Am doing my second year in Transportation and automobile design at
National Institute of design , India.
Currently am working on a project of designing of a light hovercraft for
the Indian coast guard. This is just a hypothetical project.
We don't have many hovercraft around here to study.
I came across your site with a lot of useful information. i had some
questions for which i could not find answers. It would be wonderful if you
could help me out.
My questions are

1.The propeller being behind the driver or passenger , while running does
it create any pull of any sort affecting the driver or passengers.
2. can a hovercraft remain stable at a particular position without moving.
3. does continuous running of engine create any heat in the body structure
of the hovercraft

it would be great if you could help me answer these questions

What is Differencial Thrust" as it pertains to Hover Craft? I'm just interested. Could you give me a quick explanation?

Thanks

Hi,

I am currently a gradtuate student in the process of designing my thesis project. After a conversation with my professor, I have decided to employ hover techniques in my design. To give you a little background on my project; I was recently given the opportunity to design and build a functional, mobile artifice for our local museum. The hope is to explore the poetics of organization and the ritual of use. When complete, it will provide an efficient service platform from which to serve food and drinks during museum exhibitions and social functions. Once completed and I (hopefully) graduate, I will give the cart to the museum.

Basically I am going to create a bar from which to serve patrons drinks and food. The bar will be able to move from storage to the designated service area when needed. Think of it as a big rectangular box, approximately 3' wide x 3' high x 7' long. I haven't exactly decided on materials yet but I'm hoping to keep the cart less than 500 lbs (between 400-500 lbs).

So this is where I need your help. I have decided instead of using standard caster wheels to move the cart, I want to make the cart hover just above the ground so when it is needed an employee can simply start her up and push her to the designate area. The design and interface has to be completely user friendly. I will of course instruct the higher ups who will be supervising the cart, but otherwise I will be long gone (graduated if you will).

Since my experience in in this sort of thing is well nonexistant, I am wondering if anyone has any advice for me. One of my first concerns is how much power or horsepower will I need to lift approximately 500 lbs. Once I can establish some sort of minimum requirement for an engine(s) size, I would like to figure out what the best design scenario for the cart will be. Already I have some sort of plan in my head as to what this thing will look like. And this of course is just some preliminary thoughts but I was thinking that if I needed to small engines (maybe 5-8 horsepower) mounted on the width or short ends of the cart just inside the perimeter. They would be connected to the fans that would occupy two square shafts located in the center of the cart, approximately a few inches shorter than the over-all width. The top and bottom areas directly over the shafts would be some sort of perforated material allowing for air to flow easily into the shaft and out through the bottom. I have a few more preconcieved ideas but fear that if I divulge too much I'll end up with a lot of 'no you can't do that' answers. Instead, I'd like to create some sort of dialogue between the experienced users here that might take some sort of curiosity or interest in my project. I very much appreciate your time. You will be doing my education a great service!

Thank you!

John

Dear,

I work in a company in Indonesia which has job as business development analyst.

Peoples knew that Indonesia is the biggest island country in the world and has the most water sea territory in the world. We’ve been discussing internally about sea vehicle hovercraft. And we plan to manufacture it.

Is anybody has a link to someone that interest to build the hovercraft the engineer or company who interest to do reverse engineering or doing investment to build the workshop hovercraft fabric in Indonesia.

Please send me a private message so we can discuss any further.

Thank you very much for help,

Regards,
-Pradito

I am new to this sport and am considering purchasing a Hovertrek from a private party here in California. He purchased it for his business, but found that it will not work properly when there is a cross wind and he has to travel in a straight line. How can I get the proper training in the use of this craft? In reading the news articles, the Air Force staff received at least 8 hours of training!

Thanks

Greg in Cool, California

I am building a remote controlled hovercraft and nned to know what kind of batteries to use. I am powering four props. Three for lift and one for thrust. I am going to use lithium polymer batties but what kind and how many should i use?

Does anyone have a diagram that shows exactly how a segmented shirt works and what are your thoughts on using a squirrel cage blower for lift on a 7x13 craft. The electric motors from the blowers will be swapped for gasoline units.

I have been having problems with the rear skid of one of our hovercrafts, we have fixed it once and that is holding up but it has happened again. Our crafts do as much land travel as they do water and was wondering if an aluminum cover for the skid would be a good move for us.

What have you found to be the best size and strength for the zip ties. We have seen 18#, 40#, 50# and heavy duty does anyone have any suggestions.

I am wondering if there are any dealers here in Ont. Can. for Neoteric? Also, what does it cost in freight and duties to buy one of your craft and have it shipped to here, near Ottawa, Ontario, which is where I live. I own an older Cushion Flight 240, and am wondering about tradeins too!

What a great site. I have desired a hovercraft for some time now. I have been an enthusiast for years and recently have been informing myself as much as I can. I can't seem to find anything that draws my interest like a neoteric hovercraft. I actually have spent hours on the site reading all of the material and I am intrigued at the engineering expertise behind the craft. Top notch job. I live in Tampa Florida and I am hoping to try one of these craft for myself (thank God there is a dealer in Homosassa). I am considering ways to finance the craft and scouting out the possibilities. I believe that if this financing detail could be worked out more and more individuals would take to this sport. With Katrina and recent hurricane activity these vehicles will be far better navigating in flooded areas than most making them very appealing (also helping to convince skeptical spouses that these are "necessary"). There is just something about the Neoteric Hovertrek that makes it the most desirable craft that I can find. There are tons of options like cabins and radar and of course the ability to stop and reverse. I am sure that when it comes time to order my craft I will deliberate for hours and hours on the exact configuration. Until that time I will enjoy the great information available here at the website.

Question: When I purchase a craft, what will be my options for engine replacement say four or five years down the road? Will this be something I will be capable of installing myself?

I will be posting more comments and questions as they arise.

Happy hovering (hoverwishing)

Thanks,

Bob

These are a pair of reverse trust buckets from a 1987 Racer, one of the predecessors of the current Questrek model. The fiberglass buckest come with inside metal hardware and hinges. $200.00 or b.o.

Also for sale are several fan blade sets, for both 24" and 26" diameter (9 blades each)

Interested parties, please send email to buckets4sale@bigracing.com

Raoul.

Will it float if machine stalls in water? I had three dogs and a young person drown just off my property it goes to fresh and salt water near ocean?

[color=blue]I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a homemade one here but here goes.
I'm 15 years old and I have been building a hovercraft (no-one is helping me), I have spent around 150$ on it (in Canada) There are a few pics here [url]www.lights-by-zac.50megs.com[/url] Scroll down to hover craft. The 150$ is including my skirt materials. I'm going to use two 25cc gas blowers (250mph) and I'm not sure what I'm using for a propulsion motor, the craft is about 4X7, I was thinking a 44cc gas weedeater motor. What do you think? Also, what should I use for a prop, i was thinking of one of these [url]http://www.bollyprops.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BPNA&Product_Code=228PWD[/url] This is 22inches long. Comments? It is rated for a 40-60cc enginge, and I would use 44cc. My last question slash comment is that I was planning on using pond liner for a skirt, I have it all cut up, just need to finish it. Took me forever to understand skirts, but now I do. Comments on pondliner?
Thank You
Zac[/color]