Short clips of a hovercraft in action. Hovercraft were introduced into the fleet in 2002. They are able to operate in mud, sand and very shallow water and are particularly useful for shoreline searches. Lift is provided by a build up of air pressure under the craft and thrust by two large fans mounted on the back that act in the same way as aeroplane propellers. Steering is provided by aerofoil-shaped rudders located behind the propellers.

Posted by irishlifeboats on September 6, 2009 at 2:43 AM

232 Views