An article in Modern Mechanix quoted Andrew A. In April 1958, Ford engineers demonstrated the Glide-air, a one-metre (three-foot) model of a wheelless vehicle that speeds on a thin film of air only 76.2 μm ( 3⁄ 1000 of an inch) above its table top roadbed. The closest devices are the hovercraft, which elevates itself above a water or level hard surface using a cushion of air retained by a flexible skirt, and the hovertrain, which is a type of high-speed train that replaces conventional steel wheels with hovercraft lift pads, and the conventional railway bed with a paved road-like surface, known as the 'track' or 'guideway'.Ĭurtiss-Wright Model 2500 Air Car, late 1950s The capability of hovering above the ground eliminates the need for tires, and unlike an air-cushion vehicle, it does not produce a dust cloud. Other works feature vehicles that hover by having magnetic plates lined along roads, operating in a similar principle to Maglev. In science fiction, it is capable of elevating itself some distance from the ground through some repulsion technology, presumably exploiting some short range anti-gravity principle so as to eliminate most friction forces which act against conventional vehicles. The concept usually appears in science fiction. It might have been a lucky guess, but still, if it weren't for Bella, they would still be arguing at the crossroads.A hover car is a personal vehicle that flies at a constant altitude of up to few meters (some feet) above the ground and used for personal transportation in the same way a modern automobile is employed. They hadn't travelled far when Mum gave a cry. “That way!” she said firmly.ĭad started the car and drove the way that Bella had pointed. “We don't know which way to go.”īella pointed out the window. The only good thing was that Bella was still asleep, so at least he didn't have to listen to her complaining, and asking how long it would be. He had no idea which way led to Scotland. Joe sat and wondered what they should do. “Admit it! There's nobody to ask, either.” Eventually, they arrived at a crossroads. The roads grew narrower and turned into country lanes. “I know where we're going!”īella fell asleep. The trouble was, soon there was no phone reception either! It was a giant traffic jam.ĭad turned the car around. There were cars as far as the eye could see, and none of them was moving. But as Dad drove towards the motorway, they got a terrible shock. “It won't be long now,” said Mum as they set off. So it was a great relief when Dad suddenly said, “I spy coffee,” and Mum turned the car off the motorway and into a motorway service station. There wasn't much to see, apart from fields and hedges, the road in front of them, and the traffic going past. The trouble was, they soon ran out of things to “I spy”. But there was a field of cows before.”īella wasn't pleased. “But I can't see any cows,” said Bella, looking around.

“I spy with my little eye, something beginning with C.” Joe looked around and saw some cows grazing in a field. Joe had to choose something that he could see, and everyone else had to guess what it was. “You start, Joe.”īella always enjoyed playing this game.

“Why not watch another film on your tablet?”

“Why don't you have a nap, Bella?” suggested Dad. Now, Bella and Joe were sitting in the back seat. They had crammed all their suitcases into the car and said goodbye to their friends and to Granny, who was going to look after their pets while they were away. It was school holidays, and they were going to spend a whole week there. The Hobson family were off to Scotland to visit Nana and Gramps. Joe, who was sitting next to her, groaned.

“Are we nearly there yet?” asked Bella, banging her feet against the back of Mum's seat.

Kids hover car