Hovercraft - Ultimate Amphibious Machine

[@THEH2OMAN]

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.

[@parthmistry9033]

2021 and this show still feels so well-made.

[@georgeisaak5321]

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

[@theprophetez1357]

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.

[@michaellyda1617]

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.

[@raflimahardi2215]

🙏🙏n9 iijlkljl

[@scottthompson5716]

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

[@giuseppebattagliese6424]

it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_ubi_consistam And don't say stupid !!!

[@blue280485]

Hovercraft and Harrier, The Best of British Engineering!

[@georgeberrill4834]

@@saschabach3285 Yeah, agreed. But we lead and others follow. Most of the best inventions came from our shores, not bad for a litty bitty tea drinking island.

[@michaelloach9461]

If you want to know what this tiny tea drinking nation invented look at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9787698/Greatest-50-British-inventions-full-list.html

[@mobecker64]

@@georgeberrill4834 Indeed you have led for most of the 20th century, especially in aviation. But the Americans know a thing or two about marketing... miss seeing VC-10s, Tridents, BAC 111s in a world plagued by Boeings and 'Buses. Now I need my Vulcan howl fix! Cheers from Chile.

[@cashuma5010]

@@georgeberrill4834 . . . which were which ?

[@rogerhearn7109]

Cashuma Go to, and read the list on the site he has given you, read it and weep, we've been there, seen it, done it, and worn out the tee shirt doing it, colonial prats can only buy it and try and tell the world it was there inventions, read history my friend, the U.K. has been in the for front for doing things first for many many years....Don't hate, Congratulate...

[@GeneralPadron]

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

[@lil-neutron1437]

Thanks for finding such a cool old school video

[@SiskinOnUTube]

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

[@MikeGreenwood51]

Isn't the rough outside?

[@SiskinOnUTube]

@Dante Williams *m

Why was it a rough ride? Because of the sea state? Or the hovercraft itself?

[@SiskinOnUTube]

@ it was rough sea. I could feel vibration and it was noisy. I think it would have been worse on a ferry that day. It's over 30 years ago.

[@leighbarton7064]

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.

[@abdhulazeez3104]

LEIGH BARTON

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

I have wondered *why* the use of hovercraft in Vietnam was abandoned....

[@cashuma5010]

. . . wondering why the USA lost the Vietnam war, though . . .

[@sandemike]

@@cashuma5010 They lost it at Home.

[@cashuma5010]

@@sandemike . . . yes - first the USA (administration) lost ist morality and then it lost the support of their own people for good reasons . . .

[@karbengo]

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

[@ChristyHovercraft]

A real hovercraft

[@Cheeseburger.Launch.Sequence]

+karbengo Why is it when people post the dumbest fucking comments a million people respond. Then when pure comedic genius comes around as such it goes largely ignored. Kudos....it made me laugh pretty good.

[@Cheeseburger.Launch.Sequence]

+Christy Hovercraft Can anyone who has the cash buy a hovercraft? Or do I have to wait until one is born in the wild and capture it like in this video?

[@danielelagiglia5786]

Green Bean Sex Machine ,$XXJJZ CVMzJ$

[@pheakdeyofficial5094]

QEE.1235

[@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!.

[@jaminova_1969]

I worked at ACU-5 repairing LCAC''s ! Amazing machines!

[@jaywalker4097]

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👍🏽💯

[@jimjakosh2506]

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 ones...............Cheers, Jim Jakosh

[@KevinDoyle-r1w]

Christopher Cockerell. a very humble gentleman. BBC. "Can we interview you"? Christopher "I will have my breakfast first" A brilliant mind that just kept going until he conquered the task

[@colarguns]

Got to drive a large LCAC in Subic Bay back in 87, was awesome! The one I drove can carry roughly 13 tanks if I recall correctly.

[@biggin5434]

Bitchin! Thank you for your service Sir

[@colarguns]

@@biggin5434 Thank you! And your Welcome! My Honor! Miss it every day! Semper Fi

[@DD-dh5ls]

Not quite 13, I'd say 3 tanks plus some troops. The MBT of the USA and USMC back then was either M1 Abrahms or the older M60. The M60 was around 45 tons while the Abrahms was well in excess of 55 tons. What you got to ride was dependent on location. Abrahms was too heavy for most Philipine territory, so I doubt Abrahms was significantly deployed to that Theater. Maybe 13 Amtracks/Amphibious Tractors would fit the bill. Amtracks of that era were inferior (still are) as fighting vehicles to the Bradley when it was introduced. 3/4 III MEF (Okinawa)

[@jjdieselcowboytraveler79sm71]

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.

[@bohan9957]

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.

[@goldenretriever6440]

Bo Han Reality TV ruined it all

[@DjMoelder]

true that man... those fucking scripted (un)reality shows make me sick. Having DC and TLC broadcasting them feels like betrayal to me. Such a waste

[@leandroeller7650]

k

[@killerorca1]

dont be to sure

[@1mezion]

True that, now they only have crap.

[@davidbgooch9587]

Back when documentary's were actually good

[@georgemarsh4669]

The Hovercraft story was interesting informative and educational.

[@mikealnsnesr39]

George Marsh ok up

[@EleanorPeterson]

George? Hi! What a refreshingly sensible Comment! No politics, no bitterness, no spite... Are you sure you're feeling OK? ;-)

[@rudy103069]

yes but the inventor should of took the interview after crossing the english channel instead of going for breakfast?

[@nancyeunike6022]

Look how light pull it is when out of gas!

[@ronprince1478]

@@rudy103069 maybe true but he was English not American so didn’t need to tell the world how good he was.

[@thinkers1718]

I have One question? Can be possible to make frictionless surface and make a big transportation use of inertia....... ??????? Please suggest answer.

[@PawanKumar-yj9ig]

Yes

[@z_actual]

they are used for heavy lift in places like Alaska and Northern Canada mostly in the oil mining industry these machines are very utility in structure

[@1mezion]

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

[@FBurck]

And that is why I do not watch TV, I do not care what color a transvestite is going to dye its hair today .

[@shaunparkinson7121]

i agree there they need to take shit like only way is essex, rich kids go skint ect ect off tv and put programs like these on instead at least with documentary's you learn something only thing you might learn ( if your a girl that is ) from only way is essex is how to get the melted in a oven barby doll look as thats how all the well wont say girls look on there

[@DD-dh5ls]

What do you have against Essex? Get away from the slummy, drug gang controlled parts, and Essex was quite nice when I was last there.@@shaunparkinson7121

[@corsinosrmijares1179]

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

[@320ifq]

Are you really quite sure the us military took hovercraft to the next level? The SR.N4 mk3 weighed 320 tons cruised at 60 knots with a maximum of 83 knots and these were initially constructed in 1966. I think most would agree the uk already achieved the next level.

[@healthyamerican]

what he means is the military version is more than just a ferry boat

[@Cdr_Mansfield_Cumming]

The SR He's are beasts. I could not believe the size of it when I first went for a crossing of the English Channel. I think we crossed it in around 16 minutes. The things where huge with the four giant turbo fans and a a giant Union Flag on the side. As a kid I was in awe!

[@kolloduke3341]

THE LAND OF US !!!, haha check out the Russian military hovercrafts makes the american ones look like toys !lol

[@polygamous1]

they are just AMAZING their only drawback i can think are high running n maintenance cost, with new technologies making engines cheaper to run i believe they have a Great future just hope they will never die

[@yuyuolozaga3023]

polygamous1 Sozou they also cost slot of fuel..

[@conlethbyrne4809]

Vert cool, Slainte ❤

[@Overnity]

Thank God for the British and the Americans who Gave them Support, where would we be without each other...?

[@jivesublime]

Documentaries , are for me, a cheap cure for insomnia. I would go right to sleep after 20 min.

[@jackdooley8732]

Your ignorance is noted.

[@gordonquigg9389]

Can those big ones float? Or do they sink as soon as the engines aren't running

[@oldsmobileman1403]

They float when stationary.

[@jamesfrancis468]

Awesome video

[@GodlikeIridium]

Hovercrafts are absolutely amazing machines! I loved them since I learned they exist at all playing Diddy Kong Racing 😀

[@hansb.8]

The old days...... Not much left of this today.

[@mertgunes9854]

46:07 That scream reaches beyond time and space

[@रोहितबरला-ङ7ट]

मुझे यह वीडियो अच्छा लगा धन्यवाद।

[@voornaam3191]

1:07 Wow, I never knew hovercrafts sound exactly like an electric guitar! How do they do that?!

[@davidowens1132]

My 4 yr old just informed me that he wants to fly one of these in the US Navy. I said good choice!

[@priestgoober5160]

smart kid

[@Far2hip]

I remember crossing the channel to France more than a few times in the SRN4. I thunk the best trip was when I was allowed to ride almost the entire trip from launch to landing in the cockpit area. What a great experience that was for a kid my age at the time. I got the full run down of exactly what they were doing the entire trip. The pilots LOVED that I was hanging on every word. When they let me grab one of the control sticks, I was in absolute heaven, lol. We actually did a few trips in an executive hovercraft that was extremely posh and I have to say, it was like riding in a very high end executive jet with 3 attendants serving food and drinks. It was an awesome thing!! 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

Are these beautiful pieces of ingenuity ever deployed in dangerously snowy regions, say, Alaska, in human rescue operations, since they are at home on all types of terrain?

[@safetydave720]

Jay Young Yes. Google.

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

David G Thank you.

[@jonopedersen6282]

Jay Young I love that you ask that, although in the video, there is footage of a hovercraft in snowy and dangerous regions... Did you watch the first three minutes then get bored and move on?

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

Jono Pedersen Touche. My bad!

[@jonopedersen6282]

;D Hehe, no problem, just saying ;)

[@bjjthaiboxing]

What happens if it stalls on water? Does it float?

[@oldsmobileman1403]

Yes, they float when stationary.

[@bjjthaiboxing]

@@oldsmobileman1403 That is awesome! Thank you for answering my question. Cheers!

[@aishaogunniyi2991]

this video is a good one!!!!!

[@jamesmerkel9442]

A small tri hull carbon fiber ridged boat married to a hover craft is just what the doctor ordered, for insertion & coastal inspections & ferrying between ships & shore.

[@gobstoppa1633]

now thats what I call a superb video, educational and very entertaining in its content, great narration too, MINT" CHEERS.

[@Blueknight1960]

The one question they didn't address is--What happens if the engines fail while on the water? Does it float or sink?

[@UKWMO]

blueknight: They’re constructed with watertight bulkheads so can float when not on its cushion of air

[@OzzieWozzieOriginal]

@@UKWMO YEAH but if it loses power in the rapids, ITS GOODBYE TIME

[@OzzieWozzieOriginal]

@There's No God fukkk your own arse, a boat with engines cannot even go through rapids idiot..

[@berniecoates2597]

@@OzzieWozzieOriginal Ummm, yes they can and do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZaXfop_Z6qMfKM

[@leighthetwinotterflyerjone9460]

Why do i keep thinking about the Top Gear hover van all the way through this video.Lol

[@ketatrypt]

20:28 wow I never knew just how tough those things are! I would never have imagined they could get over those kind of sharp ice ridges

[@janholst]

Russian navy has some awesome Hover crafts in Kaliningrad. I saw them when I worked on a gas pipeline outside the shore of Kaliningrad a few years ago

[@dannynimmo3052]

I've seen those, they are cool and surprisingly affordable on the used market

[@sturobertson77]

Its a shame that Kaliningrad doesn't belong to Poland.

[@willymw78]

The zubr?

[@bennieknape4857]

This is a situation that played out many times,there were two or more teams working at the same thing.

[@berper5200]

golden age of hovercraft on earth is yet to come

[@shantoreywilkins1123]

yeah🌏🌎🌍

[@rossbiddulph8692]

They build one of the most technically advanced vehicles around, but the windscreen wipers look like they're off a 1962 prefect.

[@gregoryhamlet2909]

As a child I crossed the English Channel four times this way. That was over 45 years ago..I remember it being very noisy.. But it had a very good ride, even in choppy weather.

[@_Mentat]

Me too, but it vibrated a lot. I spent the whole journey trying the read the safety notice on the back of the seat in front but could never quite focus on it.

[@meacomefeyou]

5:20 flexible or fast 40 MPH on land or 70 MPH on ice? Not that fast

[@chrismadge5472]

Try stopping quickly on Ice lolol

[@mikecrabtree8200]

These are awesome, but what happens if one of the lift engines break down out over the water?

[@linusromey561]

Hovercraft will float on water without the air cushion. The air cushion does not provide buoyancy, it provides lift above the surface, whatever the surface happens to be.

[@rictrexell2118]

The police in Oshkosh Wisconsin had two HC's. They had to rescue some guys fishing on Lake Winnebago. The first one got stuck on the broken ice so they called for the other HC. It too got stuck. So they knew of a guy that had an air boat. They had him go out and rescue all involved. That spring the police had their own air boat and sold the HC's.

[@cashuma5010]

Ric Trexell: . . . nice fairy tail . . .

[@ronprince1478]

Ric. How many miles can an airboat travel over sand and gravel 200 300?

[@Eyecandylvr]

Awesome as always!! Looks like you are loosing that site for flying?

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

Do we see this same technology being applied to high speed railroad transport?

[@safetydave720]

Jay Young The Japanese use a magnet rail that keeps the train inches above the steel rail. It essentislly rides on air.

[@th1nk_outside]

David G magnetic lavitation trains or maglevs actually were a german invention, later sold to china.

[@safetydave720]

Quarkhammer Thanks.

[@youbidoubidou]

David G Maglev trains do not use air at all for levitation, it uses magnetic fields. The hovercraft technology uses way too much energy to be useful for public mass transportation.

[@carmelpule6954]

David G No it does not ride on air. it rides on magnetic forces which would work even if you operate in a vacuum with no air. Perhaps at very high speed there could be a contribution from the air being rammed under the vehicle but that is only a by product of motion not the main principle of operation, Professor Eric Laithwaite of Britain was interested in this technique,

[@ynotnilknarf39]

Travelled on one across the English Channel, like a bumpy bus ride and only 35 minutes, the good old days are long gone sadly!

[@mrrolandlawrence]

sweet jesus that some rapids! tbh ive only ever thought of the hovercraft as a fair weather transporter till now. impressive.

[@aviartscraft8121]

lovely work fd

[@atanacioluna292]

It seems the technology still has a long way to develop further. I hope to see more development along these lines.

[@daymenleo6895]

other then it being LOAD!! and it needs to stay on to flout unlike a bout you can turn off and fish .

[@benj_a2647]

@@daymenleo6895 it can float like a boat no problem with engines off. This documentary is nearly 30 years old now, hovercraft tech has come a long way since then.

[@koitorob]

Hovercraft - Ultimate Amphibious Machine? No. THAT'S the Toybota!!!!!

[@jackschitt7783]

Why don't we see more of these in operation? Why are they not commercialized as recreational or even every day vehicles?

[@Kingofgrowers]

Probably a very good thing this was not in National Geo back in the day. Pretty sure I would have redone a lawn mower n a raft or two. Yeah , My folks loved me enough as it went ...

[@จุรีแก้วจันทร์]

ฉันใช้แต่ตอนนี้ไม่มีในหัวของฉันแล้วเพราะรู้ว่าเขาโกหกฉัน

[@SupTim1]

Grower not show(er) baby

[@jayclifford8284]

If a hovercraft stalled while on water, would it sink?

[@UKWMO]

The KZbin Messiah: No, they’re fitted with watertight bulkheads so can float like a boat when not on its air cushion

[@garyspeed8961]

why are the royal marines arctic hovercraft black ?

[@Hells_Gate]

49:18 haha, its a smooth ride and no put holes, but ya might get whiplash. The tube ride didnt look very smooth

[@markmayfield2228]

I remember being at the commission ceremony for the first LCACs. I was in awe of them. They are monsters.

[@robertharper1181]

better than a LARK too!

[@DustinBKerensky97]

13:10 this guys is the most British person who has ever lived.

[@perryreasch1499]

wonder what is cost to operate

[@joshuanorris5860]

Wow 70mph with 50 cars and 400 people. Thats a nice ferry ha. And crazy when you think of where it can go.

[@Lurker1979]

I have always wanted to own a hovercraft.

[@julianv.5848]

YOU CAN PICK THEM UP DIRT CHEAP

[@josephvanwie6706]

So sad the grief that they put this brilliant man through. It's been that way all through history though. Remember Fulton's folly when he designed a ship to be powered by steam? The great lesson to be learned here is each one never gave up and neither should you. Stick to it or fail your dream.

[@bennieknape4857]

No out come is Guaranteed, You gotta get out there and hustle and have a good idea to start with. Even then you might not be successful

[@catalinaKallen]

Back in 2007 when catalina was on fire the LCAC's brought fire trucks and firefighters to help save the town. They are and very loud and huge. I've seen them many times out between camp Pendleton and San Clemente while out fishing.

[@fistpunder]

OK I may sound really silly asking this, but how efficient are they compared to typical boats? Do they take a lot of fuel to run?

[@andreasarncken8309]

James Demos hi there, the diesel powered Griffon 2000td carries a 2t payload at 25-30kn using an average of 40-50l ( 12gal)/h, very efficient for a high speed craft

[@x111-c4f]

that's an ultimate drifting vehicle !!

[@Intersimonedennis2]

" my hovercraft is full of eels !"

[@ballooningonmars4888]

As somebody having worked clearing landmines for 25 years, I have my reservations about the claims made about landmine resistance.

[@z_actual]

it goes to ground pressure Im sure it suffices the conventional military mine that would be anti-tank or anti-vehicle but anti-personnel mines Im really not so sure

[@healthyamerican]

i have an invention in my head for safely clearing land mines. how can i share it with you?

[@z_actual]

@@healthyamerican you say clearing, so finding but not detonating? I think to be successful you would need to able to transit over the common or garden variety IED which probably triggers on 50lb or so

[@ballooningonmars4888]

Hi. I am retired now. You could run your ideas through either the www.gichd.ch or an internationally well-known independent specialist by the name of Andy Smith via [e-mail] His website www.nolandmines.com is a wealth of information around the topic. Cheers

[@healthyamerican]

SV Zaya I meant to say detonating, and finding

[@rjl110919581]

THANKS FOR VIDEO AS GREAT MACHINES IN WORLD TODAY

[@benburnett2159]

If it stops will it sink?

[@ChannelReuploads9451]

If the lift fans stop, no, because the main body is flat, so it will float on the surface.

[@olowoporoku1000]

One of British greatest inventions

[@Paganiproductions84]

Make the hovercraft great again!!

[@kdogtyson1108]

FUCK YEAH!!!!😎🤘🤜🤛

[@allawiiowkw2107]

Good i like it 👌

[@healthyamerican]

i always thought hovercrafts were inflatable like rafts, and i always wondered how they didnt bust or get punctured. now i know

[@sylvesterighofose8189]

Good machine

[@robertc6015]

How far can one Travel over open water ?

[@davidbrandenburg8029]

they need to make some kind of small high intensity blowers to mount on the front and rear corners,and that would give small hovercraft more stability in turns and keep it from yawing. you definitely couldn't replace all the cars with them, because it would look like bumper cars at the fair. at least as unstable as they are now.

[@RafaelBenedicto]

The instability of many small hovercraft comes from the segmented skirt design. The 1980s SCAT is notorious for this. Newer hovercraft like the Coastal-Pro are more stable.

[@kdrapertrucker]

I know for a fact that modern submarines can detect low flying helicopters on passive sonar, there is no reason that they couldn't detect hovercraft.

[@immrnoidall]

There;s nothing like an attack vehicle, that blows dirt, sand, plants, rocks out in all directions when running.

[@midinerd]

I thought @ 14:11 that he was just sitting in a junkyard. behold, he is

[@jeanpierreivan2735]

Are there mini overcrafts?

[@SoumalyaBarai]

hey, i grew up watching this series in the Discovery channel...

[@claidheamhdalaimh3694]

I've got to have one of these babies. To be able to traverse just about any surface in any weather would be wild. I wonder if I can get one with a wheelchair lift and hand controls. Alas, 'tis but a dream, but what an exciting dream.

[@MARKMANIATT]

15 years too late for D Day.What a tool for storming the Normandy beaches.

[@kellybowen6031]

I agree, but those pesky little iron stars the Germans put out on the beach to stop the landing craft would destroy a hovercraft. Let’s also think about what the MG42 would do to that peice of Equiptment.

[@ukchris64]

I love the combat application of Hovercraft's, but what happens if the skirt is damaged by shrapnel, small arms fire?

[@foxgaming76yt24]

I think it deflates, or something like that, and would leave it unoperational. I am not 100% sure though.

[@machupikachu1085]

the skirts are made out of kevlar so they take a lot of abuse. Also, hovercraft work without the skirt, just not as efficiently, as mentioned in the video. Hope that helps. Cheers!

[@bradleysmith9431]

So this machine could be put out of operation, 6 ft T post halfway into ground sticking up, would stop this million dollar machine, puncture the skirt or get it stuck on top of a fence post!

[@dannynimmo3052]

your probably right, after all the billions in development they don't add into the cost of each unit. the US government had to make something of it, this was actually the most costly fail of its time, they kept getting promises and kept throwing money at it to the point if they didn't make something of it, it was probably going to be some ones ass. beautiful display of government spending

[@13minutestomidnight]

Wouldn't they just go around a single post? And if it's a fence sturdy enough that a hovercraft as heavy as that couldn't push it over with the weight of the hardware above the skirt, a lot of other military vehicles would be in trouble too (you can't really risk ramming an obstacle with an expensive military ship either). The hovercraft has specific jobs that it's very good at (particularly amphibious operations and on snow and ice), but if its sheer weight and thrust of its engines won't sail over or push over an obstacle, you need a tank, probably.

[@robertbrockway7301]

Lot of nice footage on hovercraft.

[@paxwallacejazz]

This design is ultimately impractical . Insufficient directional stability for one thing. But Ground Effect Vehicles are faster more fuel efficient capable of higher loading per the expense.

[@ZincTheChemist]

I want one, like for commercial use.. It would be kinda cool to go dunebuggying but in a hovercraft, or just go gliding around town in one of these where I live.

[@buckrowley1506]

or haul cargo

[@johneastman1905]

“Go dunebugging” you say.... you missed the point that these machines do not negotiate inclined surfaces particularly well. Try watching this again.

[@openbabel]

We wold like to see this back on the channel route with more economical engines and product development.