Flying Boat Invention Almost Ready For Lift-Off
New Zealand inventor Rudy Heeman has created and has been recklessly testing a FLYING BOAT that rides on a cushion of air between the water and the craft's wings. The vehicle can't rise above what's called "ground effect" -- which is a good thing. That means you don't need a pilot's license -- or even a driver's license -- to fly in this thing, and you can go much faster than you can in a boat that touches the water. He expects the design to be complete in a few weeks.
9:08 PM * PERMALINK * 7 comments
Comments:
Arn't you looking for the word 'Hovercraft' ?
Wing in Ground Effect != hovercraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing-In-Ground_effect_vehicle
Admittedly, yes, the photo contains a hovercraft with wings strapped on, but still...
The Russians call them "ekranoplan".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekranoplan
I couldn't help myself... but doesn't a "Hover Craft" consist of it hovering in the air without having to really go in any direction. I don't think that thing in the image above would hover if the rear engine/ thrust fan was shut off. It looks like it needs to actually pick up speed in order to "FLY". So whatever that thing is... it for sure isn't a hover craft.
I'd advise that you punch in "personal hovercraft" in Google image search so that you might better understand what you're looking at in the OP image.
Are you starting to see "a hovercraft with wings strapped on" now?
old jokes www.universalhovercraft.com
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