Racing on water AND land

Hopefully you've been following along with my adventure in the PRESS SECTION of the Coronado Speed Festival....so you already know that I was too chicken to zoom around a race track at break neck speeds.... Well, let me show you the ONE THING I would have volunteered to ride on! A Hover Craft! The US military calls them Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). (BTW: I know that's not the best photo you've ever seen, but I wanted you to see it in relation to the car and the man so you can fully appreciate the SIZE of it! Holy cow, huh?) They’re high-speed, fully amphibious hovercraft capable of carrying a 60-tons over water and land at speeds in excess of 40 knots! (To furthur illustrate the size, last week it transported 9 hummers and crew!) This one is owned by the Navy - they had it on display at the Speed Fest. This young man is in charge of deck operations. He gave us a very informative tour! (Okay, I felt a little bad taking this picture so I need your help. Of course I asked his permission before I took the photo, but I feel bad since he probably thinks his picture could run in Newsweek or the New York Times or something. The poor guy probably called home and told his mom someone from the PRESS took his picture! SO, here's where you can help.... maybe you guys can pass it along to someone, so he will get his 15 minutes of fame?) This next photo shows where the observer is stationed - he peaks up through that glass encased dome and relays information to the driver. (I do believe that means the Navy sanctions "backseat drivers!") This LCAC will carry tanks, trucks, men, gear -you name it! And just in case you didn't know this was the propeller, they've labelled it for us: I found this nice little video on youtube so you could see it in action. "Carrying equipment, troops, and/or supplies, the LCAC launches from inside the well deck of an amphibious warship, then travels the waves at high speed, runs right through the surf zone near the beach, and stops at a suitable place on land. Its cargo walks or rolls off. The LCAC returns to the surf to pick up more. Rinse. Agitate. Repeat."