How much propulsion would i need to move my 300 pound hovercraft?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the propulsion requirements for a 300-pound hovercraft, exploring factors such as speed, acceleration, and environmental conditions. Participants consider both the lifting and lateral movement aspects of hovercraft operation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a 1KW fan could suffice for propulsion once the hovercraft is airborne, noting that it requires little force to move.
  • Others emphasize the importance of speed and acceleration, questioning whether the inquiry pertains to hovering or lateral travel.
  • A participant references a source indicating that racing hovercraft weighing around 150kg/330lbs typically use a 40-60 BHP engine, with a significant portion allocated for thrust.
  • One participant highlights practical experience, noting that real-world conditions such as wind and water surface can greatly affect propulsion needs, suggesting that design considerations must account for these variables.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessary propulsion, with no consensus reached regarding specific power requirements or the impact of environmental factors.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about ideal conditions versus real-world scenarios, and the dependence on specific definitions of propulsion needs (hovering vs. lateral movement).

Bryce
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How much propulsion would i need to move my 300 pound hovercraft?
 
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This is rather a "how long is a piece of string" question but as it takes very little force to move a hovercraft once it is air born I would go for about a 1KW fan.
 
Bryce said:
How much propulsion would i need to move my 300 pound hovercraft?
How fast does one want to travel, or accelerate.

Is one asking about the hovering, or the lateral travel?
 
Google found this page which has details of several 150kg/330lbs racing hovercraft...

http://hovercraft.herts.ac.uk/craft.html

Seems they use a 40-60 BHP engine with 25% used for lift and 75% used for thrust. So looks like about 30-40bhp for thrust would make it reasonably quick.
 
syhprum said:
This is rather a "how long is a piece of string" question but as it takes very little force to move a hovercraft once it is air born I would go for about a 1KW fan.

Unless it has a large frontal area, and you are traveling into a headwind.

I've spent 20+ years boating up and down my river. Reality trumps textbook all the time.

It's easy to design a hovercraft to travel across a glass smooth lake, with no wind. It's totally another thing to design one to traverse 6 foot swells, with a 30 mph headwind.

2584a12584dcea216e766c4bbcb514eb.png


Bryce, solve for Fd.
 

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