[FRANKLIN DOBSON AIRCAR HOVERCRAFT]

Description: The silent film, rescued by Jeff Vilencia, showcases a hovercraft designed by Franklin A. Dobson in the early 1960s, known as the Air Dart, which gained attention from Popular Science magazine. Dobson founded AIRCARS, Inc., marketing kits and plans for the vehicle through magazine advertisements, with prices ranging from $2 for plans to $700 for a complete kit. The hovercraft, constructed from chromoly tubing and plastic fabric, featured a plywood and aluminum cockpit and a 10-15 hp engine, allowing it to cruise just 4 inches above the ground and carry up to 300 lbs. The exact number of units built remains unclear, and none are operational today. Dobson was also an inventor of various devices, including an anti-submarine warfare tool and toys.