And you can buy it for $13K soon, it seems
Posted 03.16.2010 at 10:15 am
12 Comments
Homemade Hovercraft/Plane At 45 mph, Rudy Heeman's hovercraft/plane hybrid achieves sufficient lift and ascends.
If there were an award for best DIY hybrid hovercraft-airplane, Rudy Heeman would likely take home the prize. Heeman, who has been building hovercraft in his garage as a hobby for years, commandeered a few items from around the house -- a propane bottle from the backyard grill, some electronic implements from his daughter's toys, the odd part from his wife's car -- to create this hovercraft that actually takes to the skies when he pushes it to speeds over 45 miles per hour.
The hovercraft functions as a stand-alone vehicle, but with the detachable wings in place it becomes a small aircraft capable of a top cruising speed of about 60 miles per hour. While it doesn't fly very high, the 1.8-liter engine pushes the craft to a ceiling between around 10 feet -- plenty high to clear fences, cars and the inevitable slack-jawed onlooker -- and has a range of 140 miles.
Heeman estimates he's put about 800 hours into his hover-plane as well as tens of thousands of his own dollars, but he's trying to unload it for just $13,000 US (to seed some other "secret projects" it seems). And because it's not considered an aircraft by New Zealand law you need no special licensing to fly it. In New Zealand, that is. Something tells us the FAA might have something to say about it.
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That looks like fun. Is anyone else reminded of Talespin?
"By the power of Gray Skull!!!" *lighting strikes*
Looks like fun. I wonder if it can fly outside of ground effect. That dude came close to dipping a wingtip a couple of times there. It would have all been over at that point, hehe. It's only a matter of time...
Don't get your limbs caught in the propeller.
I had the same thought about those wingtips - too low to the water.
Wow looks like fun but, I don't think I'd want to own it. Maybe rent it once or twice.
People in Seattle, Washington could use this to get around I-5 traffic. This would cut down of car ferry traffic, too.
I think that in the states, the FAA doesn't consider something to be an aircraft unless it can climb above 50 feet.
Ground effect! Haha the wings look really flimsy
Still it's pretty impressive for home brew ya know? I give the guy props
Yup, I was thinking the same thing it looks and acts like a ground effect aircraft. Own your own hovercraft just add wings. Clever, but how stable is it? Do not want to touch/catch that wing to the water while in the air, instant flip.
So, how much solar energy have you used today?
Wow looks like fun but, I don't think I'd want to own it. Maybe rent it once or twice...
Ludwig
http://burnwiigames.org
Ground effect! Haha the wings look really flimsy
Still it's pretty impressive for home brew ya know? I give the guy props
www.tran33m.com/vb/