Hovercraft - Ultimate Amphibious Machine

This machine breaks all the rules, it can penetrate some of the toughest terrains on earth, over land, over water, from the polar ice, to the rapids of the Amazon. This is the ultimate frictionless floating machine, the incredible hovercraft.

A hovercraft, also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is a craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud or ice and other surfaces. Hovercraft are hybrid vessels operated by a pilot as an aircraft rather than a captain as a marine vessel.

Hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the hull that is slightly above atmospheric pressure. The pressure difference between the higher pressure air below the hull and lower pressure ambient air above it produces lift, which causes the hull to float above the running surface. For stability reasons, the air is typically blown through slots or holes around the outside of a disk or oval shaped platform, giving most hovercraft a characteristic rounded-rectangle shape. Typically this cushion is contained within a flexible "skirt", which allows the vehicle to travel over small obstructions without damage.

The first practical design for hovercraft derived from a British invention in the 1950s to 1960s. 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. Very large versions have been used to transport hundreds of people and vehicles across the English Channel whilst others have military applications used to transport tanks, soldiers and large equipment in hostile environments and terrain.

[THEHOMAN]

In the mid to late 1980s I was the test pilot for a large manufacturer of personal hovercraft based in Miami, Florida, I also demonstrated the craft as well as gave flight instructions to prospective dealers. I was paid to rack up 3, 000 plus hours on those craft, and I had a blast doing it. Shooting through no-wake zones in Miami's Inter coastal and canal system at over 40 mph raised many eyebrows, flying up onto the beach for lunch at the Fontainebleau and flying circles around the S/S Norway as she departed the port of Miami made the local news. Good times at 8" above any surface.

[davidbgooch]

Back when documentary's were actually good

[georgeisaak]

Incredible machines ! Really loving the fact they are not disturbing the environment as much as other conventional transportation means .

[parthmistry]

2021 and this show still feels so well-made.

[theprophetez]

I got to ride in a large military one over 40 years ago and it was a real thrill going from sea to land, and back to sea.

[leighbarton]

During the Vietnam conflict the United States had 2 hovercraft for use in the jungle. About the only vehicles that worked well there. The limitation placed on the speed of the craft by the homogenized steel armor plates weight reduced the maximum speed to about 45 mph. This resulted in the vehicles being mothballed. The advent of Kevlar armor reducing the weight penalty with nearly the same protection factor makes the vehicles a viable asset provided the maneuverability problems can be overcome. By utilizing a vent on the opposite side of the turn actuated by the steering mechanism the directional control at higher speeds should stabilize. This means that by having 1 or 2 additional vents on each side to negate the residual inertia during a turn, the craft should respond to its controls more quickly. A redesigned variant of the thrust vectoring system used on the Harrier jump jets should stabilize the vehicles quite well. IF properly developed.

[michaellyda]

This old man in used to have a small hovercraft back in the 80s. I was always fascinated.

[jacqueszietsman]

Wow its the first documentary in years that does not have me fast asleep after the first 10 minutes. Really sad that they would not replace the two giants once they're gone.

[karbengo]

50:24 And that, my son, is how baby hovercrafts are born.

[scottthompson]

I was going to get stuff done but found this video. This is your only go to video on Hovercraft. The best!

[GeneralPadron]

In the words of Dr. Emmet Brown. “Where we are going, we don’t need roads.”.

[jimjakosh]

Very good history of the Hovercraft. I had build a UH16P in 1988 from plans from Universal Hovercraft and flew it for 10 years. I wish I still had it sometimes but I am getting too old to do the maintenance on the skirt which was a balloon skirt and not segmented like the new Jim Jakosh

[jaywalker]

Bravo! This was an awesome documentary and I have a whole new respect for the Hovercraft. The guy who invented it really did something great for mankind. Much respect and Salute to him. I hope to one day own a small Hovercraft to go joyride in with friends and family👍🏽💯

[TvshkaHumma]

My brother in law was in the US Navy and he was stationed on Camp Pendleton at HCAC Unit 5 and he worked on the cushions of these immense hovercrafts, they are quite a site and are very large!.

[corsinosrmijares]

ITS AN AMAZING CRAFT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. ITS A DUAL PURPOSE STRIKE ANYWHERE BOTH LAND AND WATER OPERATION.

[jjdieselcowboytravelersm]

Very impressive to say the least. They should be used more for water transportation and flood rescue. Imagine if they were used on major rivers to connect travelers to other points and connections to other forms of transportation. This would help cut down on congestion. The idea of the tunnel and elevated craft are great as well. If they cut down on road congestion then trucks could move more freely and safely. Therefore less accidents and delays. That would also mean freight would get delivered a lot faster.
All of things we buy are transported by truck 🚛
If they come up with different mass transit systems for travelers that would definitely cut down on traffic congestion and wear one the highway system.

[bohan]

Ah yes, the good old days when The Discovery Channel and TLC still has descent documentary.  I remember seeing this episode on TLC as one of the "Extreme Machines" episode.  These channels have nothing but garbage shows now.

[SiskinOnUTube]

I flew from Dover to Calais in one once. It was quite an experience. It was a rough ride, but unforgettable.

[mezion]

I miss shows like these, Now you can mostly find these gems on YouTube they've given up these intelligent informative documentaries in exchange for mind-numbing nonsensical so-called reality crap shows.

[blue]

Hovercraft and Harrier, The Best of British Engineering!