NSF GK-12 Graduate Fellows Program

Award # DGE-0139171

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Hovercraft
Reading Material to Accompany Activity

by
Melissa Ernst
Department of Biological Sciences

Activity aligned with the 2001 North Carolina Standard Course of Study for 8th Grade Science: Goal # 4

Hovercraft
Background:
Friction is a force that opposes motion. When you wave your hand in the air, there is
very little friction opposing the motion of your hand. However, when you slide your
hand across the table, it is harder because there is a larger force of friction acting against
the movement of your hand.

A Hovercraft is also sometime called an Air Cushion Vehicle or ACV.

Hovercraft fly just two feet above any surface, allowing it to navigate safely across water,
land, ice, snow or any combination.
Hovercraft are propelled by air screws (propellers) and
are supported by a cushion of air retained within a
flexible structure.
The flexible structure and cushion of air provide a very
low friction interface. The air is retained by a rubber
skirt that enables the craft to travel over a wide range
of terrain. The skirt simply gives way when an obstacle
is encountered.
History:
Hovercraft started as an experimental design to reduce the drag that was placed on boats
and ships as they ploughed through the water.
The first recorded design for an air cushion vehicle was by a Swedish designer and
philosopher, Emmanual Swedenborg, in 1716. The project was rather short lived
however.
In the mid 1870s, Sir John Thornycroft built a number of model craft to check the 'air
cushion' effects and even filed patents involving air-lubricated hulls. Both American and
European engineers continued to work on the problems of designing a practical craft. Not
until the early 20th century was a hovercraft possible because only the internal
combustion engine had the very high power to weight ratio suitable for hover flight.
In the mid 1950s Christopher Cockerell, a British radio engineer, and French engineer,
Jean Bertin, worked along similar lines of research, although they used different
approaches to the problem of maintaining the air cushion. Cockerell began by exploring
the use of air lubrication to reduce hydrodynamic drag. This idea was later followed by
one in which a thin layer of lubricating air gave way to a deep air cushion which would

raise the craft above the surface, enabling it not only to clear small waves, but also to
make the transition from water to land and back again.
His first experiments were conducted with the aid of two cans and a vacuum cleaner
(using the blowing end). The cans were drilled and bolted so that one can was inside the
other with the open ends facing down on to some weighing scales. The top of the larger
can was open and had a tube connected to it so that air could be forced in to the top can
and around the smaller can inside.

The air traveled between the inside of the bigger can and the outside of the smaller can
and was then let out towards the scales in a narrow ring of air. The cans were made so
that it was possible to remove the inner can from the larger can so the air could be
directed in two ways
The experiment was conducted in two steps. First the smaller can was removed and the
blower switched on. The scales measured the amount of thrust the air from the one can
produced down onto the scales. The smaller can was now replaced inside the larger can
so that the ring of air was produced. Again the blower was switched on and the scales
measured the amount of thrust the ring of air produced down onto the scales. Cockerell
observed that the two cans nested inside each other produced more thrust onto the scales
than the simple open can or plenum chamber did. He had discovered the momentum
curtain effect and this was the key idea that he patented.
In 1959, the first working hovercraft model was produced and crossed the channel
between Calais & Dover, France in 2 hours 3 minutes.
1967:
The US military took several Hovercraft to Vietnam - used it extremely successful and
developed during 1970's the LCAC, which with a weight of 100 tons and 16.000 HP are
at current time the major craft in size and capacity.

Environmental impact:
Because the hovercraft does not pierce the surface over which it is traveling the
advantage is two-fold:
a) Less friction = less fuel burnt to move
b) Less friction or interruption to the surface = less disturbance of the environment.
Therefore, Hovercraft can be used in shallow water and drying areas. These areas are
often remote and environmentally sensitive. Most of these areas are wetlands, swamps,
and river delta. They are not only the feeding ground for a lot of different species of birds
but are often used by marine life hiding from predators. In these sensitive areas, no
transportation means are available. Hovercraft are able to operate in these areas in an
environmentally friendly way.
Damage to the shore environment, such as beaches, mud flats and vegetation is virtually
non-existent because of the hovercrafts low pressure "footprint". For example, the
average human being when standing on a beach exerts a pressure of 3 lbs per square inch
underfoot, rising to 25 lbs per square inch when walking. The average hovercraft exerts a
pressure of only 0.33lb per square inch on the surface regardless of speed. This
"footprint" pressure is less than that of a seagull standing on one leg!
Another important factor is that, by necessity, the hovercraft hull is a 'sealed unit'. Any
accidental discharges and leaks are fully contained within the hull structure, remaining
there to be pumped out at an appropriate shore facility. There is no exhaust discharge
into the water as with most conventional watercraft, thus eliminating the pollution of the
marine environment by oil and fuel particles, particularly prevalent with two-stroke
outboard motor usage.
Hovercraft have minimal base requirements: Hovercraft do not require, docks, piers or
dredged channels and can operate off many beach sites. Road access to the maintenance
base is desirable but not essential. Hovercraft can work in areas and leave without the
need for environmentally damaging construction projects to support the operation.
Applications:
Modern Hovercraft are used for many applications where people or equipment need to
travel at speed over water but be able to load and unload on land.
Uses for hovercraft hovercraft vehicles:
Flood and Ice Rescue

Flood and River Control

Wetland Geological Survey

Wetland Hydrological Survey

Pipeline Support

Recreational

Law Enforcement

Utility Support

Wetland Anti Poaching Patrol

Mosquito Abatement

Organizations currently using hovercraft:

U.S. Coast Guard

Border Patrol

Fire Rescue

Dive SAR

Wildlife Control

National Parks Service

Drug Enforcement

Coastal Authorities

Port Authorities

Flying Pest Control

Lifeguard Stations

Military Services

Marine Fire Rescue

Dive Recovery

Nuclear Power Plants

Forestry Service

Harbor Patrol

Hunter and Fisherman

Antarctic Stations

Oil Spill Recovery

Private Enthusiasts

It was thought that pads of high-pressure air could replace the wheels of a car. However,
two main difficulties became apparent:
1. Pads of high-pressure air proved difficult and wasteful of power to lift the car high
enough for it to travel over any but the smoothest surface.
2. The difficulty of propulsion. As soon as physical contact with the ground is lost, a new
method of propulsion had to be devised to replace that usually supplied by the wheels.
Because of these problems, the Hover car concept has never been a reality and
commercial use has moved towards the Hover train but even then with limited success.
Rails provide smooth surface for the high-pressure air and the guidance from the tracks
overcomes the problem of steering. Either an engine with a propeller or an electrical
linear induction motor provides the hover train forward and reverse movement.
Other than these, the hover principle is used for moving large or heavy objects but is
limited to very special applications. The Hovercraft as a vehicle is still in common use
but not in large volumes as was first thought. As engine and materials technology
progress, the Hovercraft may yet make a comeback.
Links of interest:
Hovercraft museum:
http://www.hover.globalinternet.co.uk/contents.html
General information:
http://209.133.86.145/faq/faq-his.html