FRANKLIN DOBSON AIRCAR HOVERCRAFT / GROUND EFFECT VEHICLE 1960s FOOTAGE (SILENT) XD49884

Want to support this channel and help us preserve old films? Visit Visit our website This short, silent film from the collection of Jeff Vilencia, shows a hovercraft or ground effect vehicle built by Franklin A. Dobson of Newport Beach, California. It likely dates to the early 1960s, when Dobson’s Air Dart caught the attention of Popular Science magazine and became a brief sensation. Dobson went on to found a company called AIRCARS, Inc. and marketed kits and plans for the vehicle which were sold through magazine ads. According to Popular Science July 1963, the complete kit was going to sell for about $700, or one without an engine $500, and plans were going to be a mere $2. It’s unclear how many ended up being built, and none appear operational today. The vehicle used chromoly tubing covered with plastic fabric, with a plywood and aluminum cockpit and a two cycle, 10-15 hp engine. It cruised at about 4 inches off the