Science Project Hovercraft

This page is dedicated to the construction of a simple and inexpensive hovercraft that can be built as a science project at your school. It supports a reasonable amount of weight and operates indoors using an electric leaf blower for power. I am not the original designer but received the instructions to build this from students from several schools that have built this hovercraft as their science project. This hovercraft was demonstrated recently by 'Bill Nye The Science Guy' on a morning show called Kathy Lee and Regis.

The Construction

Materials: 1/2" plywood sheet 4.0' X 4.0': 6.0 to 7.0 mil plastic sheet 5.0' X 5.0': 3/8" carriage bolt 1.0" long: roll of duct tape: large washer such as a plastic lid: Lift air supply (a leaf blower): propulsion system (optional):
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO THE LEFT FOR A LARGER IMAGE.
						Cut the plywood into a 4.0' diameter circle.
						Drill a 3/8" hole in the center of the plywood for the carriage bolt.
						Drill a second hole 1 foot from the center of the plywood to fit the air supply nozzle.
						Sand all sides and edges of the disk to remove splinters and sharp edges.
						Lay plastic sheet on plywood disk and cut about 6 inches larger than the disk.
						Use your plastic lid as a washer and place the bolt through the lid, the plastic sheet, and the plywood disk (through the center hole) and place a nut and washer on the other side to secure all the parts together.
						Tape the edge of the plastic securely around the outside edge of the disc and then staple through the plastic into the edge of the plywood disc to secure the plastic.
						Cut about 6 2" holes in the plastic about 6" from the center of the disk. These are to allow a small amount of air to escape on which the craft rides.
						Secure the air supply nozzle in the hole you made for it in the plywood disk.
						Turn on the leaf blower and have fun! ;-)
						WARNING: IF YOU USE AN ELECTRIC LEAF BLOWER, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPERATE THIS PROJECT ON WATER! OPERATING ON WATER WILL PRESENT A SHOCK HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH.