Mike Loftus serves as the president and owner of MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions in the Chicago, Illinois, suburb of Elmhurst. The company offers signage installation and construction solutions for brands around the country. In addition to his work, Mike Loftus of Elmhurst, IL, is an avid boater. He has owned several boats, including hovercraft.

According to Wonderopolis, hovercraft appear fictional, yet they have been around since the mid-20th century. The vehicle was invented by British engineer Christopher Sydney Cockerell in 1955. Hovercraft, also called air-cushion vehicles (ACV), can travel on both land and water. They typically hover a few inches to less than 7 feet above the ground. The altitude depends on the weight of the vehicle and the power of its engine.

Hovercraft float because a special engine pumps air into the base (called the hull or cushion) of the vehicle, which traps pressurized air. The trapped air is released slowly downward through vents, producing an upward thrust against the weight of the vehicle. For the vehicle to hover, the air pressure underneath it must significantly surpass the atmospheric pressure at a given altitude in addition to the weight of the vehicle.