Today, parts of the U.K. got snow! Which is all well and good if you like snow. However, I was out some place and getting home was interesting. After much encouraging mutterings to the steering wheel of the car (and the odd grawlix or two), we made it back. The car has withstood much before but it still wasn't impressed at being forced up a hill with no traction (because, yes, my car has feelings).
Surely there is some better alternative? Fortunately, seeing how we were going at about 5 miles an hour at the fast parts, I had a lot of time to consider this. Husky dogs are all well in the winter but here in the U.K., where snow comes maybe 1 week a year (having been predicted for two months), the poor dogs wouldn't have much of a job to do. Tanks could probably get through snow pretty easily (those things are surprisingly fast for a sophisticated lump of metal on wheels!) but storing it would be a little difficult. Not to mention the road tax on it would be horrendous, possibly made up for by the fact that you could park wherever you wanted. Suddenly an idea hit me.
Hovercrafts.
They can go over solid land! They can go over liquid water! So what would stop them going over frozen water? That cushion of air keeps it gliding over the surface whether it is snow or tarmac. Also, hovercrafts rely on its motion coming from a propeller blowing it forwards rather than wheels pushing into the ground. And, these bits are a complete guess because I can't seem to find the information I need (thanks Google -.-) but because the wheels aren't touching the ground and causing friction, it might be more fuel efficent (bearing in mind the fact that it is not as streamlined probably and you have to keep the skirt of air inflated). That and also, if two hovercrafts collide, they might just bounce off one another! Think of that quickly - would it not be kind of fun to see them bounce off in a non-serious accident?
Final point to support my answer: Hovercrafts are awesome. I don't care how effective they are in the snow, I just really want to drive one :P (Any one out there whose driven a hovercraft? [Anyone out there at all?!])
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