Hovercraft Accident

NoBozo · 04-11-2011, 01:02 PM

There are usually TWO engines in a "Hovercraft". There may be variations of this mechanical arrangement from one model to another. One is the engine you can see on the back, which drives the hovercraft foreword with an aircraft-like propeller, similar to the typical Everglades type "airboat".

The other engine is the Lift engine and is not very visible unless you are onboard..or standing on a dock looking down at it. This engine also has a fan, which sucks air in from above, and inflates the "skirts" below, where the Lift Air escapes..in a controlled fashion from under the skirts. If the skirts are damaged, too much air escapes and lift is lost and the craft comes "off plane" pronto..

I havn't seen a good picture of the craft in this story. NB

EDIT: I just Googled "Personal Hovercraft" and found one with a single engine that provides both thrust AND lift.

http://www.neoterichovercraft.com/ge..._principle.htm

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04-11-2011, 01:02 PM	#24
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	There are usually TWO engines in a "Hovercraft". There may be variations of this mechanical arrangement from one model to another. One is the engine you can see on the back, which drives the hovercraft foreword with an aircraft-like propeller, similar to the typical Everglades type "airboat". The other engine is the Lift engine and is not very visible unless you are onboard..or standing on a dock looking down at it. This engine also has a fan, which sucks air in from above, and inflates the "skirts" below, where the Lift Air escapes..in a controlled fashion from under the skirts. If the skirts are damaged, too much air escapes and lift is lost and the craft comes "off plane" pronto.. I havn't seen a good picture of the craft in this story. NB EDIT: I just Googled "Personal Hovercraft" and found one with a single engine that provides both thrust AND lift. http://www.neoterichovercraft.com/ge..._principle.htm