How to Make a Balloon-Powered Hovercraft
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 1 4-by-7-inch foam board (A thoroughly cleaned foam meat tray works great.)
- 1 large flex drinking straw
- Average size balloon
- Scissors
- Hole punch or pencil
- Glue gun
- Pin
- Tape
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Step 1. Cut out the bottom of a foam tray. Be careful not to bend it.
Step 2. Place the flat foam under the body template and trace it by poking holes with a pin along the outline of the template. Also trace the straw slot. Trace two fins and the balloon ring using the same method. Cut out the foam shapes with the scissors. Make a center hole in the balloon ring with a hole punch or a sharp pencil point. To download a template to trace click here.
Step 3. Cut a sharp angle on one end of the straw and make a flat cut on the other as shown.
Step 4. Stretch and bend the straw, then glue the balloon ring to the flat end. Stretch the balloon over the circle. Carefully glue this assembly over the straw slot so that no glue is inside the straw and none of the straw or glue is below the bottom of the body.
Step 5. Glue the two fins to the rear sides of the body.
Step 6. Make an inflating straw by taking the leftover half of the straw and cutting two 1/2-inch slots in it. Roll the end into a taper with your fingers and tape together. Use the inflating straw to blow up the balloon from the bottom.Β Pinch the neck of the balloon and release on a smooth, clean floor.
HOVERCRAFT TIP
The hovercraft will work properly only on a smooth, clean floor. The bottom of the hovercraft should also be smooth and clean.
the balloon hovercraft didn’t work
What does this hold?ππ¦π¬
Huh?
SEND HELP PLEASE
send help
cool does it work
smart
Tried to do it does not work. π π
Probably won’t work
look cool
That hovercraft is so cool!
so cool
Tried it didn’t work π
π
i luv this hovercraft of epicnesssss. It’s time to pony up! -Rainbow Dash
you said it j man
seems kool ill need to try it
Awesome boss epic crazy sweet as candy
If you put wheels on it, it will be a air powered car
i just need the baloon and the straw and im ready to go
i love it
i might just try this! :]
me to…
though ill probably forget
Made this. Awesome
I tried a different model and it didn’t work =(
I am going to do this in 5 weeks
awsome
Cool and awsome
seems easy
it is cool
Maybe I will try it
Wow that sounds really cool.
π gonna be doing this as a fun activity for some GATE elementary kids (outreach for my robotics team)
doing it for science project. sounds fun.
sounds cool
i think it is cool
cool
best thing i ever saw
awesome
it will never work
what a pessimist you are.
cool!
aswome cool!!!!!!! :-),
cool
Definitely cool. I wonder what would happen if that became the only trnsportation for humans on earth? π
this seems like a very interesting project i will for sure have to try it out once i get the materials! π
<3LOVE ME
this seems like a very interesting project i will for sure have to try it out once i get the materials
did nt work fr me
Really?That stinks:(
your right
cool man it worked for me
i cant.i dont have the stuff
this is sick thx for the help
i’m going to try it
i have built it with my cub scouts and they did work with time and patience!!!!
I do not have the matireals
i tried it it did,nt work
i like this… it is to bad i do not have what i need. π
dos it even work
I got all the materials and cut everything to size, i just have to assemble it.
has anyone actually tried this and have it work??
I don’t get the inflating straw
ithink im gonna try it
Who thinks the hovercraft will work or won’t work?
i built one that can hold over 200 pounds for the science fair
With a leaf blower?
yes
I think making a hovercraft would be so cool!
Wood a elmer’s glue work insted?
what is the balloon powerd hovercraft all about
i love hovercraft
this is cool.
ok