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Rudy Heeman's flying hovercraft - Source: ONE News -
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A Nelson man's invention has taken off on Trade Me where he is hoping to find a buyer with plenty of funds.
Rudy Heeman has created a hovercraft that can fly.
The backyard inventor used an old gas bottle from a barbeque, parts from his wife's car and a control lever from his daughter's scooter in his creation.
While he considers it a toy, he thinks the hovercraft could be used commercially by farmers as it can land in paddocks and there are no problems about opening gates because it can fly over them.
The craft is capable of speeds of 100 kilometres an hour but New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority does not class it as a plane which means the pilot does not need a licence or seat belts for passengers.
With a 1.8 litre engine and 225 kilometre range, Heeman says it blows any comparable boat out of the water.
The craft is proving popular on Trade Me with thousands of views, a long list of questions and bids over $20,000.
