I subscribed to Boy’s Life magazine when I was a kid, and just about every issue had this ad in the back:
This hovercraft was my white whale; while I never seemed able to muster up the three dollars to send in, the thought of what my life would be like with this sleek Logan’s-Run-looking aircraft by my side consumed an unhealthy portion of my time. I not only never got one, I never saw one outside of this ad.
Looking for some closure online, I found this amazing video from 1960. Here a pilot drives a real life hovercraft scooter, a ferociously noisy beast that’s got an impressive amount of zip for its size.
Did I mention it was noisy? It’s like an airboat started a family. But it cooks! And once he gets in the water, watch out!
I still haven’t found the Boy’s Life hovercraft, though. Has anyone?
-ds