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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1117.PDF
Air-Cushion Vehicles FLIGHT International supplement, 28 March 196 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR . ill Perplexed tors alike, just as the Battle of the Rail way Gauges during the last century bedevilled railway finance. Monorails can be divided into two types, viz, high-speed long-distance surface transport and rapid urban mass-transit. If a form of track and stock suited to either type can be standardized at an early stage, research and development would undoubtedly proceed with greater assurance. In theory monorails should provide safe, reliable mass-transit over swamp, lake, desert and broken terrain in all climatic conditions at speeds up to 300 m.p.h. by combinations of air-cushion, linear induction motor and techniques already known. The technical problems, though complex, are not beyond British tech nicians if they would bend their skill to possible solutions. The prize is nothing less than a new national export, pro viding useful careers at home and abroad for the new generation of technicians. With this in view, the Institute has encouraged the first steps towards a monorail "philosophy." 41, Criffel Ave, J. w. DARK, Streatham Hill, Chairman. London SW2 Monorail Group of Gt Britain SIR,—In response to Mr Norman's letter (your February issue) 1 would comment:— (1) This is, of course, quite clear, and I was referring to waves which pass beneath the craft without encountering the solid hull. The SR.N2 has a clear hover-height (actual daylight) of 18in I think, and I would therefore expect to see 3ft waves emerge untouched by the hull. (2) I agree that these factors damp- out wave motion. This is what I have observed and was the reason for my original letter. What I still want to know is—why ? Romford, Essex STILL PERPLEXED Lindbergh and Ground Effect SIR,—Recent references in your columns to the use of ground effect by the Dornier Do-X, prompted me to refer to the 1931 volume of The Illustrated London News. In the issue of August 1 there is a superb photograph, taken from the liner Lutetia showing the monster flying boat passing near by. So close is she flying to the water that the wash from her 12 propellers is raising a perceptible wave. To my own mind, this was not a picture of an historic flying boat but a foretaste of the future, when giant ACVs will be scudding across the oceans of the world. Interestingly enough, I can find no reference in the volumes of Flight to the term "ground effect," as applied to the Do-X, although it was recognized tha flying very close to the surface save*. fuel. In Col Lindbergh's book We— Pilot and Plane (Putnam's, 1927) how ever, there is a very direct allusion. Thi author relates: "As the fog cleared dropped down closer to the water sometimes flying within ten feet of the waves and seldom higher than two hundred. "There is a cushion of air close to thi ground or water through which a plant flies with less effort than when at j. higher altitude and for hours at a time I took advantage of this factor." London Wl R. JONES ACV Sanctuaries? SIR,—Simple Simon (your January issue) has missed the point. What we should be concerned with is not what the effect will be of ACVs on bird sanctuaries but what effect the birds will have on ACVs! The frequency of occur rence of birds at aircraft altitudes is small, but accidents have been caused by birds flying into air intakes. When one considers the very much greater density of the feathered population near the ground in the area of sanctuaries one quails at the thought of how many beautiful fans and turbines will be ruined by the ingress of these creatures. Before hovercraft travel will be safe for all these uncontrolled flying "foreign bodies" must be swept away from any areas where hovercraft may wish to operate. Swansea, Giant ACV LOVER The 27-ton. 65ft Bell SKMR-1 Hydroskimmer, scheduled to be tested on Lake Erie late this spring 50
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