A hovercraft (ACV) is a vehicle - first invented in Britain by Christopher Cockerell during the 1950s, and based upon the theories of Sir John Thornycroft drawn up in the 1870s that a ship's drag could be reduced by trapping air between the bottom of the hull and the water - which is supported by a cushion of air projected downwards by a fan and trapped within a fabric skirt around the base of the vehicle. This cushion of air enables hovercraft to travel over both land and sea, and makes them very versatile and suitable for military applications such as amphibious landings.
The first practical hovercraft, the SR.N1 was lunched in 1959. The SR.N1 weighed four tons, and could carry three men at a speed of 25 knots over land or very calm water. Research Hovercraft
Abbreviations
Ships
Research Hovercraft