Lest the gnashing tones of bad news make us forget we must continue to forge headlong into the future of alternative and entertaining transportation, we bring you this late-eighties early-nineties vintage Hover Dynamics RX2000 personal hovercraft. This mint-condition machine was seen in the swap meet section at a recent Goodguys show, and appeared to be the ultra rare RX2000 Rock and Roll Ferrari edition. The concept potential of a Clunkbucket personal hovercraft first surfaced years ago while living in Oakland-Emeryville, and working on nearby Treasure Island. Why pay full price to drive only half way across the bay bridge? Bah. With the RX2000 or similar hovercraft, an early morning coffee could be followed by a traffic jam and toll free land-sea-land excursion at speeds approaching 50 mph!
According to a New York Times article dated October 16 1989, the RX2000 was powered by a 43 horsepower Cuyuna aircraft engine and sold for about 7500 dollars brand new. Nadaguides currently lists an average retail price of a 1990 RX2000 at a bargain 2,300 bucks, with low retail project versions drifting into the sub 2K range. The RX2000 floated on a cushion of air and could carry up to 450 pounds of people or picnic baskets. Fuel consumption was roughly two gallons per hour. Hover Dynamics RX2000 personal hovercrafts are sadly out of production. And now for a quasi-related but important Public Service announcement. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is scheduled to be CLOSED to all traffic from Thursday September 3rd at 8PM, until Tuesday September 8th at 5AM.
A grammar school classmate’s father worked for that company. He brought one in on parent’s day. To a fifth-grader, there was nothing cooler.
I am restoring one of these. Any information and or photos would be appreciated.
Thanks.
flyerx@gmail.com