Human-powered hovercraft

[CopperBrompton]

Weekend before last, I went to the hovercraft show down in Lee-on-Solent and was fortunate enough to get to see in person something I'd only ever read about: a human-powered hovercraft!

Essentially a recumbent bike powering one lifting fan and one driving fan.

While it looked like enormously hard work, and the pilot was only able to keep the thing aloft for about 30 seconds at a time, it did work.

More info here:
http://steamboatwilly.org

Ben

 

[Globalti]

Blimey! It even comes with its own toilet!

 

[Hilldodger]

I've had a go - it's Knackering

 

[661-Pete]

All credit to the 'rider' and to Hilldodger - I've no doubt it's hard work! - but perhaps this is not quite in the same league as human powered aircraft in terms of difficulty. The hovercraft acts as a sort of reservoir of the energy you have previously fed into it - somewhat akin to the bagpipes.

For an idle moment, reading the thread title, I thought this was going to be about something completely different - possibly involving curry.

I am quite relieved.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The hovercraft acts as a sort of reservoir of the energy you have previously fed into it - somewhat akin to the bagpipes.

Not really - it sinks to the ground as soon as you stop pedalling.