“This was our 2nd ice rescue incident in two days.
North Muskegon Fire & Muskegon Fire Dept both use hovercrafts for
it’s ice rescue operations. The hovercrafts have saved more lives
that our Engines have.
255 people now rescued or removed from Muskegon area lakes using hovercrafts
since 1985. 50% would have drowned not having the hovercraft as a safe
rescue tool.”
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Steve Lague
Fire Chief
City of North Muskegon Fire Department |
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“This is a vehicle with tremendous potential to save lives.”
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Israeli Fire Department Chief of Special Rescue
Quote from Neoteric Israel dealer Or Haviv |
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“First of all: Our hovercraft arrived yesterday.
Everything’s o.k. with it, no damages, everything we ordered was
delivered and that’s why it is so nice to make dealings with you.
Everything you make, works exact as you promised. Thank you for working
like that. Nowadays it’s not really common.
Besides our hovercraft’s name will be Herbie, like the beetle in
the Disney film. We all hope that it will help us to help other people in
the same way.”
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Susanne Kamencek
Bezirksstellenleiterin
Österreichische Wasser-Rettung |
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| Chris Fitzgerald (left), President of Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc.
discusses hovercraft rescue operations with Tad Agoglia, founder of First Response Team
of America. |
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| Tad Agoglia and Chris Fitzgerald operate First Response Team
of America’s Neoteric Hovercraft during the filming of a documentary on the Wabash
River, Terre Haute, Indiana. |
“When I first came here to Neoteric I was surprised at how big the facility
was and how many employees work here. I was really impressed that Neoteric hovercraft are
used all over the world and I was impressed with the owner of the company, Chris, and his
knowledge and many years of experience that stand behind the craft that I bought. I know
I’ve bought a hovercraft that has years and years of insight and testing behind it.
I already had a lot of confidence in the hovercraft just by the research I did. The Neoteric
craft is a very unique design, able to hover in one spot, turn on a dime, move slowly in
between houses, fly backwards - basically, this craft does things that I’ve never seen
another hovercraft do.
When you are going into a situation to save someone’s life, it often means that
you’re going to put yourself in danger as well. I am not going to put myself or my
team or the victims at risk by going into a situation that we are not equipped for. So, in
doing extensive research for two years, I decided to come visit Neoteric. After spending a
day with Chris, I realized this guy really, really knows what he’s talking about, has
put a lot of thought and care into his work and is very serious about the task at hand - to
create hovercraft that are designed to go where boats and helicopters can’t go.
You’ve got an airboat, you’ve got a hovercraft, and you’ve got a traditional
boat. A lot of times I have to go in situations from asphalt to water to grass to gravel and
sometimes snow and ice. And I’ve got to be able to go in between two houses, make a
u-turn on a dime. I’ve got to be able to navigate around street signs, roofs of cars. I
just couldn’t come up with any other vehicle that could match what a hovercraft can do.
Well, not “a” hovercraft - THIS hovercraft.
Caterpillar makes the best equipment. Peterbilt makes the best truck. Neoteric makes the best
hovercraft.”
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Tad Agoglia
Founder
First Response Team of America
CNN “Top Ten Hero: Community Crusader”
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See photos of the filming of a First Response Team of America documentary featuring their Neoteric hovercraft.
Read news coverage.
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“Thank you so much, we’re looking forward to [hovercraft parts’] arrival. I also have to say that Neoteric has been a total pleasure to deal with!”
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“I just wanted to say thanks to Neoteric for making the whole process of purchasing and training with the hovercraft, a total pleasure. Your employees need a pat on the back for producing such a high quality life saving machine!”
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Scot Sinclaire
Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada |
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“Tampere Area Rescue in Finland tested the Hovertrek™ Rescue and realized its value immediately. They purchased their Hovertrek™ in April 2007, and named it Liituri. In autumn and spring, when lake ice is thin in Finland, the hovercraft has performed rescues at least every second day. Tampere Area Rescue reports that the Hovertrek™ Rescue is light enough to handle well and has excellent maneuvering capabilities, thanks to the reverse thrust system.
They work in extremely hard weather conditions and the hovercraft is working beautifully for them. They are always recommending it to other rescue officers, and now expect to order additional units, so two more Neoteric rescue hovercraft and trailers will be in use in Tampere next winter.”
(See more photos in the Craftima Oy gallery)
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Markku Huvinen
President
Craftima Oy
Vantaa, Finland
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"Thanks, Ralph and Chris, for all your advice on repairs to this wonderful craft! I just love it and it was the highlight of our open house! I gave rides to kids for over 2.5 hours straight and everyone walked away with a huge smile!
What a awesome addition to our fire dept. !!!!!" |
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Mike Ahrens
Assistant Chief
Big Flats Fire Department
Big Flats, New York |
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"The Utah Test and Training Range purchased two Neoteric hovercraft in August 2005 and on March 31, 2006 we completed our first rescue of a downed F-16 aircraft with one pilot. We were in a race against time because life flight was dispatched at the same time we were. We launched our hovercraft and beat the life flight helicopter to the pilot. Luckily the ejection from the F-16 was successful and we found him in good health.
He was amazed to see us there and surprised we beat the helo to his location. We launched from land then hit the water, then land, water, and land again. This just goes to show you the hovercraft is very versatile." |
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Cory Lingelbach
Rescue Hovercraft Training Officer
Utah Test and Training Range
U.S. Department of Defense |
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November 2009:
“Thanks a bunch. You guys are always there for us which re affirms my belief that we truly have the best.”
June 2007:
"Wylie Fire Department's two Neoteric rescue hovercraft served a critical function during the 18 June flood disaster in North Texas. See the hovercraft perform a flood rescue in the CNN video.
Captain Brian Ritter reports:
"Our two Neoteric rescue hovercraft impacted many lives on June 18. Gainesville is an hour northwest of us near the Oklahoma border, and we were the quickest team to respond.
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| Wylie Fire Department's Neoteric Hovercraft received national news coverage for their recent flood rescue operations in North Texas. ABC News photo |
Our team arrived and was in action before the water crested at the roof lines, and we rescued 25-35 victims in imminent danger.
Of great importance, we were able to provide intelligence about flood conditions because our hovercraft could access areas that no other vehicle could even come close to.
I am sure you saw on CNN and other channels that the other rescue teams had to pull their rafts and boats around the flooded areas. At least two rescue boats were lost, as well as numerous jet skis.
So far this spring, our hovercraft have been deployed five times throughout North Texas. Our rapid response team is now recognized by the State of Texas Department of Emergency Management as a readily available solution to urban flooding.
As always, if anyone has any questions, or needs input, we will be happy to explain all the benefits of using Neoteric Hovercraft."
March 2006:
"All in all, we couldn't be more pleased with their performance. Two weeks ago we received 10 inches of rain in about 6 hours. The hovercraft were deployed many times in a short period of time to assist stranded motorists and check locally flooded homes. They performed better than expected."
Feb. 2006:
"Officer Blythe and I have about 10 hours logged on our new machines. Everything has worked out well. We are about to send them for our special Fire Department paint scheme. We will send photos."
June 2004:
"Thanks again for the VERY informative [hovercraft pilot training] class. It was a pleasure meeting you and obviously you made a real impression on myself and Brandon. I look forward to working with you and relying on your expertise. |
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Lt. Brian Ritter and Lt. Brandon Blythe
Special Operations
Wylie Fire Department
Dallas, Texas |
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"Overall I love the craft, it's a joy to operate, I'm quite impressed. It is a huge improvement over our earlier Neoteric model which we operated since 1990."
"We have developed a special technique for swift water body dragging using the craft's reverse thrust." |
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Scott Schroeder
Deputy
Mecosta County Sheriff's Department, Michigan |
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Mecosta County Sheriff's Department Hovercraft Rescue Team
in action during a rescue and recovery mission on the Muskegon River. |
11 April 2006
"We had a demo a couple of days ago and it was covered by two television stations and a daily newspaper. The hovercraft performed like a charm! We love it so far."
"We really like the hovercraft and enjoyed our day with Neoteric. Feel free to use us as a reference to the departments." |
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Detective Captain Gary Lenon
Mecosta County Sheriff's Department
Big Rapids, Michigan USA
glenon@co.mecosta.mi.us |
| "It worked just like it was designed to...we were
able to negotiate the hovercraft through the rapids right
up to where (the victim) was waiting." |
Gary Lenon
Sheriff's Detective
Mecosta County, Michigan |
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March 2005: Capt. David Ogren and firefighter
Brent Arnson return to shore after performing a
hovercraft rescue operation when a quad runner
fell through the ice on Muskegon Lake. |
"On December 30, 2005, we received a call that several hunters were trapped on an ice floe where their boat got stuck after an accident due to the passing of a large ship. Someone on shore called 911 and our hovercraft was dispatched along with the US Coast Guard helicopter and the Muskegon Fire Department, who has a Scat hovercraft. Muskegon got started first, but I suited up, launched and overtook them in our Hovertrek Rescue.
It was awesome; I love this machine! I got out on the ice and had radio contact with all other parties involved. I arrived first, on a very thin ice shelf that varied in thickness from 1/2 an inch to 3 inches in places. It was windy, with a 1 to 2-foot chop on the open water, but our Hovertrek flew exceptionally well. Reverse thrust makes all the difference, enabling me to control the craft in the wind. The engine performed wonderfully and had plenty of power.
I was able to assist the hunters to launch their boat and to guide them out onto open water, and no one was injured." |
Captain David Ogren
North Muskegon Fire Department
North Muskegon, Michigan USA |
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Note: Read more in North Muskegon Fire Department: hovercraft rescue pioneers. |
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| "Most of the terrain under the
Utah Test and Training Range consists
of mudflats. During the wet months, traversing
across the Range is extremely difficult,
even with ATVs. [Our Neoteric] hovercraft
provide the capability to move across
any soil conditions. The salt flats are
full of crevices and holes filled with
water that slowed our response times down,
but the hovercraft will glide over the
uneven terrain.
Use of the hovercraft isn't limited
to aircraft crashes. They will also
be used for search and rescue operations
and to respond to vehicle accidents
along the I-80 corridor. Last winter
there were about 25 accidents where
people ended up in the canals along
I-80. Tooele County emergency responders
had to send for boats after their initial
response. With the hovercraft, we'll
be able to get to the victims a lot
faster.
They are state of the art … it's
good to have the equipment necessary
for a timely response."
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Ron Short, Director
David Kallman, Fire Chief
Utah Test and Training Range
U.S. Department of Defense |
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| "Happy with every aspect of the craft." |
Engineer Joe Nauman
Chillicothe Fire Department, Illinois |
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| "On March 1st 2004, our agricultural irrigation
ditches were opened and filled with water in preparation
for the spring planting. These irrigation ditches run
through the city of Albuquerque as well as through many
of its neighborhoods.
As a part of our Ditch Water Safety Taskforce, we had
a press conference in which we performed a mock water
rescue to remind parents and children about the hazards
of the ditches and their swift water. I have enclosed
mock rescue pictures and I will also send a video of
all the local news coverage.
I also want to thank you again for your support with
the hovercraft. Your dedication to the rescue community
is strong, and is greatly appreciated by all of us.
Your hovercraft and support give us the highest confidence
when we are out there doing our job!"
 
 
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Sergeant William H. Taylor
City of Alburquerque, Open Space Police Department
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| “Sunday, December 23rd [2007] is my last day
with Anchorage Airport Police & Fire. It’s
been my extreme pleasure working with you over the
years. You have always provided outstanding support for
our two hovercraft. The fact that our hovercraft have
held up so well under our extreme Alaskan conditions is
a testament to the quality of the product.” |
| "...Our hovercraft are not only practical, but
absolutely the best rescue tool for our conditions. We
know we have no more than a one hour window to have the
opportunity to rescue survivors of a crash into cold water.
Particularly in the winter, the condition of the mudflats
and ice floes in Cook Inlet are such that these hovercraft
provide the quickest response. We can normally fly over
and around ice barriers, whereas Anchorage Fire Department's
boats are not able to travel through the ice at all. The
hovercraft give us the most options to deploy quickly.
If we encounter a significant ice shelf at the edge of
the mudflats, we're able to simply pick up the hovercraft
with four people and carry it around the barrier. We've
found both the Fuji and Hirth engines to be reliable in
both fresh and salt water. The craft itself is rugged
and reliable." |
Sgt. Bill Weiss
Anchorage Airport Police & Fire Rescue |
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"Having the ability to traverse all types of
terrain both safely and expediently truly makes this
hovercraft a must-have piece of water rescue equipment.
We had our first night time training evaluation with
it and although operation was a bit slower, it performed
wonderfully. To all the crew at Neoteric, not only are
you providing recreational opportunities for people,
but you are saving lives, both rescuers and victims
alike. That is something anyone should be proud to be
part of." |
Captain Chris Hughes
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania |
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| "It's about the price of a good motorcycle, and
that's nothing if you can use it to save just one life." |
Dick Setliff
Director of Emergency Management
Vigo County, Indiana |
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| "My Hovertrek-Rescue keeps me above the danger,
not in it" |
Ty Weaver
Centerville, Virginia |
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| "It's a remarkable tool. A boat or helicopter couldn't
reach her because her (flooded) home was surrounded by
trees and fences. Without the hovercraft, we could never
have saved her. It's simpler and faster to respond with
a hovercraft than another vehicle." |
Lieutenant Gregg Hipple
Johnson County, Iowa |
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"I've had the hovercraft out for two three-hour
flights. It performs very well with four people in it.
I'm doing my break-in period on frozen Lake Hood. Both
days it was about twenty degree (F) and about twelve
knots of wind."
26 March 2002
“We had a large water main break during the night
near the southeast side of Lake Hood. Lake Hood is a
Sea Plane Base within the Anchorage Airport. This resulted
in three ski planes sinking. The water apparently caused
the entire section of ice, on which the aircraft were
tied down, to collapse and sink - The aircraft still
attached to the ice layer, which was now on the bottom
of the lake.
Neoteric Hovercraft to the rescue! Andy Helm and I had
to fly across a lot of deep and drifted snow to get
to the affected section of the lake. Once on scene we
were able to start cutting the aircraft tie down lines
to prepare for towing the aircraft out of the water.
Two tail tie downs had to be cut under water. With the
help of the aircraft owners, we were able to tie ropes
to the main landing gear of each aircraft. We then used
the hovercraft to tow long, heavy cables from tow trucks
to each aircraft. During the operation, the water was
rapidly turning to heavy slush and the surface was icing
over. We used the hovercraft to break through the ice
between the aircraft and the tow trucks. Otherwise there
would have been no way to get the aircraft out.
We had a fair amount of wind and snow throughout the
mission, but were able to maneuver the hovercraft in
very tight quarters around the aircraft. The Neoteric
Hovercraft handled every part of the mission beautifully
- hauling a lot of people and gear over snow, heavy
slush and open water, tight maneuvering, and towing
heavy cables. Great craft! Timely recovery of three
aircraft." |
Sgt. Bill Weiss
Anchorage International Airport - Police - Fire - EMS |
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| "It would normally have taken all night trying
to find the lady and her son but with the hovercraft it
only took 20 minutes. It has proved its worth. It was
amazing how it opened up our shallow river." |
Rick LeCroy
Conservation Office
Centerville, Alabama |
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| "Under cover for two months, it started right up.
I made a voyage through a flooded creek and rough water.
The government has renewed my contract again for drug
interdiction work." |
Officer Steve Stafford
Lawrence County Sheriff's Department
Bedford, Indiana |
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| "Our Hovertrek Rescue Craft (built from a partially
assembled kit) far exceeded our expectations, and we're
really delighted with it. We've had a major drought here
on the Rio Grande, and this is the only craft that works
on the river." |
Officer William Taylor
City of Albuquerque Police Department
Open Space Division |
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| "We have brought people aboard our Workhorse and
it's a nice stable platform." |
Deputy Chief Bill Cook
Onset Fire Department
Onset, Massachusetts |
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Ministero Dell'Interior, training near Lodi, Italy
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| My name is Mike Patrick and I have
the pleasure of owning one of your Hovercraft.
It spends the winter at Larry Taylor's and has been
a very useful tool in the past, when the river gets
so low that no boat can travel then it is for sure hovercraft
time. As I live 10 miles down the 40mile river and the
only way is by river!
This summer we had the lowest water in the river rocks
sticking up everywhere and a MONSTER FIRE. Your old
hover craft was the only thing that could get up and
down the river, The BLM Fire Dept. needed to get pumps,
Hoses and personnel down river to save historical Cabins,
Yes you guessed it my hover craft was hired to do the
work and let me tell you one of the boys that I took
down was 290 lbs. and his gear was 60lbs and I weigh
220 Lbs and the bottom of the craft had holes in it
3 feet long and 8 inches wide both sides and still did
its job! I Patched it with plastic trash cans and pop
rivets, no time to fiber glass it, fire people needed
to haul people and equipment every day for a couple
of weeks! |
Mike Patrick
Eagle, Alaska |
