For people who feel like
they are born to be in the wild, taking an airboat ride across the
marshes and swamps in the Everglades is a dream come true. This
flat-bottomed vessel has become a popular means of transportation in
the wetlands, taking thrill seekers closer to creatures such as
pythons and crocodiles that are usually only seen behind bars in zoos
or frozen in postcards.
Airboats have been around
for more than a century. The first airboat, named Ugly Duckling, was
built in the early 1900s by a team of inventors led by Dr. Alexander
Graham Bell, who is famous for creating the first telephone. Dr.
Bell's airboat was originally employed to test various engines and
prop configurations. However, it was not Dr. Bell but his associate
Glenn Curtiss who is said to have registered the first airboat in
Florida, which he called the Curtis Scooter.
The airboat may be a
reputable vehicle for eco-tourism, but owners have found other uses
for this vessel. Novice and veteran anglers can do fishing and
bowfishing aboard an airboat. Hunters can also go behind the wheel to
pursue their prey. In 2005, airboats were used to rescue thousands of
flood victims after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, making it a
reliable tool for public safety.
Time and again, the
airboat has shown that it is not a one-dimensional vessel. Indeed, it
can gift its passengers with an experience that is both memorable and
extraordinary.
No comments:
Post a Comment