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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 2320.PDF
FLIGHT International supplement, 21 November 1963 Air-Cushion Vehicles "Beam-on to the prevailing wave direction, the greatest care has to be exercised, since the craft would almost certainly be beam-on to the wind as well as to the sea and making leeway. Under these conditions the craft tends to slide down the waves and impacts occur on the lee beam, not on the wind ward beam as might be expected in the ship. These impacts can be very severe —as severe, in fact, as impacts on the bow, because the drift angle may be considerable, the craft making a signi ficant component of her speed sideways. Such impacts, unsighted on the beam, are also much more disconcerting to the driver than those that he can anticipate on the bow. "Running down the sea, the relative wavelength is greatly increased and the craft rides up and down the waves in a most exhilarating manner, especially when it is realized, as one toboggans down the face of the wave, that the craft cannot broach-to, since control is obtained from aerodynamic forces un affected by the movement of the water in the waves. "Finally, it is not always realized that, floating on the surface without the cushion, the hovercraft becomes literally a raft and that the structural loads in volved are insignificant compared with those of the wave impact case at high speed. It is encouraging that strain- gauge measurements taken during sea- keeping trials showed that, even under the most severe conditions encountered, the loads imposed by wave impact never approached the capability of the structure. Indeed, it was found that crew comfort, and not structural in tegrity, dictated the speed which could be achieved." Bell Aerosystems Hydrokeel A LICENSING agreement with the Anti- Friction Hull Corporation, of Laurel, Md, has been concluded by Textron's Bell Aerosystems Company. Announ cing this the latter company states:— "President William G. Gisel of Bell Aerosystems said the agreement grants Bell rights to use, manufacture, sell and sub-license vessels employing the Hydro- keel principle, an advanced hull design concept developed by engineers of the Anti-Friction Hull Corporation. This agreement will combine the engineering and sales capabilities of the two com panies to develop the full potential of the Hydrokeel boat for military, govern mental and commercial applications. "It was announced on July 17 that Bell had acquired rights in the United States and elsewhere to manufacture and sell air-cushion vehicles embodying the patented inventions held by West- land Aircraft Ltd of Yeovil, England, and Hovercraft Development Ltd of London, through a licensing agreement with the two British firms. The Hydro keel and Westland Hovercraft licensing agreements complement Bell Aero systems' own experience in the field of air-cushion vehicles and, thus, give Bell access to a broad range of technology in asi facets of air-cushion vehicle engineer ing. "The Hydrokeel concept uses a sys tem of 'lubricating' the bottom of a boat ">'" with air to reduce water drag and attain high speeds over the water. Air is forced downward by forward-mounted blowers between side keels to form an *ir pocket beneath the hull bottom and above the water surface. The craft is P'-opelled and controlled in the con ventional manner. An experimental 38ft cmiser designed and built by the Anti-f "iction Hull Corporation has achieved speeds of 47 m.p.h., much faster than Ve ssels with comparable powerplants and conventional hulls. In addition to high speeds, other advantages of the Hydrokeel concept include greater eco nomy, increased load-carrying capacity and simplified hull form. The concept differs from conventional air-cushion vehicles, in that the latter ride on a cushion of air completely above the sur face and are capable of much greater speeds. However, the Hydrokeel re quires less horsepower to support heavier loads. "The Hydrokeel concept was con ceived by Robert W. Priest, a naval architect, who formed Anti-Friction Hull Corporation in 1959. Since then Priest and his associates have designed and built four Hydrokeel-type craft, including the 38ft experimental cruiser. Under the licensing agreement with Anti-Friction Hull Corporation, Bell Aerosystems has the right to manufac ture and sell Hydrokeel-type vessels throughout the world. The agreement provides for engineering teamwork between the two companies in preparing new Hydrokeel designs and drafting proposals for new business in this field. Many military applications utilizing the high-speed capability of Hydrokeel craft are under consideration. These include landing craft, amphibious vehicles, personnel carriers and cargo vessels." The ACY as Submarine Mother-ship Whereas, on this and the preceding page, Lt Cdr Ashmead considers the ACV as an anti submarine weapon, there is the possibility also that, in large sizes, such craft might act as submarine mother-ships. This is an early proposal by Bell Aerosystems 71
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