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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1208.PDF
310 FLIGHT, 31 August, 1961 Ground-effect Vehicles Denny Hovercraft Britten-Norman CC-1 Folland GERM BRITTEN-NORMAN LTD Bembridge, Isle of Wight. Telephone: Bembridge 126 CC-1 This vehicle, the company's first Cushioncraft, has now completed approximately 30 hours' testing, primarily on control and stability aspects, at Bembridge. The information provided by these tests has been used in the design of a second air-cushion vehicle, the CC-2. CC-1 A new fan system is employed in the design of this ten-seater Cushioncraft, which is powered by a Rolls-Royce V-8 engine. Construction of the CC-2 is almost complete, and the company plans to release further details following the first flight. WILLIAM DENNY & BROS LTD Dumbarton, near Glasgow. Telephone: Dumbarton 97 SMewall Hovercraft This 4^-ton machine is a test vehicle to investigate the per- formance of the sidewall hovercraft layout for larger trading vessels capable of operating at about 35kt in rivers and estuaries. Measuring 60ft x 10ft, the vehicle has two 25 h.p. Excelsior Seafarer 3 two-strokes (lift) and two 35 h.p. Mercury outboards (propulsion). FOLLAND AIRCRAFT (Member of Hawker SMdeley Aviation) Hamble, Southampton. Telephone: Hamble 3191 GERM The prototype GERM (ground-effect research machine) is now being re-engined with a four-cylinder Coventry Climax engine to provide increased power for further development trials. The Folland company is also continuing its experimental work on smaller ground-effect machines, including an air-supported stretcher carrier. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS (South Marston) LTD South Marston, Swindon, Wilts. Telephone: Stratton St Margaret 3241 VA-I Weighing 3,3001b and operating at a hover-height of 4£in, this research vehicle commenced tests last year. Since then several different lift-curtain systems and stability devices have been incorporated and investigated, and the addition of a cabin and fairings has increased the weight to 3,5001b at a hover-height of 4.1 in. VA-2 This five-seat utility craft, designed to have a speed of 40kt and an endurance of l£hr, is being built primarily as a demonstrator for larger types. It is powered by three light-aircraft piston engines, two for lift and one for propulsion, and the hover-height over a solid surface is 8|in. Dimensions: 28ft 4in long, 14ft lOin wide and 10ft 4in high. VA-3 Now under construction as a ten-ton vehicle able to carry 24 passengers and crew, or 4,0001b of cargo plus crew for 80 n.m. at high speed, the VA-3 is designed to use four Blackburn Turmo turbine engines for lift fans and propulsion, although other types of powerplant are possible. Dimensions: 52ft 6in long, 25ft wide, 17ft 9in high. WESTLAND AIRCRAFT LTD (Saunders-Roe Division) Osborne, East Cowes, Isle of Wight. Telephone: Cowes 2211 SR-NI Three development phases have now been completed by this pioneer British hovercraft, in its Mk 1 (Alvis Leonides), Mk 2 (Leonides plus Blackburn Marbore for propulsion) and Mk 3 (Leonides plus Bristol Siddeley Viper for propulsion) versions. Owned by NRDC, the machine is now being modified in preparation for a fourth test phase- SR-N2 Now being built at Cowes, the 66-passenger SR-N2 is due to be completed by next spring. It is intended primarily for operational research and to enable operators to gain hovercraft experience. Power will come from four Blackburn Nimbus free turbines developing 3,000 h.p. and driving two lift fans and two propulsion propellers. Overall length is 64ft, gross weight 27 tons, payload 14 tons, range 200 n.m. and cruising speed 70kt. Westland SR-N1 Westland SR-N2
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