Marcus Gustar, 13, testing out one of the crafts. Picture by Laura Holme.
VIDEO
YOUNG engineers of the future spent their half term at Ryde High School on a mission — to build working hovercraft powered by leaf blowers.
Teams of young people armed with materials, including scrap obtained at the school, put their heads together to create five powered hovercraft capable of carrying a passenger.
The half-term project was organised by Barnardos and involved up to 20 youngsters who were divided into five teams.
Each hovercraft, measuring around 4ft by 4ft, was powerful enough to carry an adult when it was built.
Kevin McNamara, who organised the project on behalf of Barnardos, said: "There is that whole link with East Cowes and the fact they are still built on the island.
"It is great for the pupils to have a local link with something that in its day was a world leader."
He added: "Hopefully, we are encouraging young engineers of the future. We had a few who have shown potential. They have come up with their own designs and they are learning to come up with their own solutions to problems. They have managed to use broken chairs the school were throwing out."
Half-term hovercraft project.
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