††The hovercraft is a vehicle that travels over land or water on a cushion of air provided by a downward blast from a giant fan. The cushion of air is contained within a flexible skirt, while propellers push the craft along. The design of the hovercraft was patented by a British engineer Christopher Cockerell in 1955. Large hovercraft are used as an alternative to ferries. They also have some military uses. Smaller hovercraft are sometimes used for leisure purposes.
