Anyone here do Hovercraft?!

[Dongledell]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place... couldn't really decide where to put it!!!

On an intergrated hovercraft (utilising the same motor and prop for both foward propulsion and for lift)....

From the reading I've been doing, hovercraft ideally need low pitch larger diameter (or multibladed) blades to provide large amount of thrust at low speed for the lift aspect (am I right so far?)

Aircraft experience tells me that to move something quickly with a prop, you need more pitch, smaller dia (at least to run efficiently on the sort of RPM our motors do)

but these two above statements (if correct) contradict each other when applied to making a hovercraft that will both hover correctly and move quickly?!!

Any thoughts/ suggestions very welcome. I'm looking to use a multiblade adjustable fan so I can keep the size of the fan as small as possible, but I dont want to go to lots of effort If I'm trying to put a square peg in a round hole here!!

[BartMan]

I can't believe that nobody has responded yet :confused: . Yes, this looks to be the spot for hovercraft. I'm no expert, but this link should help a bit. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348057



As far as variable pitch multi-bladed props, never seen one. I did see a 2 blade variable pitch prop, but can't recall where. (Airplane setup and web site, not Heli).

Hope this helps.
Bart

[Kmot]

I have a hovercraft that I built many years ago that utilizes a single propellor. It worked quite well. It would not "hover" in place but I don't think any other type hovercraft will? Anyway, once it was throttled up it lifted and moved forward. And it went really fast if you gave it full throttle! :D

[martin richards]

I think the ideas of "high speed" might be a bit different with aircraft operating hundreds of feet away and hovercraft, where maybe 10-15 mph looks hair raising.

[experimental_pil]

I didn't reply because he is getting help at the hovercraft forum
here... http://www.rc-hovercrafts.com

[Dongledell]

I am indeed now getting help over at http://www.rc-hovercrafts.com now cheers :D

Have to say for anyone looking at hovercrafts there is loads of usefull stuff over there - traffic not as fast and furious as over there yet hence why I asked both places at the same time, but the answers you get have shed loads of usefull info included :cool: and nice friendly atmosphere!

[experimental_pil]

Kmot that hovercraft looks interesting!
Is that your own design?

Did it run well on water? Land?
How fast is fast?

[experimental_pil]

Bump, Kmot???

[Kmot]

Sorry e-p. missed your question the first time.

No it is not my design. It was a kit made by Whiteman Industries in 1990, named the Marauder. It is all metal except for the foam flotation which had to be carved and the air ducts shaped. It called for a .60 size engine but I installed a .78 with a Perry Pump. I estimate it 'flies' around 40 mph. Although I never had mine on water, I did see a video at the Whiteman factory of this model flying on water and even in a rocky stream. Due to the entire insides being stuffed with the foam it is supposed to float like a boat. The factory used to be just down the street from my work so that is where I got my kit and watched the designers home made video. They subsequently moved to Arizona and stopped producing the kit not too long after I purchased mine in 1990. Was expensive at the time, around $400.

It ran amazingly well, imho. I flew it at my work which has a 26 acre concrete and asphalt parking lot for our buses. I also used to get a real kick flying it around a nicely groomed baseball diamond.

Mine has a Futaba FP-3G radio system that very unfortunately is no longer legal to use. But I intend to restore this craft someday and fly it again.

Here is another pic to show size reference. The Pontiac is a 1/10 scale car.

[y.takahashi]

:) It introduces some prototypes of my hovercraft. :D
It introduces to for the hovercraft that the person can take on the snow and the SES missile speedboat of the latest work in the image and see by all means, please. :rolleyes:
http://www.rc-hovercrafts.com/
:)

[experimental_pil]

Ahh too bad they stopped making it!! I really like this craft and it would be hard to do a re-make on my own of it.

Oh well...

[low-flyer]

Hello there.
I am a new member in here. I also do love hovercraft models and I found myself here when looking for them on the web, also I know http://www.rc-hovercrafts.com .
I think that the most forums talk about them (model hovercraft), the most people would be interested, so my guess is:
Not moving everibody just to one place, one forum, but develloping and growing forums all around the web, on hovercraft models.
As others requested before, why not starting a new Hovercraft forum in here?
Admin of the site, what do you think about the idea?

Best wishes for all

[artmonster]

I just made one......
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=381331


looks.................well..................


works...great !