Hovercraft weekend - rain on rain

[kach22i]

I drove 350 miles to Terra Haute, Indiana just to get rained on. Getting splattered in the face with cold rain did not sound like fun, so I just hung out and talked shop most of the time and watched the diehards race of course.

Working on my craft the day before, still on milk crates doing inflation test so I don't have to teather it down.



An anti drag flap plus getting it off the milk crates should seal that gap in the tail section.

[kach22i]

This thing is so large it could pass as a ferry. He has a firehose at the leading bottom skirt edge as an expendable wear item. I used a pool noodle to give my edge a curve rather than to leave the edge of the material exposed to surface wear.

[kach22i]

Some post race shots in the pits.

[kach22i]

At the river park, figuring out if anyone wants to venture out there.





And at the smaller park 30 minutes away where three or four of the craft finally went in.

[kach22i]

Action shots of the race and cruise here:

http://www.hoverclubofamerica.org/forum/index.php?act=module&module=gallery&cmd=sc&cat=14

[kach22i]

HOVERCRAFT - FIRST FLIGHT:

Videos

One:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1663313081488662208

Two:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4563104873090699357

Daring to be different.

[widebody911]

So, you have no way to steer that thing?

(*Ring* *ring*)

"Hello? Oh, hello Mr Darwin, Yes, George is right here, let me put him on..."

[bell]

that looks like fun, if you're on the water and the engine dies do you sink? cause that would suck

[kach22i]

Originally posted by bell
that looks like fun, if you're on the water and the engine dies do you sink? cause that would suck

Hovercraft have lots of foam in them, they float but it's not always pretty. They sit can sit low in the water, boat waves can come over the top when fishing in them.

I'm not sure what "Tube pattern?" is in reference to. The bag and drape skirt I'm using has a pontoon/sponson each side, a bag loop at the stern, and a hung drape of cloth across the front. So It's like two hot dogs, a bun and a napkin. I must be hungry.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by widebody911
So, you have no way to steer that thing?

(*Ring* *ring*)

"Hello? Oh, hello Mr Darwin, Yes, George is right here, let me put him on..."

You lean into a turn which helps bank the turn. They more or less slide sideways until the thrust overtakes momentum and you start going the direction you are pointed. It's a real art, kind of like controlling a car spin on black ice, but with less control.

[kach22i]

That cardboard pattern is for the stern/rear "in-fill" bag which fits between the sponson tails.

The picture taken of the inside of the stern bag is prior to rivet installation.



I'm still developing this skirt, the stern bag's relationship to the side sponson bag skirt needs work. It tends to detach or open up on turns, or as shown in the video when I touch the curb. This allows vast amounts of air to suddenly escape - not a good thing. I did not want to seal this connection because allowing the tail to wag is part of my low wear concept. It will wear less if is allowed to move more.

[Hayabusa]

This one beats them ALL!! hehe Making fine work of a weedblower!! NEIGHBORHOOD HOVERCRAFT

[jeffgrant]

Originally posted by kach22i
You lean into a turn which helps bank the turn. They more or less slide sideways until the thrust overtakes momentum and you start going the direction you are pointed. It's a real art, kind of like controlling a car spin on black ice, but with less control.

Sounds like all of my years playing Asteroids finally has a useful purpose.