Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I NEED HELP FINDING SOMETHING TO MOVE MY HOVERCRAFT I HAVE A HOVERCRAFT BUT IT DOES NOT MOVE AROUND! IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS PLEASE POST!!!!!!!!!!!

Depends on how fancy you want to get, but the typical answer is some variety of fan. I've heard that leaf-blowers are a reasonably affordable option, but really your problem is one of overall power, and any fan big enough to move a reasonable hovercraft is going to be somewhat expensive.

Of course, if you're just playing around with it, you could always use a pole and treat it like a gondola .

the problem with leaf blowers is that you would need at least 2 to propel a hovercraft. also what type of surface are you going to be using this on

Mythbusters built a few, I believe with old vacuum cleaner motors and leaf blowers. Worked fine on smooth concrete in the shop, not as well on sand.

Try a vacuum cleaner repair shop. Might get a few motors very cheaply.

i already have a leaf blower but that just makes it hover i need something that will make it move around

ericw740 wrote:i already have a leaf blower but that just makes it hover i need something that will make it move around

Point a second one horizontally.

A repeat of that Mythbusters was just on. It will probably be repeated sometime this week. I saw three leaf blowers on one of their designs.

thanks!