Gliding on Air:The Creation of a Hovercraft

Megan HodgeIndependent Study

Fall Semester

Project Objective“Applied Science”

1. Hands on Independent Study2. Study a hovercraft and how it works3. Design a prototype4. Build a full-sized hovercraft

Project Timeline

Planning Course, Project

Approval

Contact Bluebills Advisor

Study and Explore Various

Resources

Lab on Pressur

e

Study Designs for Prototype

Project Timeline (Cont.)

Prototype (Build and

Troubleshoot)

Begin looking into larger hovercraft

designs

Choose design (wall skirt vs. bag

skirt, $)

Acquire Materials and

Build Hovercraft

Test, Troubleshoot,

Write Up Results

What is a hovercraft?

• A vehicle that can ride on air and travel over various surfaces

• Requires air pressure to build up underneath to lift it off the ground

• Used in the military, local and world wide competitions, and some are used for daily transportation

How does it work?• Fan/Air Source inflates skirt enough so that the

air pressure inside can lift the hovercraft off the ground

• Bag skirt contains holes to allow air to escape and push out from underneath to help with the lift and ensure that the skirt won’t burst

NORPORGreat Advice from Mr. Porter (Boeing Retiree)

Needs: Accomplish project for Independent StudyObjective: Create a functioning hovercraftResources: Designs online, Dr. DannPlanning: Choose design, gather materialsOperations: BuildReviews: Does it work?Redirection: What needs to be fixed/improved?

PrototypeMaterials:• Computer Fan• Paper Plate• Low Voltage Power

Supply• Wires

Prototype Challenges• Computer wiring not long enough• Weight to lift ratio• Skirt design

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpI1BDt92lY&feature=player_embedded

Large Scale Hovercraft

• Design Selection Process (Bag Skirt vs. Wall Skirt)

Materials and Equipment• Electric Leaf Blower• 6ft Plastic Sheeting• 4 ft. 3/8" Plywood• Duct Tape• Plastic Lid• Bolt 2in 1/4-20• Nut 1/4-20• Fender Washers• Staple Gun• Jigsaw• Pencil and String

Costs

• Leaf Blower- $15 CraigsList• Plastic Sheeting- $29.99 Ace• Plywood- $12.10 Home Depot• Nuts and Bolts- $4 Home Depot

Total: about $61(everything else I had at home (jigsaw, duct tape, plastic lid) or borrowed (staple gun from my grandpa)

Building

1. Measure and trace circular base (diameter of 4 ft.)

2. Cutting the base3. Drill center hole

for bolt4. Cut hole for

blower

Building (Cont.)5. Measure, cut,

and staple on plastic sheeting

6. Cut holes in plastic

ResultsTest #1

Modifications

Test #2

Test Run

Modifications

What I Learned

• Setting up and executing the planning process• How to find various resources (additional help,

online sources)• Application of physical concepts to make

hovercraft work• What an engineer does from start to finish• How to work with tools and design

Thanks to…

Ken Porter- BlueBillsMr. Klingler- Independent Study AdvisorDr. Dann- Teacher at Menlo SchoolDad and Mom- “Sponsors”Grandpa- Staple Gun

Hovercraft Terminology• skirting- keeps the air underneath the vehicle (surrounding the air cushion) to

ensure that the air stays in (variations in the skirting can change the hovercraft's ability to move over various surfaces)

• lift air- the air that is pushed into the level underneath the vehicle that causes it to lift off the ground once enough force has built up

• thrust- moves the hovercraft forward often created by a fan that pushes air in the back of the hovercraft

• lift- the amount of weight that a hovercraft can lift off the ground is equal to the cushion pressure x the area of the hovercraft

• fluid- takes the shape of the container surrounding it (air inside the bottom of the hovercraft)

• buoyant- when the force the pressurized air exerts on the surface equals the weight of the hovercraft

• static pressure- what lifts the hovercraft off the ground

Hovercraft ResourcesDiscoverHoverStyrofoam PrototypeStudent Hovercraft BlogBalloon PrototypeBasics Behind a HovercraftThe Making and Unmaking of the American Hovercraft | Popular ScienceUnder Pressure: Launch a Balloon Rocket: Scientific AmericanNASA - Thrust, Lesson 5AIM Manufacturing Videos and virtual factory toursLift Theories - WorksheetLift Theories - ActivityThe Lift EquationFactors that Affect LiftObjects with LiftGeneral Thrust EquationDynamic PressureWhat is Lift?Lift TheoriesNew Hovercrafts - Popular MechanicsDiscoverHover: Hovercraft FAQDragonflyTV . Episodes . Technology and Invention . Hovercraft | PBS KIDS GO!:: DiscoverHover :: Hovercraft Links :::: DiscoverHover :: :: DiscoverHover :: Curriculum Guides ::LABS DiscoverHover Curriculum Guide #4 - Pressure and Lift- ExperimentLAB DiscoverHover Curriculum Guide #1 - What is a Hovercraft and how does it work? - ExperimentNeoteric Hovercraft, Inc.Lift System Calculator for HovercraftAP-Physics-B-Project - Aerodynamics of Hovercraft - Horowitz & Lopez