The worlds first hovercraft??

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dear all

I came across this obscure vessel when I was researching prototype boats from WW1

Built by the Austro-Hungarian navy in 1916 it could reach a speed of 30kts, at first I thought it was a torpedo carrying hydroplane but it is described as a hovercraft and the technical spec does include a lift engine.

It would make a fascinating model for someone ……………what do you think Ashley.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

That is an interesting boat………………if I hadn`t started JD at war………………I would have had a go at this! ……………..Nice easy shape too!

I like the idea of the lift motor…………a powerful lift would be quite exciting to watch……………plenty of spray etc

Bob

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

 Perhaps the next one hey Bob

 Ducky

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

A paddle wheel hovercraft……….now that would be worth seeing…

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Paul. A challenge indeed. I have had a surf…..where to begin….

This appears to have been a crude sidewall design, but with no skirt front/rear. the lift fan (65 hp engine driving a rotory air compressor) vented air into the flat potion of the craft just behind a step… it was said to reduce apparent weight from 7 tons to about 3 at rest .. speed without blowing 27 kts, with, 31 kts, Main problem for a model is that the entire middle of the craft was open.. the 5 engines, two per shaft and the pump, were mounted in an open cabin leaving only perhaps the sides of the craft and the nose  available to put gear in. The only way to make this as a model would be LARGE. In this case batteries might be place either side and the radio gear forrard . There was a foreward rudder, so no need for a lnkage to the rear. motors could be exposed and disguised with fake zorst pipes. Big problem would be a small enough underbody air compressor/fan…unless you did away with it, or perhaps had a small compressor/fan to provide air "for effect" at low speeds, as i doubt air sufficient for the purpose could be provided at speed, but there again..

Not that I have given it any thought.   Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

I haven’t given it any thought either but a 3ft long model should do the trick and a 12v compressor (like on the air horns on your Bond Bug) should give the required lift.

It is a very basic design and could be put together over a weekend

The main problem would be keeping the model on the water and stopping it from flipping over.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Paul. I dont think flipping would be a problem as only effectively half the hull is air-supported. Would need some figures for a 3 foot boat. I havnt worked it out but approx what scale would a 3 foot boat be ?

Its no wonder they didnt persue this craft, the slamming in any sort of sea with that flat front would have been terrible.

Ashley.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Good Morning Ashley

The original craft was 43ft long & 13ft wide so a 4ft 3in model would be easier to scale from the few photos, but the photos could always be copied into CAD and then reproduced at any scale.

The problem with a 4ft model would be storage and transport so a 3ft version might be better.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I`m thinking about a craft like this but with……. adjustabell forward elevators ….which would have the same effect as the downthrust blower.

Wouldn`t it be nice to see it take off and fly a few feet and land again…………..it could be called The Flying Fish!

Bob thinking out loud

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

More like a hydrofoil / hovercraft / plane hybrid…it would be like one of Ashleys Caspian sea monsters. It would be a very interesting project to build so hurry up and finish the WW2 JD

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

All. . I am not sure that a car air horn compressor will give a sufficient volume of air to give anything other than an effect. From my experience of Shorty- who has a flat bottom- I could see that a craft of that size will need a lot of power to lift up properly and might be best with a totally smooth bottom- unless some seriously large motors are used. I am wondering if the old air wetted bottom may work here…using the air horn thing…a line or lines of fine holes is drilled across the width of the bottom at the first planing step, and fed with compreesed air so a curtain of fine bubbles is fed over the remaining hull  thus "lubricating" the passage of water over said bottom. Would also give the required look…in conjunction with a shallow side skirt (hull side extension). Ashley

PS I have not ACTUALLY made a sea monster yet. And if more projects like this keep on being suggested I will need a larger shed,,,,,,,,

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Morning Ashley

Yet again you have nit the proverbial nail on the head, to reduce weight and the need for huge lift motors I had made the assumption that any model would have a smooth hull and that the small compressor could only provide an air curtain between the hull and the water but I hadn’t considered the use of a hull side extension to contain the air curtain……..what a great idea. I will have a go at running some calculations through the simulation programme and see how much air would be required. (yes I have a lot of time on my hands) 

Thanks again Ashley

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

How about a paddlewheel or paddlewheels in the middle of the boat……………….rotating in the normal way……………it could also supply a goodly crop of bubbles down below too?????

Bob…………..always here to chuck in a few good ideas!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Paul. the craft featured side extensions as built, its what contained the air underneath !  (as per my initial post ) . You would need crew for this model, it would look pointless without. It may be that the size might be constrained by the crew members available ?   Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

WW1 fast attack

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