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An appraisal of present and future large commercial hovercraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Raymond L. Wheeler
Raymond L. Wheeler*
Affiliation:
British Hovercraft Corporation Ltd.
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Extract

It is only fifteen years since the hovercraft principle and early configurations were first described in Ref. 1. Since then, we have seen the development of a wide range of craft and many applications in both civil and military roles.

This paper gives a brief review of the performance capability of the Mountbatten Class SR.N4 amphibious hovercraft which are currently operating on the English Channel ‘short sea’ routes and indicates the improvements anticipated from a simple but substantial lengthening of the craft. A contract has now been signed with British Rail to lengthen both of their craft, and design and manufacture work is now in progress. The first craft returns to BHC in December 1976 and will be back in service in its modified form by December 1977.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 80 , Issue 788 , August 1976 , pp. 354 - 364
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1976 

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References

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