How A Hovercraft Works

How A Hovercraft Works

hovercraft works!

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The Hovercraft $49.99 Wilf Hardy The Hovercraft - Giclee Print

Hovercraft $34.99 English School Hovercraft - Giclee Print

How does a Hovercraft Work?

A craft is built on a solid platform, preferable strong but light weight. The platform has a flexible skirt creating a border around the platform. A very high powered fan forces air into the empty space between the platform and the ground, which is contained by the skirt. As the flow rate of air increases, so does the pressure under the platform. The pressure difference between the interior cavity and the top of the platform creates lift, just like an airplane wing. As it lifts up, a gap forms between the ground and the skirt. This reduces the pressure and lowers the lift. The gap makes a self-regulating system. As the gap shrinks, the pressure increases. As the gap gets larger, the pressure decreases. In this way the Hover Craft has a regulated height above air OR water. Hovercraft over water can use higher power fans to elevate them so the craft won't impact waves as easily. The air gap is higher, and the flexible skirts can interact with the waves and keep lift under the craft at all times.

Simple hovercraft for the home builder can be made out of plywood, using a lawnmower engine for the lift fan, and another enging for the pushing fan. Commercially available units can have one motor for both purposes and are a blast to drive.