Our recreational hovercraft are available for as low as $19,500 and up to $36,000 with options. Rescue hovercraft range from $28,000 to $79,000 and commercial hovercraft from $36,000 to $90,000.

The World Hovercraft Organization states hovercraft skirts are made out of neoprene coated nylon.

A hovercraft has what’s called a skirt to contain the air. When the air blower is turned on, this skirt creates a pocket that traps the pressurized air. That pressurized air is what gives the lift to make a hovercraft work.

So, if I stop on the water, will it sink? No. We’ve thought of that and all BHC hovercraft float like a boat. If it is completely swamped (i.e. full of water) it will continue to float as it has plenty of flotation foam fitted.

The vehicle is not yet street legal, but that hasn’t slowed initial sales of the just-launched craft. The first 10 pre-ordered vehicles will be delivered to customers May 15, says Mercier-Jones’ James Toland. Where will hovercrafts be driven if not on or, well, above busy streets?

• What are the disadvantages of a hovercraft?
• Two main ones.
• You need to run the engines to keep it hovering – wheels or a boat hull don’t burn fuel just to sit there.
• You are not well connected to the ground/water so you can’t apply force to the ground/water to maneuver.

THE two hovercraft that have travelled between Dover and Calais for more than 30 years begin their final week in service today, forced into retirement by competition from the Channel Tunnel and passengers’ demands for more luxury.

How safe is a hovercraft? In its 50 year history, the hovercraft has proven to be possibly the safest vehicle ever conceived. Unlike boats, hovercraft never sink. Their planform area must be large for lift purposes, so they carry lots of flotation compartments or foam, which prevents sinking.

Russian Zubr

The Princess Margaret, one of the last remaining cross-Channel hovercraft, has been dismantled and scrapped. The Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-the-Solent said it had used “vital” parts in the ongoing restoration of the second giant craft, the Princess Anne.

BBC News | UK | Hovercraft bids farewell to Channel. The hovercraft is to make its final journey across the Channel on Sunday after 30 years of carrying passengers to France and back. The hovercraft will make their final run from Dover to Calais at 1800 BST and return at 1930 BST.

The first practical design for hovercraft was derived from a British invention in the 1950s. They are now used throughout the world as specialised transports in disaster relief, coastguard, military and survey applications, as well as for sport or passenger service.

The Isle of Wight Hovercraft is the last remaining commercial hovercraft service in the world. It operates a regular timetable transporting passengers between Ryde and Southsea in Portsmouth, with excellent connections to both road and rail networks on either side.

World’s Largest Hovercrafts Hitting Speeds Up To 95 MPH. Hovercrafts travel on an air-cushion and can travel over earth, water and ice. They operate by creating a cushion of low-pressure, high volume air between the hull and ground. The hovercraft travels about 8 inches (205 mm) to 25 inches above surface.

As hover craft is lighter than that of a steamer, it produces less pressure, so hover craft travels faster than a steamer.

Firstly, technically, hovercraft do fly – albeit only 6 inches off the ground – and when we used to use the SRN4s across the channels, the people flying them were referred to as pilots.

A hovercraft can’t climb steep hills (much over 20 degrees or so) or travel over extremely rough surfaces (bushes or small shrubs or tall stiff grass for example). They can’t travel over surfaces that contain long sharp objects (branches, roots or large sharp rocks) that could damage the skirt or hull.

Because a hovercraft is riding on a cushion of air (the entire craft rides 300mm above the surface) and has no direct surface contact it can travel over any type of reasonably level surface – including water, land, marsh, mud, grass, etc.