The Sky Splash was audacious. “Attention hang glider buffs!” said Ford’s release. “Ford has developed a concept vehicle just for you.” The features went above and beyond to turn the truck into the perfect hang-glider launcher as per the press release:
The unique Fluorescent Orange Pearl pickup box insert has a special hang glider launching platform and winch designed especially for the Ranger. The winch has an auto-tensioning device that automatically feeds out line until the hang glider reaches the proper altitude and is released.
Load-carrying rear stanchions and a front over-the-hood T-Bar are to support and transport the hang glider. The stanchions have tie-down slots to help keep the glider securely in place.
Additionally, the Sky Splash had other useful gear like spotlights for loading hang gliders after dark, and a winch for getting your truck to the best possible hang-glider launch spots. It also featured a CB radio, which you could use to chat with your buddy on a hang glider, and a cell phone, for when you inevitably need to call in a rescue when they get stuck in a tree.
Ford also touted an “on-screen NAV system,” which in the nascent era of consumer GPS was more of a wish than a reality. The aircraft-style compass and altimeter were more believable inclusions. “When carrying a hang glider, the destination promises excitement in the air,” said Andrew K. Jacobson, Ford’s truck design director. “But, when there is work to be done, the Sky Splash still delivers—and it’s a head-turner plus when you’re just cruising around town or on the open road.”
The Ford Sky Splash Ranger Super Cab is a ‘down-to-earth concept pickup with high flying additions, such as a customer made hang glider with an auto feed towing/launching winch and easily removed cargo box insert with a built-in lockable storage compartment.
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About The Author
Jim Oaks is the founder of The Ranger Station, one of the longest-running Ford Ranger enthusiast communities on the web. He has spent over three decades owning, modifying, repairing, and driving Ford Rangers on the street, trail, and cross-country routes.
Since launching TheRangerStation.com in 1999, Jim has documented thousands of real-world Ranger builds, technical repairs, drivetrain swaps, suspension modifications, and off-road tests contributed by owners worldwide. His work has been referenced by enthusiasts, mechanics, and off-road builders looking for practical, experience-based information rather than theoretical advice.
Jim’s hands-on experience includes long-distance overland travel, trail use, drivetrain and axle upgrades, suspension tuning, and platform comparisons across multiple Ranger generations. The content published on The Ranger Station is grounded in first-hand experience and community-verified data, not marketing claims or generic specifications.
