World’s Largest Military Hovercraft…

Here are the pictures, as well as a (Russian) video of World’s largest military hovercraft, called Zubr (bison). The Zubr air-cushion landing craft is intended to carry out over-the-beach landings of amphibious landing troops and combat vehicles, as well as provide fire support of their actions on shore.

The ship provides sea lift of materiel consisting of:

• 3 tanks of total mass up to 150 tons;
• or 10 armored vehicles of total mass up to 131 tons;
• or 8 armored personnel carriers of total mass up to 115 tons;
• or 8 amphibious tanks.

To accommodate troops, carried in vehicles there are 4 compartments with 140 seats.

As an option, the combat material compartment can be fitted with removable benches for additional accommodation of 360 troops (altogether 500 persons).

How does a hovercraft work?

A hovercraft travels over land and water on a cushion or bubble of low-pressure air. A hovercraft has one or more blowers that blow air underneath the craft, which is contained by a skirt. The skirt that is around the perimeter of the hovercraft performs an extremely important function in containing the air cushion. By using a skirt, the amount of engine power required to lift the craft is considerably reduced and as an added benefit, extra hull surface clearance is obtained. The skirt is a long strip of material that is mounted onto the underside of the craft. When the skirt is inflated, it lifts the hovercraft. The escaping air coming from where the skirt touches the ground is what creates a friction-less cushion of air. Because the hovercraft has practically no friction, it takes little force to move the craft.

The diagram above shows the basic principle of a hovercraft. Air is directed underneath the craft by a blower, and the air that escapes out of the flexible skirt creates a near frictionless environment which enables the craft to hover. The craft can move forward and turn by using propellers to propel the craft.

The hovercrafts shown on xinventions either use a leaf blower of vacuum cleaner engine for lift. The larger hovercraft uses an engine for propulsion while the smaller hovercraft has none however one can easily be attached. (more..http://www.xinventions.com/main/hovercrafts/hov_sc.htm)

Hovercraft: transport vehicle that moves on a cushion of air.
Radar: apparatus that detects objects through the use of microwaves.
Pylon: supporting post.
Dynamic propeller: two-bladed apparatus that provides motion.
Fin: steering device.
Rudder: apparatus that prevents drift.
Lift-fan air intake: opening to allow air to enter.
Main level drive gear box: compartment that contains and protects the gear mechanism.
Skirt finger: part of the flexible skirt.
Passenger entrance: opening on the side wall that provides access to the passenger cabin.
Flexible skirt: lower flexible part.
Bow door ramp: opening at the front.
Control deck: cubicle from which a hovercraft is operated.

Remote Control Hovercraft Remote control cars are great and all but the only problem is that they are limited to the confines of the land. Not so with a hovercraft. No terrain is an obstacle for it. It can travel on land, water, ice, snow - no problem. Just like the real thing our remote control hovercraft is just as at home on land as it is on water. Its three powerful motors will thrust it along at 15km per hour floating on a cushion of air.

The RC Hovercraft's versatile nature means that you can power it along from the land straight into your local parks pond with ease, Just keep a look out for any stray wildlife as you get carried away with your new thaay.

Seair Technologies, Inc. is proud to introduce its line of commercial hovercraft. These hovercraft are the first hovercraft designed in the United States to support commercial hovercraft applications.This page contains some of the images we have of our hovercraft. Some are illustrations, others are images from our engineering software. We will post pictures of more hovercraft as we finish them, so check back often.

This is a 3D Model of the SH-96 Seair Commercial Hovercraft. This hovercraft is designed to carry 149 passengers, and will be the largest hovercraft built in the United States. The Military Hovercraft (LCAC) is 16' shorter than the SH-96. The first SH-96 should be ready for delivery around the end of the year 2003 or early 2004.

Where NOT to stand when a US military hovercraft leaves a beach