How are hovercraft used?

Hovercraft are so versatile that their applications are as diverse as the people who use them. They are most often used to reach areas that are inaccessible on foot or by conventional vehicles. Hovercraft can go where most other vehicles can't.

Hovercraft are the ideal vehicle for ice fishing and for ice rescue operations

due to their ability to fly safely over thin or broken ice.

 A partial listing of hovercraft uses includes:

• Exploring the vast number of shallow and narrow waterways that cannot be reached by boat
• Rescue work on swift water, ice, snow, mud flats, deserts, wetlands, shallow water, swamps, bogs, marshes and floodwaters.
• Affordable, safe way to fly without a pilot's license.
• Transport in environmentally sensitive areas where habitat, erosion and soil compaction are a concern; wildlife conservation research; environmental testing

• Oil spill cleanup
• Tourism; transportation or "island-hopping"
• Fishing anywhere ... including ice fishing
• Military services
• Water management
• Port authorities/drug enforcement
• TV and film companies; entertainment at Disney World water shows
• Agricultural spraying
• Survey work
• Heavy load movement across difficult surfaces
• Mosquito abatement
• Removing leaves from Pecan farms
• "Bird hazing" – chasing geese from lakes in the vicinity of airports 

To learn more about hovercraft, read About Hovercraft …

Have a question about hovercraft? Just post it as a comment.

Do hovercraft hurt the environment?

The answer is no. The unique characteristics of the hovercraft make it one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles in the world. 

One of these characteristics is the hovercraft's low "footprint pressure." The pressure a hovercraft exerts on its operating surface is about 1/30th that of the human foot! The average human being standing on ground exerts a pressure of about 3 lb per square inch, and that increases to 25 lb per square inch when walking. In contrast, the average hovercraft exerts a pressure of only 0.33 lb per square inch - even less as speed increases. 

This "footprint pressure" is below that of a seagull standing on one leg! Hovercraft have literally flown over a pedestrian without inflicting harm.

A film crew from the cable network WeathTV sets up to film an illustration of how the hovercraft's environmental footprint

is so gentle that it can hover over delicate eggs without damaging them.

To learn more about hovercraft, see Hovercraft Q & A …

Have a question about hovercraft? We’re here to answer – just post a comment.