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

I can't believe that reporters employer allowed her to go on that dodgy contraption.

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! :ugh:

That could possibly be one of the most dangerous machines I have ever seen:eek:

Yep couldn't agree more. Watching the news footage and wondering "why get on that"?

Scary

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?

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.

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".:eek:

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.

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.:E

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... :ugh:

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