In 1958 Melville W. Beardsley founded National Research Associates company.
NRA also sold Disney's Flying Saucers attraction under license.
[1][2] National Research Associates, Inc was a United States of America aircraft manufacturer... NRA Developed Air Cushion Vehicles for the Army and Marines.
In 1959 The Marine Corps signed a $40,000 contract for a 14x3 ft demonstration vehicle.
[3][4] After moving on from NRA, Beardsley spent several years contesting who had the rights to the patent of the Hovercraft concept with Christopher Cockerell.