Vintage Hovercraft Test Films

The first clip (0:00 - 0:25) is one of two experimental vehicles built by Princeton University in America during the early 1960s under a contract with the U.S Army.

The second clip (0:26 - 2:08) was produced in July 1959 by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. The original vehicle used in the film is now on display at Fort Eustis Transportation Museum, Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Its model name is the Curtiss-Wright Model 2500.

The third clip (2:09 - 2:48) is a vehicle developed jointly by the United States Marine Corps and BuShips; it was designed and built by Borg Warner and the project was later taken over by Chrysler Corporation. Its name is a designation, LWV ("Landing Vehicle Wheeled").

The fourth clip (2:57 - 2:59) is an unknown artist's concept illustration for a hovercraft.

The fifth clip (2:59 - 3:40) is the SES-100 ("Surface Effect Ship"), developed by the United States Navy. Two designs were generated: one by Aerojet in Los Angeles and Tacoma and the other, by Bell, in New Orleans. They were designated as SES-100A & SES-100B. The United States Navy initiated the SES model test program in 1960.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Hovercraft
• Hover
• Hovercrafting
• Arts
• Auto
• Transport

[inventnz]

I'm interested in seeing the video of the LVW (landing vehicle wheeled) mentioned on the link to this- have you got this?

[jhbanner]

The LVW is visible in this clip at 2:09 - 2:48

[EVISEH]

further to my previous post

The first craft shown is one of two experimental hovercraft built by Princeton University in America in the early 1960s in connection with a U.S Army contract at the time

The last craft shown is [I think] one of a number of experimental prototypes built by Bell Helicopters although I could be wrong in regard to this

[jhbanner]

Thanks for the identification of the vehicle in the first clip!

[EVISEH]

THE 2nd Video is of a prototype Ground Effect Machine [GEM] built by the Chrysler Company for the U.S Army in the early 1960s [see book U.S. Army Aircraft by Stephen Harding for more details]

[jhbanner]

I believe you're incorrect; the vehicle in the second clip even has the "CW" (Curtiss-Wright) logo on it. There are other photos of the ship on the net. It's definitely the Model 2500, made during 1959-1960.

[tsns1]

Whew! this was a fantastic vid JN.

[Mike1614b]

My father was the project manager for the SES 100B in New Orleans and Panama City FL between 1972 and 1977.

I saw the SES 100A crashed and killed 2 crew members.

[DerVampyrEngel]

No because I need money and haven't been lucky on that score hopefully something might happen this year hope so I still want to do it

[CrownGear]

It was actually on a runway of an airport

[MALIKITIKI2]

they work better than the new ones that the military is building

[Cushioncraft]

Nice "hovercar" in the 1st part of the video, would be interesting to see such car in the todays streets.

Thank you for the great video

[Tamaslammer]

Chicks are already baffled by driving as it is... can you imagine one of them trying to drive that hovercar??

[DerVampyrEngel]

I think that could still be built a hovercraft car I have a few idea's, and the tools just need the material and the money to apply for some

patents

[ELKT90racer90]

im doing a high school project on this. my teacher asighned me to design and make a human powered hover craft, and im part of the drive team (motor, motor mount design, and lift) for a small 8hp hovercraft... lots of work to do for me