A lightweight frame and skirt, with two minimal seats, which folds down into a small package for transport.

Lift is provided by a cool-burn pyrotechnic gas generator with a 120 second burn time, mounted in a duct so as to entrain and mix with atmospheric air, reducing the gas stream temperature and pressure but boosting its volume.

Propulsion is by a rear-mounted pack of rockets.

Steering is achieved by a mixture of vectoring the rocket pack, changing weight distribution, and fervent prayer to the Deity of the pilot's choice.
-- 8th of 7, Nov 18 2009

Electromagnetic ripple power flying carpet http://www.geek.com...ple-power-20110930/
[theircompetitor, Oct 01 2011]

//minimal seats// -> prayer rugs. Lighter weight, puts you in the appropriate posture for supplication, and converts easily into a flying carpet.
-- lurch, Nov 18 2009


Care will be required that the rocket thrust does not destabilise the craft. Also the rockets need to cut as soon as the lift burner runs out of gas, otherwise there could be an amusing crash.
-- pocmloc, Nov 19 2009


The thrust rockets would be sized so that the total available burn time is somewhat less than the gas generator.
-- 8th of 7, Nov 19 2009


As soon as you hit the switch on this thing you're putting your fate (or at least the integrity of your spine) in the hands of god. That implies some measure of faith.

Why not leave the relative burn time of the rockets to faith too?
-- Custardguts, Nov 19 2009


Faith-based rockets ?
-- 8th of 7, Nov 19 2009


<Robert Duvall>

"I love the smell of incense in the morning... "

</Robert Duvall>
-- 8th of 7, Nov 19 2009


If you have rockets, do you really need a separate lift engine? Just vector a small fraction of the exhaust gases under the skirt.
-- BunsenHoneydew, Nov 19 2009


<not touching that one>

I volunteer to test pilot the prototype of this craft on the Neveda salt flats.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Nov 20 2009


You're hired. Sit here, count to one hundred, then pull that string there .....
-- 8th of 7, Nov 20 2009


I can't believe that this is only the first [8th] idea to actually have the word 'pyrotechnic' in the name title.
-- Jinbish, Nov 20 2009


I can't believe I want one.
-- kaz, Nov 20 2009


//        //For those emergencies when only a hovercraft will do.//   

       And what would those ... but ... surely some other transport ... oh nevermind. //

Up here in the Great Frozen Nowhere, a hovercraft is the perfect (and sometimes the only) vehicle for rescuing people stranded on broken ice far from shore. This could feasably be used for self-rescue.

So there, I ridicule you with practicality. Take that!
-- Alterother, Oct 01 2011


//For those emergencies when only a hovercraft will do.// Maybe you need to cross a lake of sulfuric acid from a nearby volcano and a normal boat would dissolve? Nobody wants grandma to have to get out and push -> hovercraft!
-- DIYMatt, Oct 01 2011


Those games of The-Floor-Is-Lava just got a whole lot funner.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 01 2011


Ah! I was confused until I spotted the "r" in "portable".
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Oct 01 2011



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