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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2265.PDF
— Cross-Channel The Westland SR.N2 goes down to the water at Weston-super-Mare, bound for Penarth, under the surveillance of one of the maker's helicopters. A news item "The Bristol Channel Service," appears below INTERNATIONAL NEWS The Bristol Channel Service The following progress report on the SR.N2 experimental passenger ser vice between Weston-super-Mare and Penarth was made by Westland Aircraft Ltd on August 8:— "The first two weeks of the operation has shown once more how successfully SR.N2 can operate as a passenger ferry vehicle. Operating between Weston- super-Mare and Cardiff, where the second highest tides in the world are encountered, SR.N2 has been an im mense attraction to holiday crowds both at Weston-super-Mare and at Penarth, and has been operating to capacity. Passenger reaction has again been extremely favourable. "Although, in the first few days SR.N2 did not completely carry out all its scheduled runs, it operated the second week without interruption. "In the early days the prevailing winds built up unexpectedly high seas in the Bristol Channel, and for one afternoon the number of scheduled runs was reduced slightly. It should be borne in mind that SR.N2 is fitted with skirts only 2ft long. With the Westland- patented 4ft skirts, scheduled for the production version, SR.N2 would have had no difficulty in operating in the rough weather that was encountered on this one occasion. "The only other interruption to the Service was caused by the failure of a bearing in one of the gearboxes. A modification was incorporated to pre- Going Abroad the SR.N2 at the Hovercraft Terminal on Weston-super-Mare beach during the Bristol Channel service described above Air-Cushion Vehicles FLIGHT International supplemen 22 August 196 vent the recurrence of this defec "SR.N2 was a few miles out fror Weston-super-Mare with a full load c passengers when the defect occurrec The driver had to put SR.N2 onto th water and return to Weston-super-Mar as a displacement craft. The passenger were impressed with the smoothnes with which a large hovercraft such a SR.N2 can be set down on the wate under such conditions, and it gave then a practical demonstration of the way ii which SR.N2, with its large buoyanq tanks, is able to float, and operate safel; as an ordinary boat. "The experimental passenger servic< is being operated in conjunction witl P. and A. Campbell, who are respon sible for the organization of the service This commenced on July 23 and con tinues during a period of six weeks unti August 30. Not Above Putney? Hovercraft and speedboats are uiv likely to penetrate further up thd Thames than Putney Bridge, it is stated by the Port of London Authority. Ms G. D. G. Perkins, joint deputy general manager, has said "We have warnec that speeds of more than 10 m.p.h above Putney Bridge are likely to mak< hovercraft and speedboats in breach o the by-laws." D.I to the Rescue Among the roles foreseen for air cushion vehicles that of rescue is amonj the more important. The first instancf of such a craft being so employed con cerned the Denny D.l now being usee on Southampton Water by Hovercrafl Development Ltd. The following his toric announcement was made b) HDL on July 17:— "While the experimental Hovercraf D.l was being operated by Hovercrafl Development Ltd on Southampton Water this afternoon, the attendant launch noticed car headlights flashinj on the western shore, drawing then attention to a sailing surf board whjcl had capsized and two lads were in difn culties in the water. "The launch contacted the crew the D.l by radio who realized that thei superior speed and capability of opera' ing over shallow water would enab< them to reach the capsized craft swift. and safely. This was borne out by t™ fact that when the launch attempted « reach the capsized craft it grounded o sand bars. "The boys were taken aboard the V- and given a change of clothing ana tn transferred to the attendant launch a" taken back to the shore. The boy Nigel Plaisted and David Riley, b°th' 18
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