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Back in the 20th century, science fiction promised us all sorts of exciting technology,

like teleportation devices and jetpacks and tractor beams.

But there's one device that's late senior producer Evan Chang dreamed about,

more than all the others.

I always wanted a hovercraft.

When I say hovercraft, I don't mean something crazy, like a flying Jetsons car.

I'm talking about a personal vehicle that glides over the ground while levitating a perfectly reasonable amount,

like enough to avoid potholes but not disrupt the migratory patterns of waterfowl.

I wanted something like Luke Skywalker's land speeder.

Might be our little art to you and hit the accelerator.

I know for me the quintessential hovercraft was in back to the future too,

when Marty McFly zips around on a levitating skateboard.

In the real world, people have been attempting to make vehicles like these for decades.

One of the most unusual recent developments is the flying platform.

The operator is standing directly above two revolving ducted fans.

This is from a 1957 documentary.

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