Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a ‘hoverwing’ – dailymail.co.uk: For travellers who can’t decide whether to sail or fly, it is the perfect compromise.
Rudy Heeman has developed a hovercraft with the ability to lift- off, leaving other waterbased craft in its wake.
The hoverwing sets off like a normal-hovercraft but when it reaches top speed of 60mph, its wings can be extended and it takes flight.
Click here to see the machine in action.
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Oooh.. Me likes it! And it’s manatee safe!
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The hoverwing sets off like a normal-hovercraft but when it reaches top speed of 60mph, its wings can be extended and it takes flight and then crashes shortly thereafter.
Another great use of ground effect for enhanced lift. If it had more wing area it could lift off at much lower airspeeds, making it the only vehicle one could use to safely troll for piranha. 🙂
I recall this great video and article from DU past:
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=11985
One step closer to the Hoverboard ™, right Mr. Fusion?
Ground effect lives on… Most excellent!
Still have love the ekranoplane. Yes it is a geek thing…..
Looks cool, but in reality there are so many Capt’ Boneheads out on the water, I would fear for my safety if they got a hold of one of these !
Could this fly to Hawaii? How high of waves can it accept or is it restricted to smooth surface effects. I live on a big river so it would still be fun to use either way.
Actually, isn’t this vehicle just a miniature of this other one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpGacOmSeHc
#10 – me,
Dang. Forgot to use tinyurl. Many apologies ed.
#11, Scott;
Uh-oh. Better watch out for that UKKMA …uh…award…..
Possible photo caption: NASA hasn’t been the same after that last budget cut…
(Hey, it kind of looks like a mini-shuttle…)
#7,
Actually, I have a house on a small lake(about 10 square miles). My jetski does about 75mph. Even when the lake is full of people it isnt that bad, except for the people who never seem to work out the keep turning left and keep the beach to your right thing. But eventually the sherif writes em a ticket and you never see them going the wrong way around the lake again after that.
But it is really only that busy maybe 5 weekends a year.
I am so building one of these after I get my cnc machine done.
$5,504.04 for the kit.
That’s cheap for a chance at a Darwin Award.
#16,
Bitter you can’t drive a CNC machine with your macintosh?? If it were me I would be too.
i drive my 3 axis mill with windows
it ain’t pretty.. but it works
I take exception to being given the UKKMA despite an immediate apology the moment I noticed my mistake.
Have to say though, the great image makes it all worth it. ROFLMAO!!
(And, I keep wanting to skip to the next frame where the meat holding the meat gives a nice hefty meal to the croc (gator?).)
#5, Aahh, the Hoverboard. I’m guaranteed to kill myself if I ever used one. But 30 years ago, …
Besides, I’m more of a Delorean fan.
Looks like a great idea. However, go ahead and hit a wave or submerged log at 50 MPH and see how quick you become airborne.
Looks like it uses the same principal as the Ekranoplan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekranoplan
Nothing new here.
Universal Hovercraft sells a manufactured WIG hovercraft and has sold the plans for years.
Oh, UH calls it the Hoverwing and has for years.
This guy even took thier name.
Rudy pulling it off in a standard integrated hovercraft is knda cool though