Remote Control Hovercraft

The RC Hovercraft: An Alternative to Traditional RC Vehicles

When you think of RC vehicles, the first products that come to mind are probably RC boats, helicopters, and airplanes. What you probably never think of though are RC hovercrafts. These interesting vehicles can travel over land, water and ice easily because they are actually supported by a cushion of high pressure air that is contained inside a rubber skirt. Also known as air cushion vehicles, hovercrafts have been around since the early 1900’s. Of course, the vehicle technology has been greatly improved since then. Still, the majority of us have not actually seen a real hovercraft in action and this is likely what makes an RC hovercraft so appealing. It’s a somewhat unfamiliar vehicle that holds an endless amount of possibilities for our automobiles of the future, but it is small enough for us to play with in our backyards or driveways.

Having an RC hovercraft as a kid is really cool, but these things go beyond RC toys and into the realm of an RC hobby for ‘big kids’, otherwise known as adults. Compared to land-bound vehicles like RC cars, a radio control hovercraft is a little more difficult to master when it comes to the remote control. This is largely because it is not controlled by a simple throttle and steering wheel like most traditional RC toys. Instead, the remote controlled hovercraft is controlled by propellers and air. However, it is important to note that it is not considered an aircraft and is still a land based vehicle.

When it comes to finding RC hovercrafts, you have several options. If you are good with your hands, know a little about wiring and have a love for physics, you might enjoy building your own hovercraft. Building one can actually be a fun activity to do with an older child as a physics lesson or even a science fair project. But you don’t have to have a kid to have fun with this. There are lots of RC hovercraft enthusiasts out there that love building and driving RC hovercrafts as a hobby. You can purchase hovercraft plans from the internet if you want to begin this undertaking. If building your RC vehicle from scratch seems too daunting of a task, you can also buy hovercraft kits that are ready to be put together, with step by step instructions and all the materials you need.

For the most part, you don’t have to be a wiring genius if you still want to enjoy driving a remote control hovercraft. These vehicles do come ready to run and all you will have to do is learn how to handle the remote control. Before you purchase one though, you should consider your play area. Do you have a large plot of land that will allow you to drive your RC hovercraft at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour or do you simply have your driveway? If you have very limited room, you should stick with simple RC hovercrafts that are typically marketed toward kids. These are easily available and you can usually get them at a price of $50 or less. However, if you have a large area capable of handling a more complex vehicle, then by all means, take advantage of it. A faster RC hovercraft with more powerful fans will come at a price of a couple hundred dollars or less, depending on how powerful and detailed a model you choose.

You should also consider the weather conditions of your terrain before purchasing a radio controlled hovercraft. These mini vehicles work on many terrains but are especially good on ice, where typical RC cars and trucks will not work well. Another consideration is how much wind you typically receive. High winds will affect the control of a RC hovercraft, especially if it’s a smaller one with low power. Finally, the best way to get the most fun out of a hovercraft is to have a multiple terrain surface that varies between water or ice and land. Watching one of these RC vehicles effortlessly transition to different terrains is fun for kids and adults. It can be really fun to set up RC hovercraft races in both a friendly setting and a competition setting. You can add obstacles over multiple terrains and have a competition to see who has the best vehicle or determine who the best driver is.

Regardless of whether you are purchasing a radio remote control hovercraft for your kids or as a serious hobby, you should always have a budget in mind. It can be very easy to get caught up in the excitement of the various models that offer realistic details and more power. If shopping online, you should also consider shipping as part of the cost to make sure you do not spend more than you intended. It may also be helpful to read reviews posted by people who have already purchased the specific models you are contemplating purchasing to determine which is the best and most suitable RC model hovercraft for you.