NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2002

Contacts:

Jerry Mansfield
Executive Director
Children's Science and Technology Museum
812-235-5548

A new exhibit at the Children's Science and Technology Museum of Terre Haute gives area children a chance to experience the hands-on thrill of piloting a hovercraft. The exhibit, which is titled "The Science of Hovercraft … It's Just a Matter of Inches," features a one-passenger HoverChair designed especially for the Museum.

According to the Museum's Executive Director, Jerry Mansfield, "The HoverChair is a huge success. Children are fascinated by sitting in a chair that rides on air, especially those in the 8-10 age range."

The HoverChair was engineered and built by Chris Fitzgerald and James Wallace. Fitzgerald is President of Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc., Terre Haute, and Chairman of World Hovercraft Week. Wallace is Director of "Students, Science and Hovercraft … Oh My!" a hovercraft building project that will take place at the World Hovercraft Championship.

According to Fitzgerald, "The hovercraft concept is a likable technology – it makes people smile. But not only is the HoverChair intriguing and unique, it also opens a child's eyes to an interest in physics." Fitzgerald continues, "We've been manufacturing hovercraft in Terre Haute for thirty years and distributing them throughout the world. The Children's Museum exhibit is also an opportunity for young people to learn about an important manufacturing process happening right in their home town."

As a part of the development process, the Museum's HoverChair was exhibited at the recent Terre Haute Air Fair, where a group of children from the Indianapolis Children's Museum's Aerospace Adventures Camp were the first to try it out. After the spectacular reception of this trial flight, the success of the Museum exhibit is no surprise.

The Children's Science and Technology Museum of Terre Haute, located at 523 Wabash Avenue, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is $2.50 for adults, and $2.00 for children up to age 12.

In addition to the Children's Museum HoverChair exhibit, World Hovercraft Week, coming to Terre Haute September 15-22, will feature numerous activities for children and teens, including:

"Students, Science and Hovercraft … Oh My!"
September 19-22 at the World Hovercraft Championship Race Site (Wabash Valley Family Sports Center)
James Wallace will direct groups of science students from all four Terre Haute high schools in the on-site building of a hovercraft. On September 22, participating students will learn to pilot the finished hovercraft on land and water. The entire project will be broadcast live on the Internet via Web Cam.

Wallace has a background in physics, geography and astronomy education, as well as in fabricating hovercraft at Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc.

Hovercraft History Exhibit
Exhibits from The British Hovercraft Museum are traveling to America for display during the World Hovercraft Championship at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center race site.

Model Hovercraft Competition
Also of interest to children during World Hovercraft Week will be the ongoing radio-controlled model hovercraft activities at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center race site.

World Hovercraft Week offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both children and adults to experience a unique international event. The World Hovercraft Championship occurs every two years, and has not been held in the United States since 1989. The 2004 World Championship will be held in Australia, and the 2006 World Championship will be held in Malaysia.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the World Hovercraft Week web site: www.WHC2002.com