FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2314.PDF
Cushion Vehicles llGHT International implement, November 1963 Ready for Engine Tests, with its complete powerplant installation, is seen the Westland SR.N3. appearing in our previous issue was taken discernible progress has been made Since the photograph pleted "a one-passenger peripheral jet air-cushion vehicle" in 1962, demon strating it publicly during May of that year. Professor Watt writes: "We are just now completing great improvements to this machine. It now consists of a wooden framework 8ft lorfg, 4ft wide, and 2ft high, covered with light plastic film with 1 fin-wide peripheral nozzles mounted in the lower perimeter. These are angled inward at 30° from vertical. "A 36in-diameter six-bladed pro peller fan is mounted amidships in the top surface, blowing down into the craft's interior, which acts as a plenum to feed the nozzles. This fan is driven by two 8/10 h.p. ultra-light two-cycle air-cooled M-30 gasoline engines built by the McCulloch Corporation, which manufactures them for chain-saws, go- kart racers, and other uses. "The engines are at the extreme rear with crankshafts vertical. Separate vee- belts conduct their power to the vertical shaft of the fan. Centrifugal clutches on each crankshaft engage only when the engines exceed 1,000 r.p.m., hence the engines can be started and run idle without turning the fan. "The pilot sits in front on top to baiance the engine weight. Pedals con trol forward and rearward motion, trim and braking. A control stick performs steering and levelling functions. A SP ing-mounted 'ground wheel' under the centre of the vehicle presses against the earth enough to prevent lateral drift due to road-crown and wind. It is anti cipated that these improvements will givp- this simple machine an altitude of 3 to 4in, depending upon the weight of the pilot. "A second peripheral jet machine of different design is about one-third com peted. It will measure about 8|ft by W-t, and will have twin 27in-diameter fans revolving in a vertical plane moun ted in front, belt driven by a Continental air-cooled engine, located forward be tween them. A large cockpit behind this engine will accommodate one or two passengers and instruments. "We believe that other colleges and universities can perform similar projects without waiting for special financial assistance. Our first version of the first machine cost less than $100.00 and took only two weeks to build. "Of course, neither of our two ex perimental machines noted here is unique or advances the art significantly. However, they have introduced new ideas and principles to hundreds of engineering students. This alone makes such projects worthwhile." Mitsubishi Prototype Since a news item under the above heading appeared in our previous issue the following statement has been re ceived from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd (Mitsubishi Zosen Kabushiki Kaisha) of 4 Marunouchi 2-Chome, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, Japan:— "Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engin eering Co Ltd (Mitsubishi Zosen) started first in Japan to conduct various theoretical studies and basic research on the ground effect machine. In December 1962 the company completed an experimental craft weighing 3 tons. It used the craft to conduct analysis on stability, manoeuvrability and sea worthiness of the ground effect machine. "The experimental craft is 9.3 metres long and has an overall width of 5.8 metres. Her hull is mainly made of anticorrosion aluminium alloy with a strengthened type of plastic utilized partly for hull structure. The craft is equipped with a 260 h.p. aircraft gaso line engine for hovering and another 145 h.p. aircraft gasoline engine for propelling. At recent trial runs, Mitsu bishi obtained satisfactory results as the craft travelled at a maximum speed of 35kt, hovering at a height of 25cm. "Mitsubishi has agreements with Hovercraft Development Ltd of the United Kingdom and Westland SA of Switzerland for the manufacture and the sales of the hovercraft. The agree ments are subject to Japanese Govern ment approval. Research and study on the ground effect machine conducted by Mitsubishi will constitute an important contribution to the construction of the hovercraft." Over Japanese Waters rides the Mitsubishi craft, subject of a news item above 65
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
