Hovercraft

[FutureBoy]

So I was looking at the Teslarati site and an advert came up for a hovercraft! I've always wanted to try out a hovercraft and they seem like they would be fun to ride if one had access to enough open land. But whenever I see a video of one they seem to be inordinately LOUD! What's that? Did you say LOUD? YES!!!!

It might be fun to have an EHC (Electric Hover Craft). Tow it behind the CT to get somewhere fun and then ride around for a while. Full electric should be much quieter. Not quiet mind you because of the huge fan involved. And of course, if the majority of the sound is actually just from the fan then I take this all back. But if the sound was reasonable for an electric hovercraft, I'd like to at least try one out.

So I did a search, I did, and found this hovercraft. Clearly not a production model that could be purchased but also clear that I'm not the only one thinking about an EHC.

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[Newton]

ooo00 a hovercraft, every 13 year olds best science project.

that being said, they are very cool. Another opportunity to make it better via electrifying

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Ever been in an airboat? Fans are very loud. A hovercraft has even more fans. Cool but not very practical.

 

[Crissa]

Ever been in an airboat? Fans are very loud. A hovercraft has even more fans. Cool but not very practical.

More practical than sinking into a soft surface, though.

-Crissa

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

More practical than sinking into a soft surface, though.

-Crissa

Not practical from a noise standpoint. In most cases an airboat would beat a hovercraft, assuming there is some water. I have always loved airboats and hovercraft so my notion of practical is probably somewhat outside the mainstream.

 

[Crissa]

Airboats fail anywhere sediment bars can block the way, and are beat in speed and maneuverability by jetboats anywhere with less grass or seaweed.

-Crissa

 

[Diehard]

If you want to carry something fun, I suggest Paramotors. If you have to go electric, there are companies like Exomo that are taking a stab at it but I don’t believe they are quite there yet.

 

[FutureBoy]

I've been watching electric paramotors. I have my own paraglider that I used to fly. At this age though foot launch is a bit iffy. So I'm looking to get an electric trike. Right at the moment there are electric systems but the flight time is pretty short. I'm hoping that once batteries like Tesla's 4280 get out into wider distribution that the flight times will increase considerably.

 

[Luke42]

If you want to carry something fun, I suggest Paramotors.

I love the idea, and the low cost of para gliders and parameters.

What talked me out of it was looking at reserve chute deployments on YouTube.

I fly sailplanes (while wearing a parachute), and we seek out thinks like dust devils and other bumpy air. The conditions that mess up paragliders look like my idea of a good time!

So, I'll stick with sailplanes and airplanes. Rigid wings for me!

P.S. my hybrid pickup truck is really well suited to glider ground operations.

 

[FutureBoy]

I love the idea, and the low cost of para gliders and parameters.

What talked me out of it was looking at reserve chute deployments on YouTube.

I fly sailplanes (while wearing a parachute), and we seek out thinks like dust devils and other bumpy air. The conditions that mess up paragliders look like my idea of a good time!

So, I'll stick with sailplanes and airplanes. Rigid wings for me!

P.S. my hybrid pickup truck is really well suited to glider ground operations.

I've ridden in a sailplane once. It was near Las Vegas though and the high temp in the cabin before the tow take-off nearly made me sick so the rest of the flight was a bit tedious.

Are there electric powered sailplanes that are any good yet? I'm guessing that the batteries are still too heavy for self-launch to a good altitude. But it would be nice to try that out.

I do see a jet engine powered one.

And a solar-powered one!! And a 6-seat solar transporter.

Hopefully by the time I have money enough to get into flight full-electric flight will be a thing.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Airboats fail anywhere sediment bars can block the way, and are beat in speed and maneuverability by jetboats anywhere with less grass or seaweed.

-Crissa

I have a jet boat and I would never take it where an airboat reins. But I wasn’t talking about where a particular craft is the best option; I was talking about noise. Any kind of boat except an airboat will make almost no noise compared to a hovercraft, and an airboat can do well in some of the same conditions that a hovercraft would for about the same noise. The hovercraft can get over land mass but you have to be careful where you take them. Anyway, we are way off topic...

 

[Diehard]

So, I'll stick with sailplanes and airplanes. Rigid wings for me!

I have done that as a passenger and it was definitely fun (especially the dive we did before landing) and probably safer and more convenient as you pointed out. I have done a bit of flying in single engine Cessna and have to admit the lack of engine noise In gliders are sweet. However you Can’t put a glider in the back of your CT, take off virtually from anywhere and climb independently. And gliders are more expensive hobbies than paramotors (excluding the cost of surgery after crash).

 

[Luke42]

However you Can’t put a glider in the back of your CT

Gliders, including motorgliders are easily trailerable.

But, yes, paramotors are flexible and affordable. They look like a lot of fun, even if they're mostly dawn-and-dusk machines.

Alas, like motorcycles, they're not within my personal risk tolerance during this part of my life.

 

[Luke42]

Are there electric powered sailplanes that are any good yet? I'm guessing that the batteries are still too heavy for self-launch to a good altitude. But it would be nice to try that out.

There are a couple of electric sailplanes available.

An electric self-launch engine with a retractable engione:
Taurus Electro – Pipistrel Aircraft (pipistrel-aircraft.com)
In-flight:
Pipistrel Taurus Electro - YouTube

The Front Engine Sustainer approach:
Front Electric Sustainer/Selflauncher - Future of gliding now (front-electric-sustainer.com)
Here's a closer look at the FES, which shows the batteries, and the preflight procedure:
New LS8-e neo review | Electric Glider 15 m & 18 m wingspan - YouTube

Unfortunately, motorgliders are about as expensive as powered planes. Pure gliders are *much* cheaper, especially used. Still more expensive than a paramotor, but the emergency procedures are more to my liking.

The batteries are usually good for at least 2 launches (meaning one launch, and one air-start to get you back to the airport).

 

[Crissa]

Anyway, we are way off topic...

How? The OP started on hovercraft and went to paragliders!

-Crissa