Hi,

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

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To answer your questions;

(1) Propellers and fans used in hovercraft operate essentially in the
same manner as they do in other vehicles, like aircraft, that they may be
installed in. If you get too close to a jet engine intake loose items about
you can be ingested, similarly for hovercraft.

(2) If designed accordingly hovercraft can hover on cushion in a stable
manner without significant motion in any direction.

(3) Engine installations in hovercraft are similar to light-weight
engine installations in other vehicles. The only significant heat sources
emanate from the engine exhaust and cooling systems which add heat to the
hovercraft structure only in the immediate area surrounding the engine.

You should consult the many references available on the internet and in
libraries for further general information on how hovercraft are designed,
built and operate - two good references are;

(1) Marine Hovercraft Technology by R.L. Trillo, Published by Leonard
Hill books, London 1971.

(2) Hovercraft Design & Construction by G.H. Elsley & A.J. Devereux,
Published by David & Charles, Newton Abbot UK 1968.

Rob Wilson

Neoteric Hovercraft Inc.

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