So How Is The Hovercraft Coming Along?

James A. Huizenga

August 2006

Air cushioned vehicle, hovercraft – a vehicle designed to float above any relatively unobstructed surface, supported by a bubble of air. While fairly unassuming in appearance and operation, it provides an exhilarating, frictionless ride, but these vehicles have been known to turn on the inexperienced, quickly putting them in their place (or some place other than on top of the vehicle).

From an early age I felt that given the right tool, in combination with the proper level of concentration, I could fly. In a recurring dream, the tool, a piece of wood, similar to a wooden dowel rod, held behind me, to sit on, would allow me to fly (float) through the air at whatever level I wanted. All I had to do was concentrate on moving through the air -- and I would.

Even as a young adult, that dream would occasionally be replayed and allow me to float to the treetops by just wanting to. While the sleeping dream of floating above the ground has dimmed, occasionally that dream is brought to a conscious level by air cushioned vehicle stimuli such as the recent Airwaves "Navmar Flying Carpet" article. (I worked for Navmar from 2004-2012.)

This periodic desire to break the bonds that keep me in contact with terra firma had its beginnings with my introduction to air cushioned vehicles (ACVs) as a senior in High School. A 1959 cover of Popular Science magazine showed Dr. William Bertlesen of Neponset, Illinois riding his craft down the country roads. The associated article inspired my 1960 research paper, "Air Cushioned Vehicles", (a lot of thought went into that title!) based in a large part on information generously supplied by Dr. Bertlesen.

ACVs were the upcoming technology that was going to revolutionize all forms of transportation. I collected every article or piece of info that mentioned ACVs and proceeded to build a model hovercraft powered by a .049 model airplane engine. It flew well over the ground and even navigated water puddles with ease. It went with me to the University of Illinois, but sustained damage on the trip back home while traveling in the back seat of a friend's Karmann Ghia. Balsa wood crushes very easily and is no match for a surprise attack by a falling seat back.

Dr. Bertleson (considered the Father of ACVs in the U.S., and my hero) made the rounds with a more advanced ACV to Illinois county fairs and a U of I Engineering Open House. Seeing his craft floating above the ground convinced me that I had to have one, so I could fly too. I was hooked!

The University, the Navy, the University, starting a family and career all leaped to the top of my priority list, but my flying vision remained alive at the bottom of that list, with every mention of ACVs. Years later, the hovercraft vision worked its way back up the list, and from San Diego, I decided to call Neponset to see if any plans were available for that original simple hovercraft shown on the cover of Popular Science. The gentleman answering my call politely listened to my previous history with Dr. Bertersen, and then, left me almost speechless with his final words. "Dr. Bertelsen is here. Would you like to speak with him?"

I had seen the good Doctor, but had never met him and I was going to be able to speak to my hero. I was almost afraid to whisper, "Yes." The impact of this surprise question had sucked the wind right out of me. I was actually going to be able to speak to Dr. Bertersen!

Dr. Bertelsen told me that no plans were available for that unit, and that they had made many improvements since that crude craft. He then explained their new advanced hovercraft design and operation. He offered to send me information on what they were up to now, to which I quickly responded with my mailing address (this was prior to the World Wide Web). While disappointed in not being able to get plans to build that simple original craft, I was satisfied because I had been able to speak "hovercraft" with my hovercraft god.

A Popular Mechanix article on building the "Pegasus" personal hovercraft again strengthened my interest and somehow plans for building the Pegasus magically appeared in the mail.

As designed, this 87" diameter craft was powered by a 3.5 horse power (HP) Briggs and Stratton vertical shaft engine (can we say lawnmower?). A 24" wooden propeller was procured from a listed source to provide the 6" air cushion to ride on. Since it really was meant to lift a young adult, I purchased a 5 HP engine to provide extra power, so that I could pilot it. (At my present weight, even this engine may be challenged.)

Production enthusiasm was high as plywood components were cut out and assembled, step by step, as it began to resemble a flying saucer. A new fiberglassing skill was learned to shape the duct, through which the propeller would soon be escorting the air beneath the saucer to lift it and me into the sky.

Production came to a screeching halt when ---- the next step required welding skills and equipment that to this date have not appeared anywhere close to the Pegasus or my garage. My flying saucer is patiently hovering in the garage above my wife's car, about 7 feet over normal operational altitude -- waiting to be completed.

The Pegasus hull has been down to ground level several times since the last construction step was completed, with construction put on a permanent-temporary hold -- once or twice to replace the aging support ropes, once to facilitate the installation of a new garage door opener and once to use in a front yard Halloween display. (Covered with aluminum foil, it made a very realistic crashed flying saucer.)

Years ago, a business in the San Diego area was marketing a personal hovercraft from England. SCAT, I believe. They had appeared at the 1987 local county fair, offering demonstration rides, but interest was so high that my son and I were only able to place our names on a waiting list. This list, after surrendering a $25 fee, got us a ground effect principle orientation at their business site, familiarization with their craft and a test ride.

The test ride began on the sandy beach area at the south end of San Diego Bay. After getting used to the controls over land, they would allow you to take it out on the bay. This single person craft was controlled by leaning in the direction you wished to go (allowing air escaping from the support bubble to move you) and/or using bicycle type handlebars to control a rudder in the air path of the engine's propeller to push or rotate the craft to so that you were actually facing the direction in which you were moving. My testing on the beach was going smoothly with my confidence building. I was ready to venture out over the bounding main, when one final land maneuver put me in my place – on the beach, spitting sand.  Experience in controlling a turn on a typical handlebar controlled land vehicle dictates that you must slow down going into the turn. My turn began with rudder movement to point me in the new direction and a throttle reduction to slow me down. With too much throttle reduction, my lift bubble disappeared, dropping the craft to the beach where it immediately stopped.  Three to four feet later I also stopped, face down on the beach. (Thank heavens for a dead man switch!) I quickly popped to my feet, wondering how many people had witnessed my launch, brushed off the sand, laughed at myself and tried not to look too embarrassed. The rest of the ride from the beach, over the water and back to the beach was un-embarrassing and as exciting as I had expected it to be.

Over the years, the lack of progress in completion of the Pegasus has been a sore spot with me, providing a source of harassment from my wife and my son's friends. The moment I begin to even think of giving them a bad time about anything, they quickly ask me, "How's the hovercraft coming along?"

I still believe I can fly – it's just going to take a bigger piece of wood and a whole lot more concentration. 2006 sounds like a good year to fly.

Little known and relatively unimportant facts:

--Years ago I worked with the goddaughter of Sir Christopher Cockerell, England's Father of Hovercraft, who invented the word 'Hovercraft' to describe his invention.

-- For those who are curious as to when I began construction of my Pegasus, that was the year Winston Smith tried to rebel against the Party.