By the shores of Lac Bellevue in Alberta, Canada, Robert Tymofichuk approached two ladies lounging on deck chairs with a unique inquiry: Would they mind if he tested his hovercraft nearby?
After dedicating 1,800 hours to this ambitious project, he was eager to see if it functioned as intended. With their consent, he hopped into the cockpit alongside his wife, Shelley, and turned the ignition. The engine—a salvaged unit from a 1985 Toyota Celica—burst into operation. The hovercraft surged forward onto the lake.
“There’s definitely some risk involved; this thing could easily plunge into the water and sink like a stone,” remarked Tymofichuk, who teaches at New Myrnam School nearby. A mile from land, curiosity tempted him to throttle down. “My wife was shouting at me in panic: ‘Robert! What are you doing?’ I replied that I needed to check whether it would float.” She quickly advised against testing it in deep waters.
Listening wisely to his wife’s concern, he navigated toward shallower depths before shutting off the engine. To their relief and joy, the hovercraft remained buoyant against the bright sunshine and gentle breezes.
The Fascination with Hovercrafts
While they may sound futuristic—even reminiscent of flying vehicles portrayed in shows like The Jetsons or Back to the Future Part II—hovercraft more closely resemble boats gliding atop an air cushion rather than cruising through skies.
This unique capability allows them to traverse oceans as well as swamps and sandy coastal areas seamlessly. Such versatility is particularly advantageous for military operations; both U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leverage hovercraft for transporting troops and gear from water to land efficiently. For four decades now, towering Mountbatten-class hovercraft have connected passengers across the English Channel.
Tymofichuk’s passion for these machines sparked during his childhood on a modest cattle farm in Alberta when he watched a television segment showcasing their effortless movement over water—a sight that captivated him deeply—and drove him towards building one himself when he reached eighth grade by ordering plans from Universal Hovercraft based in Illinois that set him on a path of exploration lasting five years.
Tymofichuk recalls vividly completing his inaugural build back in 1986—the sheer beauty left an impression on him along with cheers from family members present with cameras poised for capturing memories! He kicked off its engine but initially faced setbacks before finally getting it operational later downline; however ensuing experiences underscored limitations including minuscule cargo capacity coupled with inadequate passenger protection against splashes while navigating uphill terrain became discouraging factors leading eventual tune-up care rendered necessary due indeterminate dry spells exposing ancient buffalo skull remains thrumming intrigue amidst educational pursuits around Lake Eliza undertaken sometimes!
The Evolutionary Journey Ahead
A few years later ignited by nostalgic inspiration came another venture—this time involving constructing an upgraded model—a process documented via YouTube video content , which has surpassed 100k views chronicling an elaborate year spent refining skills engaged voluntarily therein!
