Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions
Reload this Page >

When does a hovercraft become an aeroplane?

Wikiposts
Search
The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions The place for students, instructors and charter guys in Oz, NZ and the rest of Oceania.

When does a hovercraft become an aeroplane?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 04:36
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Live in Taupiri, Waikato, work in the big smoke, New Zealand
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When does a hovercraft become an aeroplane?

Just saw this on TV...apparently CAA's not interested because it remains in ground effect...no license or approvals required....so if i keep my aircraft in ground effect I don't need to comply with CAA Rules??

...and it's for sale!!
FLYING HOVERCRAFT for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand
slackie is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 07:41
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: aus
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't believe that reporters employer allowed her to go on that dodgy contraption.
dik cheney is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 08:16
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: The Shire
Posts: 2,890
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Reckless to say the least.

Watching it on the news last night I was gobsmacked when he was turning low level with the wing tips touching the water and hit trees in the scrub.

Good thing he is selling it before he writes himself or someone else off!

And the chick reporter standing with no seatbelt!
The Green Goblin is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 08:20
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: FL350
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That could possibly be one of the most dangerous machines I have ever seen
Van Gough is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 08:29
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Queensland
Posts: 304
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Yep couldn't agree more. Watching the news footage and wondering "why get on that"?

Scary
rioncentu is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 10:14
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Someday I will find a place to stop
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 7 Posts
I think Slackies point has been missed regarding flying in ground effect goes out of the scope of the caa...

I think the difference being designed to stay in ground effect as opposed to entering and leaving it like aeroplanes is perhaps how they see it?
DeltaT is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 15:41
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you're interested in a less dodgy version they've been in kit form for years.

UH-18SPW Hoverwing : Universal Hovercraft, The World Leader in Hovercraft Technology

Actually looks like a fun alternative to fishing.
eocvictim is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 18:07
  #8 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Live in Taupiri, Waikato, work in the big smoke, New Zealand
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DeltaT...yes exactly...in an extended interview the "inventor" stated that he just stays in ground effect because it uses less fuel, but it is quite capable of "flying higher".
slackie is offline  
Old 2nd Mar 2010, 23:44
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have been led to believe that in the UK, hovercraft are actually registered as aircraft.

On a similar note, a few years back at the Melb boat show they had a Rada Craft which was a high speed hovercraft with mini wings / a design that kept it in ground effect. It was powered by the Leyland P76 engine. I'm not sure what happened to it.
VH-XXX is offline  
Old 3rd Mar 2010, 00:59
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 370
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just wait till someone punts one around the Manukau Harbour on the extended centreline of 05R at Auckland International, then the CAA will take notice.
flyinkiwi is offline  
Old 3rd Mar 2010, 01:04
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Oz
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I watched the footage of the Sky News reporter (Alison someone?) get on it without a seatbelt, and with the driver never having carried pax before. He then tries to show off and takes it over land, hits a tree, and amazingly lands it .

Very very lucky girl...
Cougar is offline  
Old 3rd Mar 2010, 05:15
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: back of the crew bus
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes it's hard to know which is worse, the increasingly tabloid nature of TVNZ, or "inventors" with just enough knowledge to be dangerous...

Anyway, as ecovictim said, it's been done before... here's another view...

YouTube - Discovery Channel HD - Universal Hovercraft UH 19XRW Hoverwing? Ground Effect Hovercraft
remoak is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.