By Russ Albertson

Close pass by LCAC 33 (Mel Turner)

“Just because you don’t have wings, doesn’t mean you can’t fly.”  The US Navy’s hovercraft designated the LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) is the perfect example of this.  This machine combines the qualities of a boat and a helicopter. It can hover on land or water, float or fly across the wave tops. 

The LCAC was built to fill the Navy’s need for rapid delivery of men and equipment from ships to shore. This craft can carry up to 75 tons of cargo or vehicles at 60 knots up to the beach and even further inland if needed.  It can fly over wet or marshy ground, and snow and ice or no barriers as long as the surface is fairly flat.