principle and working of hovercraft with it's different elements.

2. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
 Introduction
 History
 Elements of typical hovercraft
 Operation of the hovercraft
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 Applications of hovercraft
 Future of hovercraft
 Conclusion

3. HOVERCRAFT
What is a Hovercraft?
 A hovercraft is a vehicle that “flies like a plane, float like a
boat, drive like a car.
 A Hovercraft , also known as an air cushion vehicle or
ACV, is a craft capable of travelling over grass, water, mud
or ice and other surface.
 Hovercraft are hybrid vessels operated by a pilot as an
aircraft rather than a captain as a marine vessel.

4. HISTORY
 The first design by Swedish designer Emmanuel
Swedenborg in 1716.
 In 1915 Austrian Dagobert Muller built the world first
‘water effect’ vehicle.
 In 1931 finnish aero engineer Toivo J. Kaario began
designing a developed version of a vessel using an air
cushion and built a prototype.

5. INVENTION
1952 Sir Christopher Cockerell (British Engineering)
He invented the hovercraft and
patented in 1955. With diligent work he
was able to bring his idea to reality
with the first commercial hovercraft in
1959. British hovercraft corporation
developed the first commercial
hovercraft for passenger. From there
on the idea took with numerous
developments with the vehicle.

6. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL
HOVERCRAFT
Propeller:-
It pushes the hovercraft
ahead by pushing air behind.
Fan:-
Primary purpose is to inflate
the cushion containing within
the skirt beneath the craft as
well as to provide thrust with
which to propel the craft
Forward.

7. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL HOVERCRAFT
Hull
This is where the driver operates the hovercraft and passengers or cargo
are located. It is the main body of the hovercraft which acts as the base
for attaching of the other parts.

8. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL HOVERCRAFT
Lifting System
This consist of a centrifugal fan attached to a
motor or an engine, which provides air for the
cavity underneath the craft (called the plenum
chamber) and also for filling the skirts.

9. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL HOVERCRAFT
Thrust System
This consists of propeller that moves air from in front of
the craft and accelerates it out the back. This accelerated
mass of air then generates thrust which pushes the craft
forwards.

10. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL HOVERCRAFT
Skirt
This is the flexible wall that is attached all around the
bottom of the craft. The skirts prevents the pressurized air
from escaping from the plenum chamber.

11. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL HOVERCRAFT
Engine
A typical hovercraft uses one engine but larger sizes can use
more sometimes up to six engines. They usually utilized the
typical marine engines since they are quieter and fuel
efficient.

12. ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL HOVERCRAFT
Control System
This consists of a set of rudders that steer the craft by
directing the air from the thrust system toward either left
or right which consequently steers the craft.

13. OPERATION OF THE
HOVERCRAFT

The lift fan pushes a large volume of air under the hovercraft which is prevented from
escaping by the skirt.
As the fan continues to force air into this cushion, the pressure under the hovercraft
increases.
When the pressure under the hovercraft exceeds the weight of the hovercraft, the
hovercraft begins to rise off the ground this can be around 6’’ to 105’’ depending on the
size of the craft.
Eventually the hovercraft raises high enough to lift the skirt off the ground.
Air begins to escape through the gap between the ground and the skirt (called the
hovergap).
At some point the hovercraft reaches equilibrium point at which the amount of air being
forced into the cushion can not exceed the amount of air escaping through the hovergap.
At this point the hovercraft is hovering at its maximum hover height.
Fans mounted on top creates thrust air which is used to propel the hovercraft forward and
moving the thrust air with rudders controls hovercraft direction.

14. OPERATION OF THE HOVERCRAFT
Brakes & Steering

Steering
Steering is accomplished by use of the rudders. The rudders
are placed at the back of the craft in the direction of the thrust
air flow. As the direction of the rudders are changed so is the
direction of the craft.
Brakes
Hovercraft have no braking system. Simply reduce power
until the craft no longer hovers. Thrust reversers can be used.

15. OPERATION OF THE
HOVERCRAFT

Fuel Consumption
This will depend on the speed and other conditions which the craft is driven
under. But it uses less fuel as compared to cars and boats under the same
condition.

16. Advantages
• Travel over any surface.
• Shortcutting routes.
• Travel in dry water beds.
• No collision with debris, logs etc.
• Access to 75% of coastal area instead of only 5% with
conventional vessels.
• Hovercraft are very fuel efficient 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 petrol boat
with similar payload capacity

17. Disadvantages
• They move a lot of air and can be relatively loud(Noise
Pollution).
• Steep grade can be issue.
• Potential of skirt damage.
• Not exactly agile(e.g.: cornering).
• The hovercraft is bulky and its high speed make it
difficult to control while on land.

18. APPLICATION OF HOVERCRAFT

21. Future of Hovercraft
• The future of hovercraft seems uncertain, but there is good chance
there will be huge port all over the world. Thinner hovercraft might
be built so civilian can drive safely on road.
• Development in Neoteric Hovercraft Technology
• The future is more promising than ever before.

22. • The hovercraft is in operation today
throughout the world for variety of
purpose and its use is growing
giving raise to new and improved
designs resulting in greater
applications.
• With its safety and adaptability it
can become one of the most
important and economic
transport in future.
CONCLUSION

23. • www.google.com
• http://images.google.co.in/images
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hovercraft
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aircushion
REFERENCES

24. THANK U!

25. THE END