An amphibious transport mode that rides on a cushion of air blown beneath its hull and contained by a flexible skirt, letting the craft travel over water, mud, ice and level land alike without ever touching most of the surface below it. British engineer Christopher Cockerell developed the practical design through the 1950s, and his SR.N1 first flew above the ground on 11 June 1959 before crossing the English Channel that July. Commercial cross-channel passenger service has since given way to faster catamarans, but hovercraft remain in use for military amphibious landings, shallow-water search and rescue, and recreation.
Facts
Core ConcernRiding above land, water, mud or ice on a self-contained cushion of blown air held by a skirt 1 Cargo or Passenger Typical Speed (km/h) Connections
Exemplified By
Source Saab 401 (Wikipedia)
Source Saunders-Roe SR.N1 (Wikipedia)
Source Saunders-Roe SR.N2 (Wikipedia)
Source Saunders-Roe SR.N3 (Wikipedia)
Source Saunders-Roe SR.N4 (Wikipedia)
Source Saunders-Roe SR.N5 (Wikipedia)
Source Saunders-Roe SR.N6 (Wikipedia)
Source Vickers-Armstrongs VA-3 (Wikipedia)
Has Worker
Source Christopher Cockerell (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Hovercraft
WikipediaIntroduction
A hovercraft (pl.: also hovercraft), also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and various other surfaces.
Overview
Hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the hull, or air cushion, that is slightly above atmospheric pressure.
History
The shipbuilder John Isaac Thornycroft patented an early design for an air cushion ship / hovercraft in the 1870s, but suitable, powerful, engines were not available until the 20th century.
- In Category: Modes
- Part Of: Maritime Transport
In Group: Fast Water Craft Modes, Lead sentence
A hovercraft (pl.: also hovercraft), also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and various other surfaces.
View the Source 2. DiscoverHover: Hovercraft FAQ
Who invented the hovercraft?
With the ability to carry up to 400 passengers and 50 automobiles,
How fast can a hovercraft go?
Depending upon the terrain and the weather, the average speed of a hovercraft is 35 mph (56 km/h).
View the SourceSaab 401 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saab 401, Lead, modeQuote, Exemplified By: Saab 401, Lead, mode
an experimental air-cushioned vehicle
Vickers-Armstrongs VA-3 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Vickers-Armstrongs VA-3, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Vickers-Armstrongs VA-3, Lead
The Vickers-Armstrongs VA-3 was the hovercraft used for the world's first passenger-carrying hovercraft service.
Christopher Cockerell (Wikipedia)
Has Worker: Christopher Cockerell, LeadQuote, Has Worker: Christopher Cockerell, Lead
was an English engineer, best known as the inventor of the hovercraft
Saunders-Roe SR.N1 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N1, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N1, Lead
The Saunders-Roe SR.N1 (Saunders-Roe Nautical 1) was the first practical hovercraft.
Saunders-Roe SR.N2 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N2, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N2, Lead
The SR.N2 was a hovercraft built by Westland and Saunders-Roe.
Saunders-Roe SR.N3 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N3, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N3, Lead
The British Hovercraft Corporation SR.N3 was a 37.5 ton hovercraft originally designed by Saunders-Roe.
Saunders-Roe SR.N4 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N4, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N4, Lead
The SR.N4 (Saunders-Roe Nautical 4) hovercraft (also known as the Mountbatten class hovercraft) is a retired combined passenger and vehicle-carrying class of hovercraft.
Saunders-Roe SR.N5 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N5, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N5, Lead
The Saunders-Roe SR.N5 (or Warden class) was a medium-sized hovercraft which first flew in 1964.
Saunders-Roe SR.N6 (Wikipedia)
Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N6, LeadQuote, Exemplified By: Saunders-Roe SR.N6, Lead
The Saunders-Roe (later British Hovercraft Corporation) SR.N6 hovercraft (also known as the Winchester class) was essentially a larger version of the earlier SR.N5 series.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.