ukraine.

And Filip is now in Las Vegas, showcasing Hovercraft Training Centers and the Neoteric Hovercraft Golf Cart at the Flamingo Casino in the Caesars Palace Great Gift Wrap Up for high rollers – where a $1 million dollar cash prize will be given away. Check back for more about this major event!

With "Bubba’s Hover" playing in the background, Neoteric VP Marketing Filip Przybysz showcases the

Caesars Palace Neoteric Hovercraft Golf Cart at “The Great Gift Wrap Up” in Las Vegas. Every order placed at the event receives a free Standard Training course at HTC.

It’s all in a day’s work at Neoteric and HTC! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with our latest adventures:

HTC Facebook

HTC Twitter

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Neoteric Twitter

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Is a Hovercraft Right for You? Find Out at HTC!

As Ben Stein says, “The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”  If you’ve been toying with the idea of owning a hovercraft or starting a hovercraft business, a Hovercraft Training Centers test flight or training course is the place to start. 

That was the first step for Rusty Roush, a lifelong CPA and investment advisor from Amarillo, Texas: “I’m trying to see if it’s something that’s fun and easy to learn, and what business applications it might have. I don’t know that I want to continue what I’m doing in my profession forever, you know?”

Rusty and his wife Debbie traveled to HTC headquarters for his exploratory training. After a morning of classroom instruction and discussing the possibility of owning a HoverCenter, Rusty sets off on his flight training on the Wabash River. Via wireless headsets, Debbie takes part in the entire flight session – after all, you’d better include your wife of 40 years in major life decisions! …

With Rusty riding passenger, flight instructor Chris Fitzgerald launches the training hovercraft onto the Wabash River …

On the banks of the Wabash, Fitzgerald gives Rusty a final briefing before he gets his chance to fly …

At the controls, Rusty sails up the Wabash River, with Fitzgerald providing continuous feedback …

Back at HTC headquarters, Rusty (center) receives his hovercraft pilot and maintenance certification …

After a full day of experiencing everything hovercraft, it turns out Rusty and Debbie are not sure hovercraft are right for them. This is why it’s so important to “Fly before you buy” at HTC!

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Hovercraft Golf Cart Training

By now you probably know that Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield, Ohio is the first golf course in the world to feature Neoteric HoverGolf™ Carts - the official replicas of Bubba’s Hover. What you may not know is Windy Knoll personnel were trained at HTC!

Windy Knoll General Manager Dave Duffey and Golf Course Superintendent Gary Price traveled to HTC headquarters to undergo pilot and maintenance training before their hovering golf carts debuted. As Dave said before his training began, “It’s just like with the equipment we use to maintain our golf course – if you don’t train properly, you pay the price for that in repairs.”

After intensive classroom training, Dave and Gary, like every HTC trainee, learn to perform a thorough preflight inspection before a hovercraft – golf cart or not – is fired up …

Wireless headsets in place for constant communication, Gary (left) and Dave (right) are all set for their first flight training session at the Wabash River with flight instructor Chris Fitzgerald (center). Yes, this is a flying golf cart! …

With Dave in the passenger seat, instructor Chris Fitzgerald launches the Windy Knoll HoverGolf™ onto the river. Warning: Don’t try this in your traditional old golf cart! …

Flying easily up the river, Dave appreciates the exceptional maneuverability of his new hover golf cart – on water hazards, sand traps or greens …

Concerns about the hovercraft golf cart’s noise? Well, if it doesn’t fluster the wildlife, it isn’t going to disturb golfers! …

After earning their hovercraft pilot certification at HTC, Dave and Gary both agreed that training was a “very humbling experience. We can’t imagine owning a hovercraft without the kind of training HTC offers.” ...

And their afternoon of flight training showed them the versatility of the hovercraft golf cart. It isn’t just good for the greens – it’s good for a fishing trip or river cruise after that round of golf. Or how about ice fishing or hovering over snow in winter when golf courses are closed? You can learn how to do it all at Hovercraft Training Centers!

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Pete Garland: "It's all about excitement, adventure!"

Pete Garland of Coldspring, Texas, is a retired oil company engineer who enrolled in a Hovercraft Training Centers course for the same reason he went into the oil business: “It’s interesting – and I look for excitement, adventure.”

Pete Garland (left) receives his hovercraft pilot certification from HTC President Chris Fitzgerald.

But to Pete, retirement is definitely not the world’s longest coffee break. He has jet skis, four wheelers, a couple of boats and four ATVs – and grandchildren to enjoy his vehicles with him. He explains why he signed up for training before buying a hovercraft: “The reason I thought about a hovercraft is it looks like it could be a new adventure, a lot of fun. But I don’t think you can just toss your keys to the grandkids and say, ‘Here, give it a go’ like you can with jet skis. You’ve got to know what you’re doing. And I’m not sure how you repair these things, so today I’ll learn.”

And he did. After a morning of classroom and maintenance training, Pete learned how to conduct a preflight inspection before his first flight training session …

Pete first learned about hovercraft from his son-in-law, an avid golfer who got really excited when he saw the Bubba’s Hover viral video of the hovercraft golf cart Neoteric created for Bubba Watson. “He’s just as excited about me coming here for training,” Pete says. “He wants me to buy him a hovercraft, too!”

Before his flight session began, Pete anticipated that flying a hovercraft would be different than operating other watercraft: “Directly on the water you have a lot of control, but from reading the manual, when you’re floating on air there’s a little more of a control issue.”

But control wasn’t an issue once he learned to fly. In the pilot seat, Pete takes over the hovercraft controls while HTC instructor Chris Fitzgerald provides constant guidance …

At the end of his training day, when asked what three words would best describe him, Pete said, “Adventurous, outgoing and in good health.” Then he added, “I’m not too old for this!”

You bet he isn’t! As Henry Ford - a man who knew a thing or two about vehicles - said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

Hold back time - learn to fly a hovercraft!

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Walt Sitz, Eagle Wings, Inc. – A Man on a Mission

Walt Sitz is a man on a mission – and he’s making a hovercraft part of that mission.  He signed up for training at HTC before his hovercraft purchase. “Training should be the first step in any vehicle. You don’t just jump in a plane and say ‘I think I can figure it out.’ If you can’t, the alternatives are not good!”

His wife Pat, who listened to Walt's entire flight training via wireless headsets, adds, “It’s like flying an airplane; you have to fly so many hours before you can solo, and can’t get a license until you’ve done 40 hours.”

They should know: Walt has been in the aviation business for 25 years – from piloting planes to aircraft maintenance and repair to marketing powered parachutes and more. “I was raised on a ranch, and when a plane would fly over, I always said ‘That’s what I want to do,’” he explains. “It’s in my blood.”

Even though he’s one of those lucky people who’ve turned their hobbies into their life’s work, Walt doesn’t see recreational vehicles as just for pleasure. He says, “From way back I’ve always first thought, ‘How can it be used to help people.’ Boats, parachutes, snowmobiles, motorcycles, four wheelers – they can all be used to help people.”

His company, Eagle Wings, Inc. in Burns, Oregon, is affiliated with Crisis Response International, a non-profit organization that provides rescue and relief support to humanitarian missions worldwide. Walt explains what sparked his interest in hovercraft: “I deployed to New York for Hurricane Sandy – loaded our Forest Ranger with all my tools and equipment and used it to set up a base camp. You can try to row a boat through the flood debris, but if I could deploy with a hovercraft, that’s what would be used. It’s a natural addition.”

After thorough classroom training, Walt began his flight training with a complete preflight inspection, guided by HTC chief instructor Chris Fitzgerald ...

With  a thumbs-up, the training craft is launched onto the Wabash River, where Walt will soon take over the controls. His positive attitude serves him well - as his wife Pat describes him, "Don't tell him he can't, because he can!" ...

And he did! His day at HTC boosted Walt's "can-do" confidence: "We got into one spot that you could never get into with a boat or anything else, and we turned around right in this tree with barely enough room for the craft and the current running fast through the tree. You could have rescued someone off that tree. That showed me right there what a hovercraft can do. It was pretty unbelievable!"

After a productive training day, Walt receives his pilot certification from Chris Fitzgerald ...

Now on to his next mission: with his natural mechanical bent, Walt has chosen to build his own hovercraft from a Neoteric Partially-Assembled Hovercraft Kit.

Meet more HTC rescue hovercraft graduates ...

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