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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0537.PDF
Air-CushionVehicles FLIGHT International supplement, 27 February 1964 Sisters Under the Skin, notwithstanding the difference in dimensions, are the Vickers VA-2 (left) and the recently modified VA-i. The VA-3 was photographed while she was being prepared for shipment—scheduled for today, February 27—to Republic Aero- space Corp. The front fins have now been removed, 3ft flexible skirts are fitted, and the propulsion engines are two Turbomica Artouste. VA-2 is seen prior to her departure for ice trials in Scandinavia INTERNATIONAL NEWS New Projects Soon Firm schemes for hovercraft designed specifically for passenger and car-ferry services across the Solent and the Bristol Channel were forecast "within a matter of months" by Mr D. Hennessey, chairman of Hovercraft Development Ltd and deputy managing director of the National Research Development Corporation, in London on January 30. These craft, Mr Hennessey said, would be precursors of passenger- and car- carrying hovercraft which would be designed for the English Channel and similar sea areas. Mr Hennessey was speaking on the occasion of a preview showing of four films on air-cushion vehicles produced by the British Petroleum Co Ltd. The films are Hovercraft in Holland, a record of the VA-2's visit to Amsterdam last April; Cushioncraft, in which the CC-2 looks more flying-saucer-like than ever; 800-mile Voyage, the salty story of the Denny D-2's journey from Dumbarton to the Thames at London; and Report on British Hovercraft, which features the SR-N2, VA-2, VA-3, CC-2 and D-2. Enquiries concerning the loan of these films should be addressed to British Petroleum at Britannic House, Finsbury Circus, London EC2. Air Cushion Development Ltd Although for many months we have received no news concerning the above company, it is still active and is, indeed, Recent Demonstrations of the Bell Carabao, seen in progress here, are the subject of a news item on the facing page developing new types of vehicle. This is evident from the following communica- tion received from Mr Kenneth Gray, the managing director:— "The first ACV produced by this company, the ACD.l, was completed in July 1962, and was immediately put on trials and public demonstration at Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire. Much valuable information resulted from these trials and certain modifications were carried out on the craft. Subsequent trials exhausted the function of the ACD.l as a test vehicle and, in view of the relatively limited resources of the company, it was decided that the immediate commercial success lay in the development of a smaller vehicle. "A further eight months was devoted to a design study of a 2/3-seater, which on trials proved to have a most encourag- ing performance. As a result of experi- ence gained with the two prototypes, the ; development of our own fan manu- facturing technique and essential infor- mation received from test rigs and models, it was possible to proceed in January 1963 with the construction of a marketable craft, the ACD.3, which would be suitable for commercial operators. "The economic requirements of the operator have been the basis of this design; furthermore, the basic design parameters of this craft are immediately applicable to the larger 28-seat version, the ACD.4, and ultimately will lead to the design of much larger craft. "Very briefly, this craft is an amphibi- ous sidewaller, having an integrated lift/propulsion system with complete absence of marine propellers and airscrews. This system has taken Air Cushion Development Ltd four years to develop and it offers vastly reduced running costs. Due to compactness 16
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