Timothy Garner
Adviser: JunKun Ma
Hovercraft
Introduction:
The idea of an all terrain vehicle has been an engineering focus for years. The ability to seamlessly
change from land, to seas, to mud, and to marsh. is a problem engineers have been trying to solve for
decades. The idea has lead engineers to create planes able to land on water, tanks with the ability to
float on water, and boats with the ability to drive on land. Vehicle of a duel nature create a unique
design challenge.
A Hovercraft is a multiple terrain vehicle ideal for senior engineering project. It is a
combination of a boat and a plane. It uses the boats ability to float and the planes use of thrust and lift
to allow the craft to move easily over so diverse terrain. Such as, ice, snow, land, water, and marsh. The
hovercraft uses air forced into a skirt and under the hull to create a cushion of air for the ship to float
above any terrain. The air under skirt of the hovercraft is what allows it to be able to go over water as
well as most obstacles. It removes the friction created by water or land and allows the hovercraft to ride
on a cushion of air. The ship is propelled forward using a propeller or other means to force air out of
the rear. The rudders of the hovercraft use the force the air to steer the ship by changing the direction
of the air flow. All major parts are labeled in figure 1 provided www.raymondclan.com
Figure 1 provide by www.rayondclan.com
The design aspects of the hovercraft allow for the design of an air cushion, an air propulsion
system, a boat hull, and many other challenges to engineering. The hovercraft allows engineers to
utilize the design ideas of lightweight design, material selection, steering, mechanical properties, drive
train, electrical components, controls, fluid mechanics and the design aspects for a vehicle for both land
and water.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to research and design a hovercraft. There are many design
aspects to explore. The main focus for this project will:

Design a fully functioning Hovercraft. This includes the ability to hover over land and
water.

Have specs comparable to a professional model of similar size and power. The hover craft
for comparison is the UH-13PT twin trainer by Universal Hovercraft in figure 2.
 Capacity 2 Persons Payload 500 Lbs
 Speed 40 mph
 Hover Height 8 inches
 Length 13 ft 6 in
 Width 6 ft 2 in
 Empty Weight 300 Lbs
 Flotation 1500 Lbs

Climb Gradient 20 to 30%
Figure 2 by Universal Hovercraft

Have unique design aspects equaling out any differences in design specs between
comparable models.

Have a lower cost compared to a professional kit.
Design Goal:
The Goal of the design aspects is to create a comparable hovercraft to a kit provided by
Universal Hovercraft. The built product will have the following changes to the design specs:

A lighter hull by using aluminum tubing

Landing system using high density foam

Braking system

Non gas motor powered lift system using electric blower motors

A system to move the craft in reverse by redirecting air flow

Outer shell by creating a removable cover
Time Line:
The project will be designed, built, and tested in two phases. Each phase will have a specific
goal, time line, and product. The first phase will cover the time allowed by Spring Semester 2012. In
this phase, the base of the Hovercraft will be built. This includes the hull, frame, lift system, and thrust
system. The second phase will take place over the course of the Fall Semester 2012. In this phase, the
Hovercraft will be refined. This will include the implementation of the braking system, steering,
reverse, outer shell, and finishing technical details.