Does anyone know the law about using a hovercraft on (or just above!) the highway?
Obviously not one of the SRN4s that used to cross the channel - little personal ones.
I ask out of curiosity, not because I want to.
Terry
\"Just because I don\'t care doesn\'t mean I don\'t understand\"
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It may be that it falls into the classic definition of Motor Vehicle and consequently would need to be registred taxed and insured, that would throw them but I guess you\'d get stopped every few miles.
I quote the S185(1) definition.
Motor car means a mechanically propelled vehicle, not being a motor cycle or an invalid carriage which is constructed to carry passengers or a load (passenger in this case would mean the driver/pilot). So you see no mention of wheels.
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Might be a tad tricky to get through the MOT, particularly braking tests. I\'m sure the Construction and Use regs have something to say about having an effective steering mechanism too.
And who would insure a vehicle which might get blown into other road users on a particularly gusty day ?
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OTOH, it probably would not set off the in-road sensors for GATSOs! :)
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Holy Murphy Terryb where did you pull this one from.
OK - for the purposes of Road Traffic Acts, a hovercraft, as defined under Hovercraft Act 1968 (I don\'t have a copy - maybe helicopter has as he is into flying):
IS A MOTOR VEHICLE whether or not intended or adapted for use on a road but hasn\'t to be treated as a vehicle of a class defined at S.185 that PU mentions, i.e. loco, tractor, motor car, m/cycle, unless Sec of State makes an Order that any provision does or doesn\'t apply.
(Section 188 Road Traffic Act, 1988)
So from that I take it, a PPL(FW) driver (no RTAct licence as it cannot be classified) on a road, must have Insurance and Excise Licence? can be done for causing death by dangerous and the other driving offences, cannot be reported for some Con and Use etc because of problem of classification.
Real bag of worms sorry cannot be more precise. Hope Toad of Toad Hall doesn\'t read this otherwise he will have one and drive his local Plod round the bend.
DVD
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DVD, this was actually a conspiracy from all the backroomers to see if we could get you stumped. We failed again! :(
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In my local town a guy had a American half track and was regularly seen driving it around at peak shopping hours on a saturday morning. It was a world war 2 model with deactivated 0.5 inch machine gun on a ring mounting. As far as im aware the only modification he made was to fit an amber flashing beacon.
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As far as road tax is concerned, what would be the charge?
Most of the ones I've seen use glorified motorcycle engines, so I guess you would be looking at motorcycle level VED? But....
How many wheels, erm - none! Not two, or three or four!
The other issue as DVD illudes to is the class of licence. Now I believe you can drive a 3 wheeler on a provisional, am I right? If so could you drive one of these on a provisional?
I suppose the only thing that the Police could do you for is driving an un roadworthy vehicle, as let's face it, these things don't exactly corner or brake that well do they?
Finally, now we've had the budget, what about the company car tax bracket, or am I just getting silly now?
Hugo
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And aren't they very noisy?
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You'll never pull your caravan with it Terry
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Thanks to all, especially DVD who never fails to amaze me.
I reckon cornering would be better than a car but braking would be a bit iffy. At least the bumpers would be well cushioned though.
Nsar - I hadn't thought about towing but I suppose I could put the caravan on it :o)
Terry
"Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand"
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Never mind a hovercraft, I want a Humvee. No not a Hummer, that's for pussies, I mean a proper US Army Humvee with the missile launcher on it.
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Anyone else been to spectate at (or perhaps take part in!) a hovercraft race?
I went to a round of the British Championships last year at Claydon House, and was amazed at the level of acceleration from a standing start of a Formula 1 machine. Wind up the thrust motor to maximum effect, and then open the taps on the lift motor. Nought to oh my God in no time flat. They make the huge turning circle of our V70 look positively petite though!
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A Hovercraft has to be registered with the CAA and is infact and aeroplane. So not registerable as a road going vehicle. Regards PEter
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There are hover lawnmowers. Also I believe lawnmowers used on public verges have to be registered, as pedestrian-assisted vehicles, or something. So is a Flymo an aeroplane?
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Not an aeroplane - It has no wings . The principles of a Flymo are more a mixture of hovercraft and helicopter as it does have a rotor cutting blade which gives lift and also suction to get the grass into the grass box.
You certainly did have to have a licence to operate motor mowers on the verge but I don't think the CAA are licencing Flymos yet.
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Stranger things have happened.
Just after WW2 West Germany decided to invest some money in regeneration. On of the things they manufactured was a rugged appliance called the Peoples' washing machine.
It was decided that one would be put into every home to help the post war housewife bring some order to living.
Unfortunately, as with a number of newfangled innovations of its time, the vibration on the spin cycle prohibited its use in all but the largest of kitchens, as it tended to bounce all around the floor, and needed lots of room to avoid hitting anything else.
The government was about to scrap the whole project when a junior minister came up with a brilliant rebranding idea.
Hence the birth of:
The VW Beetle!
Hugo
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Obviously not one of the SRN4s that used to cross the channel - little personal ones.
Imagine it now:
BMW 7 series on the M1 being tailgated by a SRN4 Hovercraft!
It's getting late,
Hugo
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My cadets are looking into building a F25 hovercraft!
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Back to the hovercraft / aircraft thing - I have definately seen a de-winged 2 seater cessna licensed for use on the roads ! I even thinks it's reg no was CES something.
Surely the hovercraft would fail on the tread issue ? lol
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Thank Heavens for the good old fashioned English Eccentric lol. I nearly wet my pants reading this post and its replies. Thank you all very much for cheering me up over what has turned out to be a pretty sad easter for me.
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