New hybrid creations including the 18SPW, 19XRW and newly test flown TW-1 combine hovercraft and ground effect technologies expanding the potential applications of hovercraft and ground effect craft in the future.

Hovercraft have one or more separate engines (some craft, such as the SR-N6, have one engine with a drive split through a gearbox). One engine drives the fan (the impeller) which is responsible for lifting the vehicle by forcing air under the craft.

The air therefore must exit throughout the "skirt", lifting the craft above the area on which the craft resides.

One or more additional engines are used to provide thrust in order to propel the craft in the desired direction.

Some hovercraft utilize ducting to allow one engine to perform both tasks by directing some of the air to the skirt, the rest of the air passing out of the back to push the craft forward.