Freiwillige Feuerwehr Marklkofen Visits Neoteric Hovercraft to Inspect, Train, and Pick Up Their New Rescue Hovercraft
On February 7, 2026, Neoteric Hovercraft was honored to welcome a delegation from Freiwillige Feuerwehr Marklkofen (Volunteer Fire Department Marklkofen) in Bavaria, Germany, for a very special visit. Their team came to Terre Haute, Indiana to inspect, test, and take delivery of their new Model 5852 Deluxe Fully Assembled Rescue Hovercraft, following their original contact with Neoteric regarding the purchase in January 2025. Neoteric’s own company history notes that this 6-passenger deluxe rescue craft was built for the Marklkofen volunteer fire department and scheduled for shipment in March 2026.
The visiting group included Klaus Wanninger, Director of Purchasing; Thomas Wanninger, who served as the main contact person and interpreter; representatives connected with Gemeinde Marklkofen, a firefighter and the fire department; and Josef Huber, the department’s mechanic and key technical contact. Unfortunately, Fire Chief Thomas Heindl was unable to join the trip because of his health condition.
The day was packed with hands-on activity. After arriving at Neoteric Hovercraft, the Marklkofen team inspected their new rescue craft, reviewed its features, and took part in a live demonstration and training session. The Model 5852 is one of Neoteric’s 6-passenger rescue hovercraft platforms, designed for missions where responders may need to travel over water, mud, ice, marsh, or flooded terrain that conventional boats or vehicles cannot easily reach. Neoteric also highlights that rescue customers can receive certified hovercraft pilot training at its Terre Haute facility.
A highlight of the visit was a trip to the Wabash River, where everyone had an opportunity to ride in the hovercraft and complete a quick training session on the water. Local coverage from WTWO/WAWV, republished by WBOW, reported that German firefighters were in Terre Haute on February 7 to test their new hovercraft before it heads to Germany. That report specifically identified Thomas Wanninger as one of the members of the visiting fire department team.
The same day, the group also visited the Terre Haute Fire Department, including its Ohio Street location, giving the German delegation a chance to connect with local firefighters and learn more about emergency-response operations in Terre Haute. The visit added another meaningful dimension to the trip by creating an exchange between first responders from Germany and Indiana.
During the Wabash River activities, WTWO conducted interviews with members of the visiting group as well as those involved from Neoteric Hovercraft. The television coverage helped highlight not only the international reach of Neoteric’s rescue craft, but also the practical value of hovercraft for fire, rescue, and emergency service operations in challenging environments. A related social media post from WTWO described the hovercraft seen on the Wabash River and noted that its next destination would be a river in Germany after the visiting German firefighters tested it in Terre Haute.
Training did not stop after the river run. An intensive session on service and maintenance continued late into Saturday evening, until around 8:00 p.m. This technical exchange was especially valuable for Josef Huber, who plays a central mechanical role for the department. He spent time sharing information with Chris Fitzgerald, owner of Neoteric Hovercraft, to help ensure the team would be well prepared to maintain and operate the craft once it arrived in Germany.
In between the day’s activities, the group also enjoyed lunch together at Real Hacienda, giving everyone a chance to relax and enjoy some Indiana hospitality before continuing with training and inspection. By the end of the visit, the hovercraft was prepared for shipment to Bavaria, Germany, and the trip had become much more than a pickup; it was a full day of inspection, testing, instruction, technical exchange, and international friendship.
Neoteric Hovercraft was delighted to host the team from Freiwillige Feuerwehr Marklkofen and wishes them great success with their new rescue hovercraft in service. We hope the Model 5852 will serve their department well for many years in protecting their community.
Please see the attached video links for the WTWO interview coverage and scenes from the visit, training, and hovercraft demonstration.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1929433455114984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2tIhxll7oQ
