This is my main hovercraft page and you can click on the sections on the left to see pictures of the various crafts I have worked on and pictures of some of the hover-ins I attended. I have been asked why I am not in more of the pictures - well, I am the one taking the pictures....
Web Section(s) Updated Recently:
HB's Canair Hovercraft 512 (4/2/06 update)
Lake Somerville Overlook Park hover-in 3/25 - 3/26
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Upcoming Hovercraft events:
Lake Somerville at Overlook Park on Memorial Weekend '06
Picture below is the Canair 512 going out at sunset on Lake Somerville during the March '06 hover-in.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
My first hovercraft was a widely produced Scat II hovercraft that I rebuilt and then traded in to buy a commercially built AC-3 hovercraft made by Aircommander in Florida. The Aircommander AC-3 is a two engine craft that is about 10.5' long and 6' wide. This is a sporty craft that is pretty quick and maneuverable and weighs about 600 lbs. It was a lot of fun to fly. By the way, "fly" is a relative term. Hovercrafts of this general size fly about 8" off the ground on the air cushion. I sold the Aircommander to buy a Canair Hovercraft Model 506 Hovercraft in April of 2004. This is a commercial six place craft. I then sold the Canair 506 and purchased a Canair Hovercraft the model 512. The Canair 512 is a commercial 12 place craft - I don't even think I know 12 people. It is was delivered from Vancouver, Canada on 3/18/05 and is pictured below.
My first Hover-in was in Austin, Texas in May of 2002 and Rob Tilton gave me my first hovercraft ride in his UH-12T4 hovercraft. It was nothing like I expected. Since a hovercraft is lifted by an air cushion, I expected a fairly soft cushioned ride. Well, it is not like that. The ride is generally smooth but it is not really soft. You have to ride in one to really understand. By the way, don't wear your Stetson hat on the ride. It will not stay on your head and a wet Stetson is unpleasant....
Currently (although not all that fast) I am also working on building a UH-18SPW hovercraft. This craft was designed by Bob Windt of Universal Hovercrafts ("UH"). As private hovercrafts go, this is a fairly large hovercraft with a hull that is 18' long and about 7.5' wide. With the flying tail the craft is a total of about 24' long. It is powered by a Subaru 1.8L car engine. I started the project in July of 2003 and hope to finish it for one of the hover-ins this year (2006). The UH-18SPW is what is called a "cruising" craft which is pretty fast (70 mph or so) and fairly comfortable. It will weigh about 1000 lbs give or take. Unlike almost all other hovercrafts, the UH-18SPW can be fitted with wings (WIG mode) to fly in "ground effect" at a height of about 5' off the ground or water. "WIG" stands for wing-in-ground effect. In hovercraft mode it will fly about 8" off the ground or water.
My sons also have a hovercraft. It is a UH-6F and is powered by a Sears lawn mower motor. They have a lot of fun with it. On a parking lot it is pretty fast but on water it goes about 3 kts. Just about right!
These are pictures from my first hover-in Austin Hover-in Pictures 5/1/02 . Thanks for the ride Rob!
I will update the web site on a weekly basis, give or take. Please feel free to email suggestions.