Hovercraft - Uses and Applications of Hovercraft - Hov Pod

The  hovercraft is more or less a specialized type of vehicle that is capable of travelling over land, water, mud or ice and other surfaces both at speed and when stationary. It is a vehicle supported on a cushion of air supplied by a powered fan mounted on the craft. Its invention was  done by Christopher Cockerell in 1956. It is also known as an air-cushion vehicle (ACV) . It works by its ability to produce a large volume of air (with the help of blowers) located at bottom of its hull that is slightly above atmospheric pressure. The difference in pressure between the higher pressure air below the hull and lower pressure ambient air above it produces lift, which causes the hull to float above the running surface. It was originally tested in 1955 using an empty KiteKat cat food tin inside a coffee tin, an industrial air blower and a pair of kitchen scales. Hovercraft is able to travel over small obstructions without damage. Its design comes in various  sizes and it now has many features compared to when it was first invented as a result of technological advancement.

Presently hovercraft  are used globally as specialized transports in disaster relief, coastguard, military and survey applications as well as for sport or passenger service. They also have military applications  for transporting tanks, soldiers and large equipment in hostile environments and terrain.
As a matter of fact hovercraft can  used for leisure, rental ,commercial, military, patrol, survey and rescue purposes. Thus their applications and types are leisure hovercraft, rental hovercraft, survey hovercraft, commercial hovercraft, military patrol hovercraft, UXO hovercraft, rescue hovercraft and super yacht hovercraft.

Hovercraft Applications

Hovercraft comes in different varieties, designs, make and sizes.

The one that is available as a 4-stroke 120HP or 2-stroke 65HP variant take up to 4 adults with speeds up to 40mph.The Hov Pod SPX is the perfect all in one craft to take on the role of other vehicles for traditional coastal/inland/border patrol. It is more or less the only vehicle suitable for areas that are not accessible to conventional vehicles because they can operate effectively and efficiently over mud, riverbeds, tidal regions, rapids, shingle beaches, open water, grass, sand, swamps, marshland, weeds, submerged plants, snow, desert, ice, roads, shallow lakes & dried up salt marshes. These and other reasons make the hovercraft an ideal vehicle for Oil & Gas companies  to secure their pipelines .

The new TCC 3-layer composite High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is lightweight, extremely buoyant, yet far stronger & more impact resistant than brittle glass fibre (GRP) which cracks & breaks on impact. You can hit HDPE with a mallet or jump up & down on it without cracking it, this means the Hov Pod can withstand operational use, impacts, knocks & bumps that destroy other craft.

The Hov Pod skirt material is a unique specially developed weave & fabric combination with anti-rip properties & incredible wear resistance. It means you can operate in greater safety & will not be forever changing or repairing skirts. Individual skirt sections & the unique IAPSS skirt design gives far greater flexibility, continued operational ability & high speed safety.

Hov Pod’s have been used in many applications & by various clients in severe conditions, just a few amongst these include:

• They have been used by the UN world food organisation.
• Used by the oil industry in remote locations in central Asia & Middle East.
• Used as commercial workboats & rescue boats day in and day out at various locations.
• Australian EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
• South Korean fire & rescue departments
• Used in dried up salt lakes for many 100's of hours.
• They have been used in northern Norway & Canada in winter.
• Used in the Middle East & African counties such as Sudan & the Congo in desert & very hot & dusty areas.
• They have been used by the German DLRG
• They have been used by the Red Cross
• They have undergone European inspection in France. The Hov Pod went through the French Centre de Securite Des Navires marine certification approval. This stringent process involved technical/fire/safety inspection, flooded buoyancy tests & operational use.
• They have been approved by Harrods of London for sale.

Other Useful Applications of Hov Pods are:

• Border/coastal/inland patrol, anti-terrorism, drug smuggling patrol.
• High speed marine sub surface & ground scanning survey & detection.
• Rescue work from flooded areas, mud, sand, tidal areas. Hovercraft do not create the problem with downdraft associated with helicopters, & a fraction of the cost to purchase, operate & maintain. Rescuers can reach floods, mud, sand & ice victims without exposing rescuers to life threatening danger.
• Distribution of famine or flood aid support craft. Relief work (United Nations).
• Civil emergency & infrastructure support
• Oil industry survey, exploration & pipeline patrol.
• Electrical Power-line patrol & safety.
• Remote mining access support vehicle.
• River, lake & port geological surveys.
• Mud & riverbed sampling.
• Environmental projects & clean-up operations.
• Airport bird scaring/support/rescue services.
• Coastal civil engineering & bridge construction & repair/maintenance.
• Transport, service & safety craft for river & low tide coastal work where 24-hour access is vital for staff safety.
• Fish farm & low tide access.
• Leisure & family fun, rental operations, corporate entertainment, Education & schools, summer fetes & shows.
• Access to riverside, lakeside & island properties. Hovercraft travel over mud, sand & ice. Hovercraft are not restricted by tide, or fast running water, shallow water, or submerged rocks, coral, or marine life.
• SuperYacht Tenders
• Filming & TV work.

 For all enquiry and how to acquire them you can contact Hov Pod  here .