Recreational Hovercraft Pilot Training: Sebastian & Ghislaine van Berkom

Sebastian and Ghislaine van Berkom of Montreal, Canada, traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana USA to complete Neoteric’s Hovercraft Pilot Training Course and take delivery of their new Recreational Hovertrek.

 

Above, Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald takes Ghislaine through a pre-flight check before their new hovercraft is launched on the Wabash River for its maiden training flight.

The van Berkoms own a private island in Canada, which they frequently visit using a barge or Skidoo, depending on the season. However, there are months when ice prevents the use of the barge but when it isn’t yet safe to use the Skidoo. But now, the van Berkom’s new Neoteric hovercraft gives them the ability to travel to their island any time of the year, regardless of weather or water conditions. For this reason, Sebastian and Ghislaine see their new Neoteric hovercraft as not just a recreational vehicle, but also a utility vehicle.

And off they go, transitioning smoothly from the paved boat launch to the water, thanks to the exceptional maneuverability offered by the revolutionary reverse thrust system on all Neoteric Hovercraft.

Unique vehicles and unusual sports are nothing new for Sebastian. His Ski-Doo provides only one of his winter adventures - he also loves the adrenaline rush of heli-skiing.

Back at Neoteric's headquarters, the van Berkoms receive their Hovercraft Pilot Certification from Chris Fitzgerald. After undergoing a day of flight training, Sebastian observed that “it takes awhile for a novice to get used to the relation between power, trim, rudder and reverse thrust buckets.” He strongly advises against operating a hovercraft without first undergoing thorough pilot training.

Coming soon: Neoteric on WealthTV's "Boys Toys"

The Neoteric Recreational Hovertrek is in excellent company ... right up there with Rolls Royce, Lazzara Yachts, Quicksilver Ultralight Aircraft, Magic Powerboats, Aqua Jet Jetbikes and Zero Motorcycles, to name a few.

What do these vehicles have in common? In a word, status. WealthTV, the exclusive cable television network, has bestowed top-of-the-line status on them all by selecting them to be featured on its popular program Boys Toys with TV host/actress/model Jenn Barlow.

WealthTV is a high definition American cable television network devoted to taking viewers on a journey of how wealth is achieved, used and enjoyed. The network is carried by cable and satellite service providers around the globe; it is also available via Verizon FiOS and 24/7 live streaming on Roku.

Check back here on the Neoteric blog or on our website for the upcoming program's air date. In the meantime, enjoy a brief preview with photos taken during the recent filming here at Neoteric in Terre Haute ...

Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald readies for launch on the Wabash River two of the three craft used in the filming.

From left, Maintenance Supervisor Ryan Pfister, Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald, and Flight Instructor Steve Stafford strike a pose before launching three Neoteric craft on the river.

Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald hovers WealthTV cameraman Todd Metcalf across a sandbar in the Wabash River.

The crew sets up to film an illustration of how the hovercraft's environmental footprint is so gentle that it can hover over delicate eggs without damaging them.

It's a wrap! The cast and crew pose for a final shot at the end of a day of filming. From left: Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald; Boys Toys host Jenn Barlow; Neoteric Flight Instructor Steve Stafford; Neoteric VP Filip Przybysz; and WealthTV cameraman Todd Metcalf.

Learn more about Neoteric Recreational hovercraft ...

Commercial Hovercraft Pilot Training in the Dominican Republic

Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald traveled to the Dominican Republic this week to conduct specialized commercial hovercraft operations training with Neoteric client Jean Paul Delahaut.

Delahaut is launching a new venture offering hovercraft passenger tours along the shoreline of Punta Cana. The area is known for its beaches, which face both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and has been a popular tourist attraction since the 1970s.

Training was conducted in Delahaut’s 100 HP six-passenger Neoteric Hovertrek and took place on the Atlantic Ocean in order to prepare Delahaut for operating the hovercraft in varying water conditions. Sebastien Baratto (rear seat) is along for the ride as Delahaut's first passenger.

See the hovercraft training photo gallery ...



Hong Kong Fire Department puts a Neoteric rescue hovercraft through its paces

In late September, officials from the Government of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Fire Department, and China Pacific Marine, Ltd. visited Neoteric to conduct stringent performance evaluations on the Fire Department's newly manufactured 6-passenger Neoteric Rescue Hovertrek prior to its shipment to China.

China Pacific Marine, Ltd., Neoteric's agent in Hong Kong who organized the purchase, is a renowned firm with more than four decades’ experience providing marine products to both government and the private sector.

The special features of the Hong Kong Fire Department’s Neoteric Hovertrek 6-passenger Rescue Deluxe include a cabin, VHF marine radio, GPS system, 400,000 candle power searchlight, 8 pound anchor, two glove boxes, two paddle/boat hooks, a spare parts kit and a roll-on/roll-off trailer for easy transport ...

From left:  Mr. Don Chow, Director of China Pacific Marine, and Chris Fitzgerald, President of Neoteric Hovercraft, along with the ship inspector for the Marine Division of the Government of Hong Kong and an official from the Hong Kong Fire Department are geared up to launch the hovercraft on the Wabash River in Terre Haute ...

The day's strict performance evaluations included: forward and backward speed; weight and payload capacity; noise levels; and operation of all systems including fuel and electrical systems.Should any one of the tests not meet the criteria of the Hong Kong Government, the order would be cancelled ...

At the end of a successful day of testing, Neoteric met and surpassed all the specific governmental standards and the Hong Kong Fire Department's new rescue hovercraft was soon loaded into a shipping container to make its way to China ...