I created these slides for my friend Midhun Vijay....

3. Contents
 Preface
 Introduction
 History
 Invention
 Basic Structure
 Principle Of Working

4.  Hovercraft
Preview
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 Applications
 Future

5. 1) Drive like a car but
2) Flies like a plane.
3) It can hover over or move across land or water surfaces while
being held off from the surfaces by a cushion of air.
4) Float like a boat.

6. 4) A Hovercraft can travel over all types of
surfaces including grass, mud, muskeg, sand,
quicksand, water and ice .Hovercraft prefer
gentle terrain although they are capable of
climbing slopes up to 20%, depending upon
surface characteristics.

7. #) A hovercraft, also
known as an air-cushion
vehicle or ACV, is a craft #) Hovercraft are hybrid
capable of travelling over vessels operated by a pilot
land, water, mud or ice as an aircraft rather than a
and other surfaces both at captain as a marine vessel.
speed and when
stationary.

8. #) They operate by creating #) They typically hover at
a cushion of high-pressure heights between 200mm
air between the hull of the and 600mm above any
vessel and the surface surface and operate above
below. Typically this cushion 20 knots and can clear
is contained within a gradients up to 20 degrees.
flexible "skirt".

9. #) Very large versions
have been used to
#) They are now used transport hundreds of
throughout the world people and vehicles
#) The first practical as specialized across the English
design for hovercraft transports in disaster Channel whilst others
derived from a British relief, coastguard, have military
invention in the 1950s military and survey applications used to
to 1960s. applications as well as transport tanks,
for sport or passenger soldiers and large
service. equipment in hostile
environments and
terrain.

10. 1) The first design by Swedish designer Emmanuel Swedenborg in 1716.The
project was short-lived because it was never built.
2) In 1915 Austrian Dagobert Müller built the world's first "water effect"
vehicle.
3) In 1931 Finnish aero engineer Toivo J. Kaario began designing a developed
version of a vessel using an air cushion and built a prototype.
4) During World War II an engineer in the United States of America, Charles
Fletcher, invented a walled air cushion vehicle. Because the project was
classified by the U.S. government, Fletcher could not file a patent.

11. INVENTION
1) The idea of the modern
hovercraft is most often associated
with Sir Christopher Cockerell.
2) Cockerell built several models of
his hovercraft design in the early
1950s.

12. The First Hovercraft

15. Basic Structure Of
Hovercraft
Parts Of Hovercraft
o Propeller :-
It pushes the hovercraft
ahead by pushing air behind.
o Fan :-
Primary purpose is to inflate
the cushion contained
within the skirt beneath the
craft as well as to provide
thrust with which to propel
the craft forward.
o Skirt :-
Part that allows the
hovercraft to clear
obstacles. Generally
speaking, the higher the
skirt, the larger the obstacle
that the craft will clear.

16. Detailed Construction Of
Hovercraft
Construction of hovercraft varies
according to it’s Applications.

17.  Radar: apparatus that detects objects through the use of
microwaves.
 Pylon: supporting post.
 Dynamic propeller: two-bladed apparatus that provides
motion.
 Fin: steering device.
 Rudder: apparatus that prevents drift.
 Lift-fan air intake: opening to allow air to enter.
 Main level drive gear box: compartment that contains and
protects the gear mechanism.
 Skirt finger: part of the flexible skirt.
 Passenger entrance: opening on the side wall that provides
access to the passenger cabin.
 Flexible skirt: lower flexible part.
 Bow door ramp: opening at the front.
 Control deck: cubicle from which a hovercraft is operated.

18. Principle Of Working
#) To lift the craft by a cushion of air to propel it
using propellers.
#) The air sucked in through a port by large lifting
fans which are fitted to the primary structure of the
craft.
#) They are powered by gas turbine or diesel
engine.

19. #) Fan is used to inflate the skirt and rest is
ducted down under the craft to fill area
enclosed by the skirt.
#) At the point when the pressure equals
the weight of the craft, the craft lifts up and
air is escaped around the edges of the skirt.
#) So a constant feed of air is needed to lift
the craft and compensate for the losses.

21. 1) Travel over any surface.
2) Shortcutting routes.
3) Travel rivers up as fast as down, irrespective of the current.
4) Travel in dry water-beds
5) No collision with debris, logs etc.
6) Access to 75% of coastal area instead of only 5% with conventional vessels

22. #) Hovercraft are very fuel efficient
(CO² friendly) as Hovercraft do not
have to plough through the water
but "fly" above the surface. At
maximum speed fuel consumption
of a Hovercraft is approx. 70% less
than of a fast patrol boat with
similar payload capacity.
#) No turbulence or impact in water
as no propeller churns up the water
so sea life remains untouched.

23. 1) They move a lot of air and can be relatively
loud.
2) Steep grades can be issue.
3) Potential of skirt damage/puncture.
4) Not exactly agile (eg: cornering).

24. Applications of Hovercraft
• Border/coastal/inland patrol, anti terrorism, drug
smuggling patrol.
• High speed marine sub surface & ground scanning survey
& detection.
• Rescue work from flooded areas, mud, sand, tidal areas.
Rescuers can reach floods, mud, sand & ice victims
without exposing rescuers to life threatening danger.
• Distribution of famine or flood aid support craft. Relief
work (United Nations).
• Civil emergency & infrastructure support
• Oil industry survey, exploration & pipeline patrol.
• Electrical Power-line patrol & safety.
• Remote mining access support vehicle.

25. • River, lake & port geological surveys.
• Mud & riverbed sampling.
• Environmental projects & clean-up operations.
• Coastal civil engineering & bridge construction &
repair/maintenance.
• Transport, service & safety craft for river & low tide coastal
work where 24-hour access is vital for staff safety.
• Fish farm & low tide access.
• Leisure & family fun. Rental Operations, Corporate
entertainment. Education, schools. Summer fetes & shows.
• Access to Riverside, lakeside & island properties. Hovercraft
travel over mud, sand & ice. Hovercraft are not restricted by
tide, or fast running water. Or shallow water, or submerged
rocks, coral, or marine life.
• Filming & TV work. Store sales & advertising (Harrods).

26. The future of hovercraft
seems uncertain, but there is
a good chance there will be
huge hover ports all over the
world, like the one in the
picture. Thinner hovercraft
might be built so civilians
can drive safely on roads..

27. • Hovercrafts have been a must have for coast guard
veterans, disaster relief agencies, and personnel,.
Publicly and commercially, rescue services to those in
need.
• personal fishing excursions,
• accommodate previously hard to reach locations,
providing transportation, goods and delivery services
more effectively than before, while law enforcement,
military, and government patrol and rescue outfits can
find their mark quickly and effortlessly, no matter the
terrain’s composition.
• With unique ingenuity comes exceptional design, style
and reliability. Hovercrafts are safe, exciting to use
and drive, and are easier to own than ever!