(original post by admin on 29-MAR-2005)

"I am a student who has been interested in building a hovercraft for quite some time. I just recently decided to take upon myself the task of building one as a project for my physics class gave me the opportunity to do so. I just recently received a copy of your plans through my educational instructor. I am contacting you with a few questions involving the design of a skirt. I have done much research in this specific dynamic of the hovercraft, but I have my own ideas about it. In order to expand my knowledge of these vehicles, I went to see how the design of a commercial craft was constructed. After careful analysis, I saw that the skirt was designed with several bags, each attached to a seperate air vent. More research confirmed that this skirt was simply called a bag skirt. My question has more to do with an alternate design of this, as I have my own theory concerning its design. Why couldn't a skirt that is designed more as one large bag also carry out the same function, as it would still push the air under the craft for lift. Would this not eliminate the chance for air to escape as a bag system has areas where air can freely escape outward. This skirt I am attempting to design would still attach normally as the only difference would be that these bags would be attached to one another instead of just freely touching. I've given this careful thought as I've attempted to find others with similar designs but I was unsuccessful. If you have any guidance concerning this, please inform me as it will be appreciated.

Reply To This | Edit Post | Delete Post | Move/Merge Post

(original post by Anonymous on 30-SEP-2005)

I always just assumed the multi bagged skirt is a precautionary system. If you're design was built with one bag, if there was ever a tear in it the air would freely escape and drop your craft, and/or spin it in the wrong direction. Using a multibag system if a bag is punctured the craft is still able to fly with little detrimental effects. It's sort of like the Titanic, it had multiple chambers so that it couldn't sink if one was punctured...or course it had a gigantic gash that sunk it...but that's neither here nor there.

Parent | Reply To This | Edit Post | Delete Post | Move/Merge Post

(original post by Anonymous on 25-JAN-2006)

Hi, I am doing a project on how adding weight onto a hovercraft will affect its lift. When I started adding weight onto my homemade hovercraft, its lift actually rose with weights ranging from 10lbs-30lbs but pounds 40-100 lowered the lift. I don't know why it did this, please give me any feedback/information that you have on why it did this.

p.s.
The hovercraft I made was a small homemade one made out of plywood, a 6mil plastic sheet for the skirt, and a shopvac as an engine.

Parent | Reply To This | Edit Post | Delete Post | Move/Merge Post