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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2289.PDF
Air-Cushion Vehicles FLIGHT International supplement, 26 September l%\ DENNY D.2 HOVERBUS PRINCIPAL DATA Overall length 83ft 6m Overall width of hull 19ft 3in Length of air cushion 66ft lOin Breadth of cushion 17ft Bin Depth of sidewall below flat of bottom Ift lOin Estimated craft weight with fuel and crew but without passengers 23.85 tons Maximum deadweight 5, tons Estimated service speed 25kt Total average service b.h.p. 740 b.h.p. Maximum draught to bottom of pro peller when off the cushion 4ft 6in Maximum operating range (approx) 125 miles Fuel tank capacity 200 imp gal ing.' And so it was. However, if unexciting means smooth, quiet, con trolled and palpably safe, this corres pondent is all for it. The D.2 is intended to carry passengers, not to frighten them. As a dramatic demonstrator of what hovercraft can do it does not shine; but as a sensible, useful, economic means of transport it should soon become a great success. Generous head-room and window area, and a transparent roof—tinted to lessen glare—give a SpaCiOUS air to the 70-Seat Cabin "Air-Cushion Vehicles" photograph "Following what, I understand, was highly instructive series of trials with thj D.l, Denny have cut out all the frill and produced a real engineering jolj There is no recirculation, no stabilitj slots, no ram-recovery, no ram wingl no aerodynamic lift, no thrust spoilel and no attempt at power integration But the whole thing works splendidly.1 We conclude with a second extra! from the same report: "I was fortunai to be allowed on board during subsJ quent runs. Capt Mason resisted ml exhortations to put her hard over i full speed, and with a 600-mile journd to perform four days later one cal understand his point of view. I M permitted to take over the steering for] while and found the craft very respod sive to small helm changes, whilst thed was a refreshing absence of the 'let] go round sideways' tendency of sorrf ACVs. At reduced speed the craft ai be turned in about one and a haj lengths, and for very slow spe<j manoeuvring its fully rotatable ihrusj line is a great advantage. This crat r considerably more positively contra lable than many an orthodox display ment vessel and no port author need fear that its being a hover implies any risk of danger or inc0 venience to other port users. "The enclosed and soundproo.ed compartments combine with the q low-speed engines to make the D- Q in operation." 40
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