Some of the following may have gone defunct, or will defunctify soon, but
I'm leaving them in so that you can use them as a starting point for a search
for similar info. Sometimes, for example, manually shortening the address and
reloading will yield a good site.
It has been a few years since I started this list, and in that time, sure
enough, a bunch of the following links did die. But fortunately, a new
dynamic list, the Hover Ring Web Ring has appeared thanks to Mark Fletcher. Check out the list
of sites on the Hover Ring.
Update for Summer 2002: It has been a few more years now, and this page of links is seriously in need of an updating. I'll be updating this list little by little in conjunction with the launch of Goldstein Hovercraft, LLC's web site. But for now, I'll leave this old version of the list of links up on the web in the hope that at least some of the links will be alive and interesting to
someone.
Hoverclubs, Chapters, Organizations, and area-specific groups of enthusiasts
Ken Blackburn pap
er airplane record holder, scat driver (minimal hovercraft content, but like-min
ded fun)
The REAL Story of the Hovercraft Mark Fletcher's description of his father's invention. (The story of the multiple origins of the hovercraft is complicated and controversial,
but here's some very nice data for those investigating the issue.)
Universal Hovercraft Hovercraft plans galore -- models, kid-sized crafts, human-powered crafts, 1 person racers,
2-4 person cruisers, 20 foot long hovercampers, etc.
Universal Hovercraft Shop/Bill and Bob Zang The UH line of crafts in kit form.
They also will build parts (have them build the duct for you), as well custom-build whole crafts.
Pegasus A hovercraft for kids. The Pegasus looks pretty but has frustrated many adult builders over the years who expected to be able to go hovering themselves. It will probably only provide a stable platform for an adult after extensive modification.
Tri-Flyer This is a
great Bob Windt design. Builders will want to compare and contrast this craft with the UH-15P at the Universal Hovercraft site.
Skateboard Hovercraft I have doubts about this craft due to its small size -- if anyone knows
anything about it, please contact me!
Hovercraft Companies (See Ferries for more)
Large Hovercrafts
Griffon Hovercraft Ltd English Hovercraft Manufacturer - payloads ranging from 375 kgs
(825 lbs) to 7 tonnes (15,400 lbs) - or 5 to 80 passengers. Also: Hovercraft For Sale Used
Griffon Hovercraft for sale
Universal Hovercraft
Inexpensive plans for three types of affordable, easy-to-build high performance model hovercrafts. I highly recommend these plans.
Traplet Online Catalog At least two hovercraft plans are listed here. Use
the catalog search engine twice, once for "hovercraft" and again for "
finger trouble". Finger Trouble is by Mark Porter.
Kinetic's Hovercraft consultants
and
model hovercraft kit manfacturers. The kits are bit pricy but no more so than r/c airplane and car kits available elsewhere, and the models work well.
Proops Hovercraft kit a simple lift-only model hovercraft kit for sale; click on "kits" and then wait for "hovercraft kit" option to appear.
Scale models
In general, search on the web for "Soviet air-cushion landing crafts" by Shangha
i Dragon models. The same company also includes an LCAC model with their "US Ma
rine Amphibious Force".
Archer Models
-- A scale model of the SK-5 hovercraft used by the US Military in Vietnam and back home by the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards. A rare product! (Now discontinued, but I'll leave the link in as data for collectors)
Arthur Hu is a toy collector; he has info on Micromachine scale LCACs and AIST hovercrafts, as well as other hovercraft toys including a really cheesy Aladin flying carpet toy.
Soldier Ground Mobi
lity This one is different - most of the rest are about large tank carrying LCACS; this one is
about how the military tested GPL's personal craft!
Small Boats & Hovercrafts... This site makes it look like it costs a lot to buy a hovercraft, and that certainly need not be the case, especially if you're willing to hover on a slab of foam, duct tape, and bailing wire!