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The Hovercraft had many spin-offs some of which are more common than you think!
- The Flymo! The most successful application of the Hovercraft principle. The company also coined the phrase 'It's a lot less bother with a hover'.
- The Hovering Vacuum Cleaner. UK and US variants of the Hoover Constellation and Celebrity. They could glide on a cushion of air and suck at the same time - but better on lino than carpet! By the time lino was out of fashion - and shag pile carpet of the 70s in - the concept was grounded! A new Vacuum Cleaner developed in Scotland saw the principle re-born in the shape of the 'Airdier'. However it's high price and poor sales saw the design sold to Bissell.
- Hovertrain. Yes it was a reality - track and train built by 1971 and now at Rail World Peterborough. We have models and archives of tracked Hovercraft Ltd.
- Hover pallets. Designed to move heavy loads around single handed on 'air bearings'. The Museum has archives and working models.
- Air lubricated hulls. We have John Thornycrofts 1890s and 1907 wooden test models
- Sidewall Hovercraft - rigid sides make a catamaran holding in air sealed in with skirts fore and aft. 'Decider' and 'Esperance' grace our collection - both man carrying models. One of them crossing the channel for the 25th anniversary of Cockerells crossing.
- The Hoverbed - in use worldwide. They work by suspending a patient on an air cushion bed. Wounds and sores don't touch any surfaces - so healing is much quicker. Floating on a cushion of air is in everyday use in the USA - and there are a few in Britain. Only a few air segments of Les Hopkins 1960s invention remain saved from his attic. Today a major manufacturer sells versions using the same principle.
- Air Hockey - a popular arcade game using pucks that float on a cushion of air. The Museum has two examples which are always popular.
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