TARCO RESEARCH PRESS ARCHIVE TRANSCRIPT:
SEA TECHNOLOGY PAGE 91 JANUARY 1993
SWIMMING WITH THE FISHES AND "BECOMING ONE"
One of Hollywoods true immortals, Don Knotts, once portrayed a man who loved to fish so much, he wished he could change from human form to salmon form, or marlin form, or even herring form. Any fish form would do. As "The Incredible Mr. Limpet," Knotts fantasized so much about becoming a fine finny that he eventually did become one. Limpet, or, Knotts was so happy with his transformation, he found a little "lady fish" and swam off into the sunset-or whatever fish swim off to under the surface-to spawn happily ever after. Now, man does not have to pine so to become a fish. Technology has brought forth submarines and submersibles. Man can comfortably inhabit the same environments as any fish. He can see them. They can see him. The can see each other seeing each other. But it's not exactly the same as becoming one. Actually, the differences between man and fish are narrowing. Inventions like VASH™, or Variable Attitude Submersible Hydrofoil, are breaking down physical barriers, allowing man to feel like a, well, like a fish. Built to be a one man sport submersible-and the next best thing man can find to being a dolphin, the 11-foot 400 pound VASH™ is powered by a 100-horsepower marine inboard engine. Tagged by it's makers as a "Bionic Dolphin™." VASH™ is the creation of TARCO Research, Poverty Flats, California. The craft, according to it's makers, "sits low in the water looking for all the world like a dolphin waiting to be fed." "Become One" is the urge that VASH's makers hope will inspire prospective buyers to cavort and frolic with real dolphins and sea creatures beneath the waves- incidentally, videotapes, T-shirts and newsletters are available for vicarious cavorting. VASH™ can dive as deep as 100 feet, has a subsurface speed of more than 35 miles per hour, and can even jump more than 20 feet out of the water. With VASH™, man may even be able to find a little lady fish and swim off into the sunset. . . .M.C.
